Chicagoans March To Protest Florida Teen's Shooting Death
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watch volunteer prompted two demonstrations in downtown Chicago Friday.
In one event, the protesters began near the Chicago Theatre, marched to Millennium Park and up to Pioneer Court and back to State Street.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Bob Roberts reports
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Along the way, protesters heard from a civil-rights attorney, who told them racism is far from dead in America.
Organizers said they want the youth's family to know they have support in other areas of the U.S.
Police say Martin was killed by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman, who followed the 17-year-old. The unarmed Martin had just bought tea and skittles at a convenience store.
Zimmerman told dispatchers the teen looked suspicious, and the shooting followed. Martin was wearing a hoodie at the time of his death.
"You just have a hoodie that does not mean you should be racially profiled or shot," march participant Marco Maltbia said angrily.
Nearly 1,000 people showed up in Chicago for the "Million Hoodie March," to add their voices to the growing cross country chorus.
