2 Trayvon protest marches to be held in Philly

PHILADELPHIANS outraged by the Trayvon Martin case will rally in the city Friday and Monday.

Organizers are asking that protesters show up wearing hoodies as a show of support for the unarmed black teenager gunned down by a Hispanic neighborhood-watch captain.

"Enough is enough. This was just blatant discrimination," said Chris Norris, a lead organizer of Monday's 6:30 p.m. rally at Love Park. "It's blatant racism. I can't believe it happened. I feel like I'm in a dream."

Organizers also are putting together a Million Hoodie March in support of Martin on Friday beginning at 7 p.m. at 30th Street Station and heading to Love Park.

Martin was killed Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., in a gated community after buying candy at a convenience store. He was unarmed and wearing a hooded sweatshirt when he was confronted by George Zimmerman. Zimmerman claims the teen attacked him and that he shot Martin in self-defense. The watch captain, who had been warned by a police dispatcher not to follow Martin, hasn't been charged.

The killing touched a long-frayed racial nerve as word spread around the country.

Norris, who is active in the Occupy Philadelphia movement, told me that news about Martin's killing reignited memories of his being a 20-year-old black man living in Austin, Texas, and being routinely followed by police. Norris was so unsettled that he began making YouTube videos to raise awareness and he also got involved with a Facebook group to discuss it.

"We're asking people to bring their hoodies and to wear their hoodies. We'll light candles," said Norris, CEO of the Philly-based company Techbook Online. "This is a peaceful, spiritual vigil."

On Wednesday, New Yorkers gathered for a rally called the Million Hoodie March in memory of Martin. Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mother, told the crowd: "This is not a black and white thing - this is about a right or wrong thing."

Even as organizers spread the word about Friday and Monday's gatherings in Center City, controversy is brewing as I couldn't help but notice on Facebook.

"I'm, like, are you kidding me?" said Sixx King, who has been posting on Facebook about what he perceives as a double standard in terms of how the case is being viewed. King, director of a new film called "Mothers of No Tomorrow," said people are so worked up about Martin that they aren't focused on larger issues such urban crime.

"Wearing a hoodie in support of Trayvon Martin is so disrespectful," he wrote.