MACOMB, ILL. -- UPDATED: April 13 at 12:01 a.m.
The Macomb community held a race rally yesterday in light of the Trayvon Martin case.
The McDonough County chapter of the NAACP held a Macomb rally Thursday night in light of the Trayvon Martin case where attendees could share personal stories of racism.
Organizers believe hearing these stories can help shed light on racial inequality in their own community, as Trayvon Martin's did nationally.
"I think it was an incident that kind of ignited a re-awareness that racism is still well and alive," Rutledge said.
The rally allowed attendees to share their support for the Martin family and more.
"It was a lost battle," Jeffery Hall, a Macomb resident said. "They said the cops saw the whole thing but the cops didn't know what happened so we just gave up on it."
Last year Hall and his brother were walking home when they say they were attacked. They called the police and made a report. But when the court day came, the case was thrown out. Hall believes his race played a big part in the attack and the decision to dismiss the case. He says he can relate to Trayvon Martin.
"If you're out there telling your story, then people can become more aware of things that are happening to people of color," Dr. Essie Rutledge of the NAACP said.
"Yes, on a national level it has pulled the blinders off of injustice and inequality within the judicial system concerning African Americans in society today," Rev. Wilbert Cole, a NAACP member said.
While Trayvon Martin's life did end tragically, organizers of this rally believe his case has a silver lining.
"I'm just thankful that people of all races and all colors have come together and unity today to express their concerns and their willingness to come together and show that people do care," Rev. Cole said.
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ORIGINAL STORY: April 12 at 3:23 p.m.
The Macomb community will hold a race rally Thursday in light of the Trayvon Martin case.
The McDonough County chapter of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is hosting the rally that will be held at Chandler Park from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Early Thursday, George Zimmerman made his first court appearance on a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Click here for the full story.
Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder on Wednesday, six weeks after he shot and killed 17-year old Trayvon Martin, Zimmerman says, in self defense.
Associated Press contributed to this story.
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