Students at Bloomsburg University join in nation-wide rallies for slain Florida teenager, Trayvon Martin.
“The case of Trayvon Martin shows that we still deal with the issue of racism in our society," said one speaker who stood before the dozens of students who gathered on Bloomsburg University's campus for 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
The Florida teenager was shot and killed one month ago by a crime watch volunteer in a gated community north of Orlando.
The students wore hooded sweatshirts in honor of Martin, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt the night he was killed.
“The issue that we have going on in today's society where the difference between a black man wearing a hoodie in today's society and white, Latino, Asian man wearing a hoodie,” said graduate student Marcus Seles.
“This is a problem that needs to be resolved and I hope that this is just the beginning of our efforts to resolve,” said another speaker.
Students at Bloomsburg joined rallies across the country as rumors this shooting was racially motivated continue to fuel anger.
Police in Florida said Martin was shot and killed after some sort of confrontation with 28-year-old George Zimmerman who is a crime watch volunteer in that gated community.
Zimmerman has not been charged.
Students at Bloomsburg said they are upset by how this case is being handled.
“It's not right that people are shooting people for no reason,” said Bloomsburg High School student Alex Wardigo. “I don't think he had a reason to do it. It's a bunch of junk if you ask me.”
“Even though it didn't happen to us in Bloomsburg, just to stand up for the child and his family,” said junior Susana Villalobos.
Police said Zimmerman told them he shot Martin in self-defense.
Zimmerman`s friends have publicly said he is not a racist.
Now a teenager's life has been cut short and many are saying his shooter should be held accountable.
“He needs justice like everybody else does.”
