George Zimmerman Trayvon Martin
A Florida jury found George Zimmerman (left) not guilty in the killing of Trayvon Martin. Reuters

The acquittal by a Florida jury of six women Saturday night of George Zimmerman for killing unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin is drawing strong reactions from celebrities.

Many musicians, athletes and others took to the microblog network Twitter to share their feelings after the Seminole County Court jury found Zimmerman not guilty of both second-degree murder and the lesser charge of manslaughter. Here’s what the stars had to say:

The verdict came after the jury was sequestered on June 24. After three weeks of testimony, the women deliberated for more than 16 hours. The prosecution argued that Martin was fatally shot because of Zimmerman’s assumption that the teen was a criminal. The defense said the shooting was self-defense. Zimmerman’s lawyer said Martin, 17, floored the 29-year-old neighborhood watchman and slammed his head into the sidewalk.

At a concert in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday night, megastar Beyonce held a moment of silent when Zimmerman’s verdict returned.

“I’d like to have a moment of silence for Trayvon,” the star said, as reported by the Associated Press.

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund said it is “deeply troubled” by the verdict. It plans to ask U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to conduct a comprehensive federal review of Zimmerman’s conduct. They are also urging Martin’s family to pursue a civil action.

“Trayvon Martin’s tragic and senseless death was the direct result of Mr. Zimmerman’s false and offensive assumption that Trayvon was a criminal because he was African-American,” the statement read. “His unnecessary death exposes the entrenched nature of racial prejudice in our country and reflects the unfinished struggle to fulfill this country’s promise of racial equality and justice for all.”