Hundreds protest Florida teen's death | Community Spirit

The death of Trayvon Martin has people in Rochester and nationwide speaking their minds against needless violence. 

Sunday, Rochesterians joined the "1,000,000 Hoodie March" in honor of Florida teen Trayvon Martin, who was shot and killed in Sanford, Florida on Feb. 26.

The shooting induced a wave of outrage about racism and injustice, with demonstrations in major cities like New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago.

The Rochester march will started at 3 p.m. at the Liberty Pole in Downtown Rochester and ended at the Federal Building.

Martin was wearing a hoodie, unarmed and walking back home to father's fiancee's house, when he was shot by George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old who called 911 before the shooting saying he was trailing a suspicious person.

Zimmerman has not been charged, but his legal counsel says the shooting was in self-defense and not racially motivated in anyway. 

Martin was carrying a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea on his way home. His friends and family say to national media outlets that he was non-confrontational, and numerous reports portray Martin's legacy as an athletic and laid-back young man who did not have a history of any trouble with the law. 

The Rev. Jesse Jackson said Friday that Martin's killing reflects "the classic struggle of our time," according the Associated Press.

But state and federal officials are still investigating. The U.S. Justice Department could bring a hate crime charge if it is found Zimmerman shot Martin out of a racial bias, which is clear to some, and inconclusive to others.

Black, white, young and old -- they all showed up with a clear message...

“We are walking together, we are going to hold each other up and we are asking for justice for Trayvon,” City Council Member, Adam McFadden told News10NBC.

We asked protesters why they attended the march Sunday afternoon. “To show that this injustice shouldn't be tolerated in this day and age in America,” Patrick Chase explained.

It was a scene like many others across the nation for the shooting death of an unarmed teenager in Florida that has outraged thousands.

Now it’s reached the hearts of hundreds here in Rochester.

Some couldn't hold back their disappointment many protesters say the teen was murdered and his killer -- set free. Many believe race played a major factor in the shooting.

“I just feel very sorry for the family and I feel very sorry for the nation that these things are happening and nobody is doing anything about it,” protester Robin Davis told us.

“We haven't come far enough because now we're allowing people to shoot seventeen, sixteen, fifteen year old boys and go and walk free,” said Edward Goolsby, NAACP of Rochester’s President.

In light of the tragedy, the protest promoted peace, change -- an end to racism.

But the number one goal for these protesters was justice for Trayvon.

“I would like to see the man who committed this crime be brought to justice,” the theme was familiar as Tyler Jones agreed with many of the protesters.