(Utica, NY – July 2013) Local community groups have scheduled a rally on Thursday, July 18 to call for action and changes to the criminal-justice system including repealing “Stand your Ground” laws as well as ending stop and frisk and racial profiling practices. The rally was called in light of the acquittal of neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman of manslaughter and second-degree murder charges in the shooting of Trayvon Martin.
The rally will be held in front of the New York State Office Building, 207 Genesee Street, Downtown Utica, (opposite from the Radisson Hotel) from 4 to 6 p.m.
Thursday’s rally – ”Justice for Trayvon – Justice for All” – is organized by the Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc., Occupy Utica, Organizing for Action, Central New York MoveOn Council, Cornhill Community for Change, and other community, civic, and faith-based groups.
The purpose of the rally is to prevent future tragedies by promoting constructive dialogue, peace, harmony, justice, multicultural understanding, and unity. The rally organizers are also advocating for the United States Department of Justice to consider filing criminal civil rights charges in the Zimmerman case.
For more information, please call 315-725-0974 or email cnycitizenaction@gmail.com.