By Jerriann Sullivan
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is expected to discuss the George Zimmerman not-guilty verdict in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin when he speaks at the NAACP convention in Orlando today. Zimmerman, the 29-year-old Neighborhood Watch volunteer who killed Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old in February 2012, was acquitted of second-degree murder Saturday night.
Holder spoke to members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., on Sunday in Washington, D.C. He told the women that the Justice Department is looking into whether George Zimmerman violated federal civil-rights laws.
“I want to assure you that the Department will continue to act in a manner that is consistent with the facts and the law,” Holder said.
The NAACP started a petition Saturday night urging the DOJ to take action. Organizers posted on their website and Moveon.org., along with providing access on mobile devices.
“We’re closing in on 1 million signers since the verdict came down on Saturday night,” said Eric Wingerter, Vice President for Communications and Digital Media. “The NAACP has never seen a response like this. I think this shows how this has affected communities around the country.”
The Attorney General is expected to address the convention at 3 p.m. today at the Orange County Convention Center. The session is open to the public.