By William Scott

Correspondent

Nearly two weeks after a Florida jury found George Zimmerman not guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Trayvon Martin, hundreds of people joined a rally in Suffolk to protest the verdict and raise awareness about the need for changes here in Suffolk.

The “Be Aware/Increase the Peace Rally” was held at White Marsh Plaza shopping center on Sunday. Despite temperatures in the low 90s and the looming threat of a storm, several hundred people attended the rally, which lasted from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The event was spearheaded by LaTroy Brinkley, owner of Serendipity Hair Salon on West Washington Street, who said it was meant to raise awareness of violence among youth and help change address the problem.

“I actually had tears in my eyes,” Brinkley said of hearing news of the verdict. “A lot of people looked at this as a race thing. I looked at it as a family that didn’t get justice. I’m a parent myself, so I can only imagine the feeling after being in court for so long just to get that not-guilty verdict.”

Upon hearing the verdict, Brinkley decided to hold the rally. He got the word out through radio advertisements, newspapers and social networking sites such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Two petitions were signed by about 360 people at the rally. One called for a federal civil case against George Zimmerman, while the other suggested that profits made by jurors or others from the case should go to the family of Trayvon Martin.

Among the focuses of Sunday’s event were local issues of violence and prejudice. Brinkley urged attendees to participate in elections to change government at the local and state level, rather than just focusing on federal elections.

Several guests who had experience with losing loved ones to violence spoke at the rally.

“It’s time to end race, inequality and injustice being swept under the rug.” Brinkley said in his opening speech. “We face it every day. We’re not judged by our character. We’re judged by the clothes that we wear. We’re judged by the way that we look. We are profiled because of what we drive and where we live, and that’s not what these United States are all about.”

Guests at the rally included Theressa Brown of WVKL 95.7 in Norfolk, Vice Mayor Charles Brown and Jennifer Pond, a candidate for Suffolk sheriff.

“This event is not just for people of color but for everybody all over the City of Suffolk, all over the 757 area code, North Carolina, Washington D.C., Maryland or however far it goes,” Brinkley said. “I want us to step across racial boundaries. We all can’t do this just as one color. We all have to come together as one.”