A month-long protest at the Florida Capitol following the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial is resulting in overtime expenses of nearly $173,000.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Wednesday released a final breakdown of security expenses. The protest began three days after Zimmerman was acquitted in July of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the 2012 death of teenager Trayvon Martin.
FDLE figures show that the 31-day protest also resulted in more than $20,000 in compensatory time to the officers who stayed in the Capitol with protesters.
Protesters demanded that Gov. Rick Scott call a special session to have legislators repeal the state’s “stand your ground” law, which Scott steadfastly refused.
A House committee is expected to discuss the “stand your ground” law this fall.