Posted on 05/25/2012 11:39:49 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Trayvon Martin's parents visited East St. Louis on Friday to share the lessons they've learned from their son's death and to urge young people to put down the guns and pick up some books.
Trayvon's father, Tracy Martin, who grew up in East St. Louis, and his mother, Sybrina Fulton, attended a Stop the Violence rally Friday at the North End Missionary Baptist Church. The church's capacity was 750, but the crowd filled the sanctuary and spilled outside.
Benjamin Crump, the attorney for Trayvon's family, stirred the packed church by asking them to repeat after him loud enough so Trayvon could hear them: "I am Trayvon Martin."
He compared the death of Trayvon Martin, 16, on Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., after a neighborhood watch member shot the teen, to the death of Emmett Till, 14, who in 1955 was murdered after whistling at a white woman.
Emmett Till's mother, Mamie, made the "brave decision" to have her son's brutalized body brought from Mississippi back to Chicago, stopping in cities along the way to let the people know what three white men did to her son.
Then he looked around at the audience and said the Martin family made the decision that they would not be quiet about the situation but would talk, beg, scream and fight until they got justice.
Crump pleased the crowd, who shouted out "Tracy" often throughout the rally when he told the story how after rallies in New York, Miami, Sanford, and even London in support of justice for Trayvon, Tracy Martin would say to him that he "hadn't seen the support we will get until we get to East St. Louis."
He talked to the crowd about the mission for the Trayvon Martin Foundation:
* To be advocates for families who have lost loved ones to senseless crimes.
* To educate young people on conflict resolution techniques.
* Increase awareness against all types of profiling.
* Enact "Trayvon Martin" legislation to confront and amend the stand your ground principles that suggest that you can be the aggressor and then try to claim self-defense.
Crump, speaking about profiling, said, "We believe in our heart of hearts that Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch vigilante got out of his car, profiled and confronted Trayvon Martin as he was just trying to walk home with his Skittles and iced tea."
Before taking his seat, Crump told the crowd that he and the family came to East St. Louis "to stand with you to stop the violence."
"Just think for one second. I want you all to consider what if on Feb. 26, George Zimmerman didn't have a gun. It might've been an altercation, but nobody would be dead. Trayvon would've been going to his prom, and pursuing his dreams in the aviation field.
"The police were there in less than 60 seconds after George Zimmerman shot the gun," Crump said. He said Zimmerman should've let them do their job.
Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder and a lawyer has said he acted in self-defense.
Amid loud applause, Fulton first thanked the people "for standing up for my son." Then, she said, "Trayvon is your son, your stepson, your grandson, your nephew -- all of your sons. If it could happen to my son, it could happen to your son. We all have to get up and stand up for justice. Trayvon is no different than any other kid." Fulton asked every member of the audience to "change your kids' minds and make sure you're talking to them every day and giving them hugs and kisses. You have to give them love."
Fulton said Trayvon was never afraid to hug and kiss her in public.
Tracy Martin, who grew up all over East St. Louis, including the Roosevelt homes, the Norman E. Owens housing projects, at 21st and Lynch and also in Washington Park, said the guns need to go.
"We have to take the guns away, but we have to replace them with something. It starts with God and love. We have to get back to family love, family values. We have to embrace and love each other. Then we need jobs. And we have to give them a book, an education. Without education, it's a lost cause."
Martin said more resources are needed to invest in centers for young men and women to go to so they can be off the streets.
He talked of how the neighbors would get after him if they saw him do something that was wrong. Now, he said people in the community are afraid to say something to a child they see doing something wrong "because they are afraid of what the kid will do."
Talking about his son, Martin said, "Trayvon thought it was safe for him to walk outside. He was in a gated community. That community has been there for five years. We shouldn't have to be afraid to walk outside, or be afraid of profiling, or of getting robbed or shot."
James Clark, vice president of Community Outreach for Better Family Life, told the crowd he was reminded of a rap song that came out in the 1980's called "Self Destruction." The lyrics said, "We never ran from the Ku Klux Klan. We shouldn't have to run from a black man."
A group of family and friends presented Fulton and Martin with a plaque that contained Trayvon's picture with him wearing a hoodie. The Martin family was told that the plaque would serve as a constant reminder of their solidarity with the family -- and their vow to fight for justice right along with them.
Brianna Hunter, 13, said, "gun violence is not always the answer."
"People need to learn how to settle their differences without shooting people. Put down the guns and pull up your pants. That's disrespectful."
Comparing him to Emmett Till??? What-the-F???
That’s the image that they have in their heads, that he was a little boy skipping home with his candy when the evil white man ran up to him and shot him because he was black. That MUST be what they think from the insanity I’m reading.
It kinda sorta helps if said skittles waving ‘youth’ don’t approach people and slam their heads in the sidewalk too. Also aids to staying alive: Don’t make a habit of punching out bus drivers. It gives you a feeling of over confidence. Some day you will run into someone who is not going to put up with your ghetto crap and think their life is more valuable than yours. b) don’t steal rings and stuff from neighborhoods. Cuts down on getting throw out of school. And if you studied instead you might have more career choices than gang banger or pimp or drug dealer.
The one particle of sanity in the whole thing.
It kinda sorta helps if said skittles waving ‘youth’ don’t approach people and slam their heads in the sidewalk too. Also aids to staying alive: Don’t make a habit of punching out bus drivers. It gives you a feeling of over confidence. Some day you will run into someone who is not going to put up with your ghetto crap and think their life is more valuable than yours. b) don’t steal rings and stuff from neighborhoods. Cuts down on getting throw out of school. And if you studied instead you might have more career choices than gang banger or pimp or drug dealer.
Take technology away from these youths. And take away their cough syrup and Skittles and Arizona watermelon soda. Sheesh.
I resent these stupid children and their habits that cause normal people to have to show ID to purchase over the counter meds.
Truth is never part of leftist speech—it is all agitprop—for their agendas of slavery for the masses.
Blows your mind,doesn’t it?
“I want you all to consider what if on Feb. 26, George Zimmerman didn’t have a gun. It might’ve been an altercation, but nobody would be dead.”
That’s a lovely thought, but not accurate. I know a guy who got knocked off his bike by a city bus, and his head smacked into the ground. He’s lucky that he retained his intellect, but the accident messed up his motor centers and even now, years later, he can barely walk. Getting your head whacked on the ground, especially multiple times, is no joke — a recipe for permanent injury or death.
George Zimmerman was supposed to defend himself with a book?
No, he was supposed to take whatever 12 year old Trayvon dished out, since he had no right to question or “diss” a visiting stranger to his community. If that meant being killed by having his skull smashed on a sidewalk, so be it...
“...but nobody would be dead.”
I CAN’T STAND this attitude (with ANY event) where the thinking is that ONLY if you are in fear for your life do you have a right to defend yourself. If someone is trying to harm me, destroy something of mine, or steal something (among other things), they run the risk of getting shot as I try to stop them. And I have not only the legal right, but the God-given right to do so. (Well, legally it needs to be a felony in my state, which would mean stealing or damaging something more than $250. But I must be honest, if some kid is running away with my T.V. he’s probably ok, if it is my laptop with a lot of my work on it, he grabbed the wrong thing.
An attorney at a rally. Why do I think this is absolutely unethical???
It would be better for children if Fathers stayed home and raised them instead of living with their girlfriends.
This clown watched as Trayvon got his gold grill and tattoos, collected his burglar tools and smoked Marijuana, He did nothing then, now he wants to blame gun owners because his son became just another hoodie wearing scum.
Screw him.
‘Trayvoning’ (Posing As A Dead Body With Skittles) Is The Coolest New Trend For Idiots
http://www.mediaite.com/online/trayvoning-posing-as-a-dead-body-with-skittles-is-the-coolest-new-trend-for-idiots/
2 years ago the family took the R.V. and we did route 66.
We had three books to use as guides and each said to leave route 66 and get on the freeway and bypass but under no circumstances should you go through East St. Louis.
It is a reas cesspool of Holders people.
“It might’ve been an altercation, but nobody would be dead. Trayvon would’ve been going to his prom, and pursuing his dreams in the aviation field.”
So that’s what they think St. Skittles was talking about when he mentioned getting high? Erm..
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