Washington ( CNN ) -- A government agency long associated with efforts to mediate and diffuse tense situations in communities helped organize rallies over the killing of Florida teen Trayvon Martin last year , a conservative leaning legal advocacy group claims . Judicial Watch circulated a press release and accompanying documents on Wednesday asserting that the Community Relations Service , a division of the Justice Department , sent a `` secret team '' of `` peacekeepers '' to Sanford , Florida , last March and April to work marches , demonstrations and rallies related to the explosive case that is now the subject of a murder trial . Timeline of early events in Trayvon Martin case . The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment . It instead pointed CNN to the 45-year record of CRS , which was created by a provision included in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 . The CRS website describes itself as `` the only federal agency dedicated to assist state and local units of government , private and public organizations , and community groups with preventing and resolving racial and ethnic tensions , incidents , and civil disorders , and in restoring racial stability and harmony . '' CRS conciliators are frequently seen at large marches and rallies , and have been present at countless protests , including those that occur every four years at the Democratic and Republican political conventions . Conservative groups have complained that the conciliators are secretive and do not talk to the media . Ex-Sanford police chief : Zimmerman probe 'taken away from us ' The service maintains that it does not choose sides and `` uses impartial mediation practices and conflict resolution procedures to help local leaders resolve problems and restore stability . '' Zimmerman , 29 , is accused of second-degree murder in the February 26 , 2012 , death of Martin , 17 . Defense attorneys argue Zimmerman shot Martin in self-defense after the Miami teenager charged him . Prosecutors argue he followed Martin through his neighborhood and shot him without provocation . Martin supporters argued Zimmerman , who is Hispanic , took advantage of what they considered loose Florida gun laws to racially profile and shoot an unarmed African-American teenager without provocation . The incident , inflamed by a lengthy delay before charges were filed against Zimmerman , provoked protests nationwide . Opinion : What about Martin 's right to 'stand his ground ' ?
Justice Department unit worked rallies over Trayvon Martin shooting , Judicial Watch says . The Community Relations Service sent a `` secret team '' or `` peacekeepers '' to Florida , group says . CRS long associated with efforts to mediate and difuse tense situations in communities . Comment: