Story highlights Verdict came as a "complete shock," Martin's mother says

She talks about a possible disconnect between jurors and her son

"Does the system work? It didn't work for us," says Martin's father

The parents did not say whether they may file a civil lawsuit

Trayvon Martin's father, Tracy, said Thursday it was difficult to listen to testimony about his son, particularly the negative comments, during George Zimmerman's trial.

"That wasn't the Trayvon that we raised. That wasn't the Trayvon that we knew, and that we love," he said during a Thursday night interview on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360."

Still, Trayvon Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, said that she felt the need to sit through every day of Zimmerman's trial because her son was "not here to say anything for himself."

She said that she wanted to "show a face" for her son.

Martin's parents spoke out Thursday for the first time since Zimmerman was acquitted in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

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"It came as a complete shock for me," Fulton said about the verdict.

"And the reason I say that is because I just look at people as people, and I thought for sure that the jury looked at Trayvon as an average teenager that was minding his own business, that wasn't committing any crime."

Martin's parents opted not to be in the courtroom when the verdict was read. They thought they would not be able to control their emotions -- whichever way the jury decided.

When they heard, they broke down.

"When I heard the verdict, I kind of understand the disconnect," Fulton said. "Maybe they (jurors) didn't see Trayvon as their son. They didn't see Trayvon as a teenager. They didn't see Trayvon as just a human being that was minding his own business."

'Does the system work? It didn't work for us'

Tracy Martin said he wasn't concerned about the racial makeup of the jury before the start of the trial, which has become a forum for debate about gun laws and race in America. But, like Fulton, he believes jurors never saw the event from the perspective of his son.

The jury had six women -- five white and one an unspecified minority.

Tracy Martin said he believes Juror B37 had her mind made up before the trial began. The juror gave an exclusive interview to CNN's Anderson Cooper this week and said the jury felt like it knew Zimmerman but didn't know enough about Martin.

Martin's mother said that despite that comment, jurors had sufficient information.

"They knew he was a teenager. They knew he was on his way home. They knew he ran," she said. "... How much do you need to know?"

Referring to Juror B37's statement that she did not believe race was a factor in the shooting, Fulton said, "I think that's a joke."

Tracy Martin said that his children had grown up in a diverse community, so he had never felt feel a need to have a conversation about how his sons should deal with race.

Rather, he said he talked with his children about "how we prepare them to become teenagers, to become upstanding citizens, to conduct themselves in public."

But once his unarmed son was shot, he said that changed. "What is it I can tell my child now?" he asked.

Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, is joined by her son Jahvaris Fulton as she speaks to the crowd during a rally in New York City, Saturday, July 20. A jury in Florida acquitted Zimmerman of all charges related to the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. View photos of key moments from the trial. Hide Caption 1 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – Protesters attend a rally in support of Trayvon Martin, in New York on July 20. The Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network organized the "'Justice for Trayvon' 100 city vigil" which called supporters to gather in front of federal buildings around the country on July 20, as a continued protest against the George Zimmerman verdict. Hide Caption 2 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – The Rev. Al Sharpton speaks to the crowd during the rally in New York City on July 20. Hide Caption 3 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – Beyoncé, left, and Jay-Z, center, arrive at the rally in New York City on July 20. Hide Caption 4 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – Thousands of people gathered outside the Richard B. Russell Federal Building in downtown Atlanta as part of the network of vigils on July 20. Hide Caption 5 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – A chalk outline, a bag of Skittles, and a can of iced tea are seen during the vigil outside the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington, D.C., on July 20. Hide Caption 6 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – Protesters march across the Brooklyn Bridge toward Brooklyn after attending the rally in Manhattan on July 20. Hide Caption 7 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – Tracy Martin, father of Trayvon Martin, poses for a photo with supporters wearing hoodies at the rally in Miami on July 20. Hide Caption 8 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – Protesters march through the streets of downtown Los Angeles, on Tuesday, July 16, during a demonstration of the George Zimmerman trial. Hide Caption 9 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – The Rev. Al Sharpton calls for a full federal investigation of the Martin killing, saying mere remarks by President Barack Obama and others weren't enough, outside the U.S. Justice Department in Washington on July 16. Hide Caption 10 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – A passenger takes a picture of protesters as he rides a city bus on July 16 in Los Angeles. Hide Caption 11 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – Protesters confront police officers on Monday, July 15, in Los Angeles. Hide Caption 12 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – Leon McCutchin participates in a candlelight vigil for Martin on July 15 in New York City. Hide Caption 13 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – A large group of demonstrators march through downtown Atlanta on July 15 during a protest of the acquittal of George Zimmerman. Hide Caption 14 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – Outside the Department of Justice in Washington on July 15, Rev. Anthony Evans, president of the National Black Church Initiative, leads a prayer during a demonstration asking for justice for Trayvon Martin. Hide Caption 15 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – Residents of Sanford, Florida, attend a prayer vigil to promote peace and unity in their city in the wake of the George Zimmerman trial on July 15. Hide Caption 16 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – About 500 demonstrators gather during a rally and march in support of Trayvon Martin on July 15 in Birmingham, Alabama. Hide Caption 17 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – A man argues with a police officer as supporters of Trayvon Martin march while blocking traffic in Union Square in New York on Sunday, July 14. Hide Caption 18 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – A man throws a trashcan during a protest in Oakland, California, on July 14. Hide Caption 19 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – People gather at a rally honoring Trayvon Martin at Union Square in New York on July 14. Hide Caption 20 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – Demonstrators march following a rally at the Torch of Freedom in downtown Miami on July 14. Hide Caption 21 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – Police hold positions on I-10 in Los Angeles. Protesters walked onto the freeway, stopping traffic, on July 14. Hide Caption 22 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – A protester shouts in the streets of New York on July 13. Hide Caption 23 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – A man in Los Angeles wears a shirt in support of Trayvon Martin on July 13. Hide Caption 24 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – Tanetta Foster cries in front of the courthouse on July 13 after hearing the verdict. Hide Caption 25 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – A Trayvon Martin supporter rallies outside the courthouse on July 13. After Martin's death, protesters started wearing hoodies in solidarity against racial profiling. Hide Caption 26 of 27 Photos: Photos: Reaction to Zimmerman verdict Reaction to Zimmerman verdict – Demonstrators and members of the media gather outside of the courthouse on July 13. The jurors deliberated for more than 16 hours before delivering their verdict. Hide Caption 27 of 27

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In spite of his son's death, Tracy Martin said he has faith in the legal system.

"The state did all they could with what they had" given the poor quality of the investigation, he said.

"Does the system work? It didn't work for us. We remain prayerful that through this injustice, we can close that gap and hopefully the system can start working for everyone equally."

'Hopefully, we can find some positive'

Martin's mother said that she hoped that a foundation started in her son's name would allow for something good to come out of his death.

"The change that we hope to affect is with the law," Fulton said. "We want to make sure any teenager who is walking down the street wont' be killed, that they will make it home safe."

"Hopefully, we can find some positive, some bright side out of all of this," she said.

The parents did not say whether they may file a civil lawsuit.

Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Martin's family who also appeared on "Anderson Cooper 360," said they are hoping for a federal civil rights investigation into the teenager's death.

He said they were pleased by the charges brought against Zimmerman because they felt it got to the heart of the allegations.

But he said he did not believe the police were aggressive with the shooting investigation, appearing to take Zimmerman's word for it.

"Not only did (Zimmerman) profile Trayvon Martin, the police profiled Trayvon Martin," Crump said.

'Forgiveness takes time'

Earlier Thursday, in interviews on the three network TV morning news programs, Martin's parents assailed the verdict and the Zimmerman defense team's argument that the killing was in self-defense during an attack by the unarmed teenager.

Fulton told "CBS This Morning" she was "in a bit of shock" after the verdict. "I thought surely that he would be found guilty of second-degree murder," she said.

On NBC's "Today," Fulton said the case is "sending a terrible message to other little black and brown boys -- that you can't walk fast, you can't walk slow. So what do they do? I mean, how do you get home without people knowing or either assuming that you're doing something wrong? Trayvon wasn't doing anything wrong."

Speaking to ABC's "Good Morning America," Martin added that he and Fulton did not find the verdict fair, "and of course it's devastating."

"Today" asked them whether they may forgive Zimmerman, the 29-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer.

"Forgiveness is like a healing process. Forgiveness takes time," Martin responded. "The Bible says that you have to forgive and forget, but also the healing process is a long process and the forgiving process is a long process."