By most accounts, gathering enough evidence to successfully prosecute George Zimmerman on civil rights or hate crime charges is a daunting task, even for the nation's top law enforcement agency.

The Justice Department appealed to a group of civil rights and community leaders in a conference call earlier this week to lend a hand in the investigation, the Orlando Sentinel reports. It also has set up a public email address for the public to share any relevant information that could help the effort. The address is Sanford.florida@usdoj.gov.

DOJ, FBI and other federal officials "were calling on us to actively refer anyone who had any information. They said they would very aggressively investigate this case," Barbara Arnwine, president of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, told the publication.

Attorney General Eric Holder raised the possibility of pressing charges against Zimmerman in speeches delivered at NAACP and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority conventions this week. He also took aim at Stand Your Ground laws, which he said undermine public safety and "contribute to more violence than they prevent."

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