WASHINGTON — Three days after the not guilty verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman, prayers were raised by a small group of activists who gathered outside Ben’s Chili Bowl in northwest Washington.

“We thank you for the life of Trayvon Martin,” intoned Rocky Twyman on Rockville, who led the prayer, resplendent in a purple dashiki.

“We also pray for the Zimmerman family, they are also suffering,” added Twyman,

The activists prayed for calm in the wake of the verdict and called on people to remain peaceful.

Behind dark sunglasses, Wade Montgomery of D.C., asked passersby to sign a pledge: “No Fights, No Riots.”

“We’re not siding with one against the other, we must always use peace and trust the justice system,” Montgomery says.

Customers ready to eat at one of Washington’s most famous eateries paused to sign a plain white sympathy card that bore a simple message, “God Comfort the Martin family.”

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