South Bend march this Thursday for Trayvon Martin

SOUTH BEND – Demonstrations continue over the killing of a black Florida teenager. This week a demonstration is being held in South Bend.

Trayvon Martin, 17, was shot last month in the town of Sanford, Florida by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman, who has claimed self defense and has not been charged.

Martin was walking to his father's house. He did not have a weapon, but was carrying an iced tea and candy. 

In Chicago, Cleveland, Washington DC and Philadelphia, demonstrators supported Martin's family by wearing hoodies like the one Martin was wearing when he was shot. The Civil Rights Heritage Center in the Natatorium is asking people to do the same thing here by hosting the Million Hoodie March.

"We cannot stand by while these senseless laws like the ones in Florida which encourage people to shoot first and ask questions later caused this situation and also while black men, young black men are stereotyped as criminals," said Monica Tetzlaff, historian of the Civil Rights Heritage Center.

The march is scheduled for Thursday evening at 5:30. They will march from the Natatorium to the Martin Luther King Center.

SOUTH BEND MARCH, RALLY DETAILS

• 3 to 5 p.m. ... Youth invited to meet at the Civil Rights Heritage Center, 1040 W. Washington St., to make posters for rally

• 5:30 p.m. ... March from Civil Rights Center, 1040 W. Washington St., to Martin Luther King Center, 1522 W. Linden Ave.
  

• 6 to 7 p.m. ... Community rally for Justice

All participants are asked to wear hoodies, symbolic of what Trayvon Martin was wearing at the time of his death.

Sponsor: IU South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center

"The purpose of this march is to join in solidarity with those in this community and around the country. This is a peaceful and respectful gathering." Those statements are posted on the website promoting the South Bend events, http://www.thenatatorium.org/rally.html