Photo by Joe Mello

A group calling itself P.E.A.C.E ("Protecting Everyone America Created Equality") organized the rally and sent out press releases in advance. PEACE organizer Alana Walton told the LBREPORT.com that the protest was not about numbers. "I was ready to come here with just my family. It only takes 3 people to make a change."

Photo by Joe Mello

Photo by Joe Mello

Photo by Joe Mello

Photo by Joe Mello

Photo by Joe Mello

Photo by Joe Mello

After standing on the steps of the courthouse for a little over an hour, the protesters marched east along Ocean Blvd before returning to the courthouse, The crowd chanted slogans for justice and against the Florida "stand your ground" law [update: which wasn't used as a defense in the case.]

Photo by Joe Mello

Long Beach resident Leslie Burnett (a Norwalk High School teacher) told LBREPORT.com that she and her husband saw the protests all over the country and wanted to have their voices heard. They did a Google search to find the Long Beach protest but weren't part of the group that organized it.

"We came here to exercise our 1st Amendment right to protest the Zimmerman case," Burnett said. She added that the couple also wanted to see the stand your ground law repealed. "We have four bi-racial children. My boys could be profiled," Ms. Burnett said.

Sign by Burnett family. Photo by Joe Mello