Editing Al Sharpton (section)

===George Zimmerman===
{{Main|Killing of Trayvon Martin|George Zimmerman}}
Following the 2012 [[killing of Trayvon Martin]] by [[George Zimmerman]], Sharpton led several protests and rallies criticizing the [[Sanford Police Department (Florida)|Sanford Police Department]] over the handling of the shooting and called for Zimmerman's arrest: "Zimmerman should have been arrested that night. You cannot defend yourself against a pack of Skittles and iced tea."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-22/news/os-trayvon-martin-al-sharpton-rally-20120322_1_national-action-network-sharpton-crowd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324115023/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-22/news/os-trayvon-martin-al-sharpton-rally-20120322_1_national-action-network-sharpton-crowd |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |title=Trayvon Martin Al Sharpton rally: Rev. Al Sharpton holds justice rally for slain teen Trayvon Martin |work=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=February 22, 2015}}</ref> [[Sean Hannity]] accused Sharpton and MSNBC of "rush[ing] to judgment" in the case. [[MSNBC]] issued a statement in which they said Sharpton "repeatedly called for calm" and further investigation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shapiro |first=Rebecca |title=Sean Hannity George Zimmerman Interview: MSNBC Hits Out At Fox News |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/19/sean-hannity-george-zimmerman-msnbc-statement_n_1687133.html |date=July 19, 2012 |access-date=July 23, 2012}}</ref> Following the acquittal of Zimmerman, Sharpton called the not guilty verdict an "atrocity" and "a slap in the face to those that believe in justice".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wbzt.com/articles/national-news-104668/al-sharpton-verdict-an-atrocity-11480129/ |title=Al Sharpton: Verdict an 'Atrocity' |publisher=Wbzt.com |date=July 14, 2013 |access-date=October 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029234751/http://www.wbzt.com/articles/national-news-104668/al-sharpton-verdict-an-atrocity-11480129/ |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Subsequently, Sharpton and his organization, [[National Action Network]], held rallies in several cities denouncing the verdict and called for "Justice for Trayvon".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/07/20/203934416/a-week-after-zimmerman-acquittal-protest-rallies-planned |title='Justice For Trayvon' Rallies Held In Numerous Cities |date=July 20, 2013 |work=NPR |access-date=February 22, 2015}}</ref>