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Jul 20, 2013

Beyonce at Trayvon rally

Beyonce at Trayvon rally
Beyonce at Trayvon rally
Beyoncé and Jay Z embraced their political passions as they joined protesters standing up against the death of Trayvon Martin.

The musical power couple attended a rally in New York City on Saturday to speak out against the Stand Your Ground laws that led to George Zimmerman being acquitted for the murder of African-American 17-year-old last week.

They joined forces with activist and MSNBC host Al Sharpton, who introduced them as 'two of the baddest artists of all time' to the huge gathering.

'Jay Z and Beyoncé said they didn't want to speak and they didn't come for a photo op,' Sharpton continued, reported the Huffington Post. 'Beyoncé put a beautiful message up on Instagram. Let me tell you, that before a lot of you were down, Jay Z always supported us.

'Jay Z told me, "I'm a father. Beyoncé is a mother." We all feel the pain and apprehension - the laws must protect everybody, or it doesn't protect anybody. We do not come from hate, we come from love of children.'

Their presence came a day after Beyoncé tweeted, '#actnow4Trayvon,' to her 10 million Twitter followers, along with details of how to join the protest and log onto Move.org to sign a petition.

As racial rights supporter Sharpton spoke vehemently, the musical royalty stood by somberly, with Beyonce wearing funeral black and Jay Z in a white T-shirt, jeans and a black suit jacket.

On July 13 after the 'not guilty' verdict for Zimmerman was announced, the former Destiny's Child singer called for a moment of silence during her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour concert at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

'I’d like to have a moment of silence for Trayvon,' the pop star said as the stage grew dark with just a few key lights shining. She then sang the chorus of I Will Always Love You, before transitioning into her hit Halo.

As the glamorous stars weaved through the crowds, chants of 'Thanks Jay!' and 'No concerts in Florida,' rang out.

A boycott of the state has been announced by singer Stevie Wonder, following the 'not guilty' verdict.

'We must fight for Trayvon the same way the generation before us fought for Emmett Till,' Beyonce wrote on her blog. Till, 14, was murdered in 1955 in a case that was pivotal moment in the civil rights movement and his murderers were acquitted by an all-white jury.