Rallies planned in 100 cities to urge "justice" for Trayvon Martin

• Organizers of Saturday rallies want a federal civil rights probe in Trayvon Martin’s death


• Obama says a civil rights case would be difficult, says he respects verdict


• Martin’s mother to appear Saturday in New York, his father in Miami

(CNN) — More than 100 rallies are planned around the country Saturday for “National Justice for Trayvon Day.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network said the goal of the rallies is to urge the Justice Department to investigate a federal civil rights prosecution in the death of Trayvon Martin.

George Zimmerman, a Hispanic man, shot the African-American teenager on February 26, 2012. He claimed self-defense, and a Florida jury acquitted him July 13. Zimmerman had a confrontation with Martin after calling police to report a suspicious person. The case became a flashpoint in debates over racial profiling.

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In New York, the rallies will be headlined by Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, her son, Jahvaris Fulton, and Sharpton. Martin’s father, Tracy Martin, will appear at a rally in Miami.

President Barack Obama on Friday said it would be difficult to prove a federal civil rights case in Martin’s case, although the Justice Department is reviewing the evidence.

The president said he respects the Florida jury’s verdict, but called for more examination of racial profiling and “stand your ground” self-defense laws.

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Rallies planned in 100 cities to urge "justice" for Trayvon Martin