The death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin got attention at UNC Charlotte Thursday afternoon, where dozens of students gathered for a rally, saying they want justice.

The students who organized the rally said they did it as part of a class project. But they said they would have anyway, because it feels like a civil rights issue for their generation.

The students gathered at the Belk Tower on campus at 11 a.m. Some of the students came with signs saying things like “I am Trayvon Martin.”

They chanted for justice and for the arrest of accused shooter George Zimmerman.

Eyewitness News was told that the word spread on Facebook and Twitter.

One of the students who put the rally together said this is an emotional issue for her.

"We can eat at the same lunch counters as Caucasians in America, and we can drink from the same water fountains and we can go to the same schools. But some of us cannot walk down the street with a hoodie on without being killed," said Brandy Hamilton.

The group ended the rally telling fellow students that this was their first step in doing something and urged them to continue to get involved.

A prayer vigil for Trayvon is being held Thursday evening at Marshall park. It started at 6 p.m. A civil rights group is asking people to wear hoodies and carry Skittles, which is what Trayvon was wearing and carrying when he was shot.