Several protesters were arrested over the weekend as demonstrators expressed outrage over George Zimmerman's acquittal in his second degree murder trial, ABC News reported.
The largest rally took place on Sunday night, according to reports, in New York City, and lasted until early Monday morning. Marchers were dispersed around different Manhattan neighborhoods, shutting down traffic from Union Square to Times Square. A handful of protesters also found their way to Bronx Criminal Courthouse at around 3 a.m.
The event in New York began as peaceful, but soon got rowdy, as police made arrests after bottles had been thrown at officers, WABC-TV reported. Reports of violence also took place in Los Angeles and Oakland.
Volunteer neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin late on Saturday night. Zimmerman's claim of self-defense was recognized by the jury, for shooting Martin on February 26, 2012.
"In what universe does it make any sense, could it be considered legal, to stalk, confront, and murder a completely innocent teenager?" rally organizer Mike Stark asked at the protest.
About 200 people turned out for a rally and march in downtown Chicago, saying the verdict was symbolic of lingering racism in the United States.
"They'll be civil law suit filed that we should rally around," Rainbow Push Coalition founder Jesse Jackson said. "We can all urge the Department of Justice to rally around and they must."
On Saturday night, an all-female jury found Zimmerman not guilty, capping off a lengthy year and a half that has stoked passion in people about their feelings on guns and racial profiling.
