Hundreds in Downtown Syracuse chanted "Trayvon Martin" Friday night, drawing attention to the Florida teen killed last month.
"I was outraged, I was upset. I am Trayvon, my brothers are Trayvon. We can be angry but we should guide it into passion. Passion to get a movement like this started," said one of the organizers Yaschia Kinsey.
Advocates called it the One Million Hoodie March, a movement that's been taking place across the U.S. At 7:17, the loud rally turned quiet, marking the moment police found 17-year-old Trayvon Martin's body. The Florida teen was killed by a neighborhood watchman thought he looked suspicious, partly because he was wearing he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt. He was unarmed, with only skittles and an iced tea in his pocket.
George Zimmerman, the man who shot him, claims it was in self defense. He's been keeping quiet since it happened and has not been charged with any crime, which has sparked outrage across the country.
"He's not here because someone didn't value his life that's what we want to spread in Syracuse, that we should value one another," said Ciarah Richardson.
The hundreds involved not only had the same message but were all wearing the same thing, hooded sweatshirts. "Everybody in a hoodie is not a drug dealer. Someone took his life because of suspicion so we are out here to support him," said Tonnorris Kinsey.
The group also called for peace in Syracuse and an end to senseless violence that has claimed too many young lives. "My hurt has turned into hope, hope for this city," said Kinsey.
