Rev. Al Sharpton, the host of MSNBC’s Politics Nation, has long been one of the most vocal activists in the Trayvon Martin case.
He has released an impassioned statement on the jury’s not guilty verdict in the death of the 17-year-old Florida teen:
“An atrocity, one of the worst situations that I’ve seen…We had to march to even get a trial, and then at trial when he’s exposed over and over again as a liar, he is acquitted. This is a sad day in the country. A slap in the face to those that believe In Justice in this country.”
Sharpton fought aggressively for the arrest of George Zimmerman, after several weeks passed without one following the shooting death of Martin.
Once Zimmerman was arrested and prosecuted, Sharpton continued to monitor the case closely.
In a separate statement Sharpton reiterated his disappointment with the trial’s outcome and said, “We intend to ask the Department of Justice to move forward as they did in the Rodney King case and we will closely monitor the civil case against Mr. Zimmerman. I will convene an emergency call with preachers tonight to discuss next steps and I intend to head to Florida in the next few days.”