PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Rallies and demonstrations, both large and small, are being held in cities across the nation following the death of Trayvon Martin in Florida.

In Pittsburgh, a group of teens and young adults gathered Sunday near the Fred Rogers’ statue on the North Shore to focus on what local young people can do to inspire change.

The idea for the rally was spawned just 36 hours ago.

“If we don’t do nothing, if we just let people get killed, and we let wrong, and we let our neighborhoods look the way they do, and our schools the way they are, and our children get murdered in the streets… and no one says anything,” said one of the young adults who gathered for the rally. “I feel like sometimes you need to get fired up.”

Like the news of Trayvon Martin’s death, their call to action on Facebook and Twitter spread farther than they had planned.

“We initially thought it was going to be 10 or 20 people and somebody from the church to come and pray with us; and through social media, it blew up to something way bigger than we expected,” said Tandra Wade, one of the demonstrators.

“I was involved in Civil Rights back in the ‘60s and it’s like it’s not gone, it’s no better,” said one of the adults at the rally. “A lot of young people who maybe don’t know what went on need to talk to your elders and find out.”

They’ll press on with their efforts to reach other youth who declined the invitation to come.

“They don’t care, don’t realize that those of us here now are going to care anyway, we’re going to love them anyway, we’re going to do whatever it takes to keep them safe anyway,” said Keturah Wasler, a demonstrator. “Why? Because they too are Travyon. Admit it or not.”

On Monday, there is a huge rally planned at 12:30 p.m. on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University. It’s about seeking justice and honoring all those victimized by gun violence.

RELATED LINKS:
CBS Miami’s Coverage of Trayvon Martin’s Death
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