ndiana Black Expo President and CEO Tanya Bell and Indianapolis City-County Council President Maggie Lewis both issued statements late Saturday after the verdict was announced at around 10:00 pm.

"While citizens of a Democracy must accept the outcome of a judicial system that works more often than not, there is nonetheless a feeling of grave [disappointment] that the circumstances of and evidence presented in the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was not compelling enough for this jury to render a guilty verdict," said Bell.

"We pray for peaceful acceptance of the verdict across the nation. Rather than confrontational responses, those disappointed must instead channel that energy to push for the abolition of laws that justify conditions that provide too large a margin for error for individuals to justify taking another person's life," she added.

"Finally, we pray for ongoing dialogue and heightened sensitivity to matters of race and other divisive elements in a society far stronger when people of all orientations discover common ground and work together, celebrating their diversity while appreciating their own and every other culture," Bell said.

[link to www.wthr.com]