Community Leaders to Host Prayer Rally For Trayvon Martin Tonight

By City News Service

Community leaders plan to lead a "prayer rally'' at Leimert Park tonight in the aftermath of George Zimmerman's acquittal at his murder trial for the slaying of Trayvon Martin.

The rally is set for 6 p.m. At a news conference at 11 a.m., also at Leimert Park, black community and political leaders and representatives of the Los Angeles Police Department will appeal to people who disagreed with the verdict to remain peaceful at tonight's rally and in future demonstrations.

Expected to attend the news conference were U.S. Rep. Karen Bass, D-Culver City, LAPD representatives and civil rights activists Najee Ali, Rev. K.W. Tulloss and Earl Ofari Hutchinson.

Ali said Bass contacted him with concerns that peaceful rallies sanctioned by the Martin family could turn violent.

"She's very concerned it could easily spiral out of control,'' Ali said. "Outsiders have come into our community who are extremists and are trying to take advantage of the situation to promote violence and vandalism,'' he said. "If you want to protest the verdict, do it legally -- don't cause disruption.''

Ali said of tonight's rally, "There will be no marches. Just a prayer rally.''

He noted that he and Bass lived through the 1992 riots.

"We want to show leadership and speak out with the police'' to prevent anything like that from happening again, he said.

At least one person was arrested in Los Angeles Sunday afternoon during demonstrations against the verdict in the Zimmerman trial.