Posted on 04/27/2012 8:26:15 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Its been two months since his death, but the drama surrounding Trayvon Martin is nowhere near over. As the courtroom battle is preparing to ramp up, the teenager, who was shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, is still widely discussed in U.S. news outlets. On Thursday, celebrities, civil rights activists and Martins relatives all assembled to mark the two-month anniversary at a church in Los Angeles, California.
The San Gabriel Valley Tribune has more about the rally, which was also held in honor of another young life that was more recently lost:
Hundreds gathered Thursday night for a rally honoring slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin and Citrus College student Kendrec McDade, who was fatally shot by Pasadena police officers in March. [...]
McDade, 19, a former Azusa High School football player, died March 24 when officers responded to an armed robbery call, although police later determined that McDade was unarmed. McDades family has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city.
McDade family attorney Caree Harper said she will continue to ask the police for more information about McDades shooting.
(VIDEO AT LINK)
As he has been since the beginning of the case, the Rev. Al Sharpton was heavily involved in the event at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ. The fiery civil rights leader relied, at least at moments, on the racially-divisive language he has used throughout the ordeal.
There are Trayvons all over this country, Sharpton said, according to the Associated Press. What kind of world are we living in that we can put a black man in the White House, but a black man cant walk through a gated community?
Sharpton also railed against the inequality he believes resulted in both Martins and McDades deaths.
Tonight is about you committing to be in it for the long haul. This is not about coming out and watching a rally, he said. This is about making a permanent movement until we change the laws and the structure and the inequality and the unfairness and the disproportionate distribution of justice.
(VIDEO AT LINK)
Sharpton, The Christian Post reports, was joined by the Rev. Jessie Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Magic Johnson and Paul Rodriguez, among others. The star-studded rally was put on by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Pantagraph.com continues, highlighting the financial assistance the event brought to Martins family:
Martins mother Sybrina Fulton thanked the crowd, which donated thousands of dollars in cash and checks, to a foundation in her sons name in a collection led by Sharpton, who contributed $500 himself.
Be encouraged, I am encouraged. I believe justice will be served, said Fulton.
Martins father, Tracy Martin, added that he made a vow to his son that he would not let Trayvons life be taken in vain.
While the event urged peaceful protest, it encouraged those in attendance to get involved in helping to heal the social ills that purportedly led to the aforementioned deaths.
Whippin’ up a race war...
Local radio said none of the big name celebs listed were there. And was also used as a fund raiser.
Just don’t understand why intelligent black people can’t see how they are being used.
Take away the non-profit status of the “Church”
Why is the IRS remaining quiet about this blatant political event?
Trayvon’s mama is rich, now she can buy that big screen TV she always wanted. Is she still trade marking her dead sons name for profit
Intelligent black people aren't being used.
There is that. My bad.
NO_LIMIT_SHARPTON rides again!
What kind of world are we living in, when we can put a black man in the White House, but the most likely cause of death of a young black man, is at the barrel of a gun held by another black man??????
It's nearly over - the truth about the kid-thug-gangbanger is leaking all over Al and Pork-Chop.
It's getting to be so yesterday. They need a fresh kill, and one that's cleaner .................................... FRegards
The megachurch says what - a bigger place to hold the people? I see it as a bigger place in order to hold all the hate.
I hope they let cameras into the courtroom and let America see all the evidence. That will be an eye opener for many. GZ would likely come out smelling like a rose. They need to do this so that when he is released he will have the public on his side.
Florida routinely allows cameras in court. Good.
This is the biggest break Sharpton has had in years and he is playing it to the hilt.
Well we got a peek at all the pent up desire to take our guns away. They want the white and otherwise “rich” population to be helpless and unarmed and this unable to resist their redistribution of wealth via muggings and just plain forcibly taking it from us.
I an SO glads Zimmerman is half Hispanic and part Black (the “one drop rule” makes him “Black” like Bambi)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!
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