George Zimmerman Verdict In Trayvon Martin Death Sparks Nationwide Protests

The streets of several major cities erupted with rage, though mostly peaceful conduct, with activists and community members alike decrying the justice system following the Trayvon Martin trial decision. Protesters took the streets in Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Atlanta -- among others -- Saturday night demanding justice for Martin after George Zimmerman was found not guilty in his shooting death under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law. Many major cities anticipated rioting, but so far none have occured. Demonstrators in Miami said they hope to remain peaceful as not to end more lives, the Detroit Free Press reported.

"It's all right to be vocal, but we don't want to be violent," said the Rev. Walter Richardson, pastor and chairman of Miami-Dade County's Community Relations Board, which has been hosting town-hall-style meetings about the case. "We've already lost one soul and we don't want to lose any more."

A group of 100 protesters in Oakland, however, broke windows, started small fires and vandalized a police car, the Associated Press reported. Others in cities around California shouted "The system is racist" into the night to show solidarity with Martin and his family. Zimmerman did not talk to the media following his acquittal, but his lawyers told NPR that they were "extatic" with the results of the case.

The trial ends after months of complications, motions and an intense jury selection. Zimmerman was accused of second-degree murder after he, a volunteer neighborhood watchman in the gated community where Martin was shot, pursued the 17-year-old for allegedly behaving suspiciously, ignoring orders from the 911 dispatcher to stop and wait for police. He claimed that Martin attacked him and shot him in self defense when the incident occurred in February 2012.

Protests have also been planned via Twitter in New York City, D.C., Atlanta, Los Angeles, Seattle and more. Benjamin Crump, lawyer for the Martin family, was displeased with the verdict. He said the case will go down as important history, and that he hopes Trayvon will be remembered like civil rights heroes such as Medger Evers and Emmett Till.

"We would be intellectually dishonest if we didn't acknowledge the racial undertones in this case," Crump said. "So we have to have very responsible conversations about how we get better as a country and move forward from this tragedy and learn from it."