Detroit Unites For Justice: Inside Look At Trayvon Martin Rally for Justice and Peace

As the sun began to set on Hart Plaza yesterday evening, I stood in a crowd of nearly 2,000 Metro Detroiters huddled together and undoubtedly freezing as we waited for the first speaker to take the stage. Looking to my left and my right, I was astounded at the turnout that this rally had produced, but even more so, amazed at the diversity of the crowd that stood before me. A baby that could have been no more than nine months bounced high atop her father’s head. An elderly man in a wheelchair moved gingerly through the crowd smiling and shaking hands with those he knew. Two students of Indian descent passed out fliers and graciously directed patrons to open areas in the crowd. My whole being filled with pride as I realized the abundance of difference around me. We were all from various backgrounds and walks of life, but yet all here for the same purposes: to bring justice to Trayvon Martin and to establish justice in the city that we all called home.

Read more after the jump with pictures and videos....

 Emceed by John Mason, Detroit radio personality and renowned public speaker, the event began with words from representatives on behalf of both the local UAW 600 and the Detroit chapter of the NAACP. Quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., NAACP executive director, Donnell White remarked that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” A brief moment of complete silence as citizens took in what had just been said, and then an eruption of applause and cheers accompanied by the rattle of skittles being shaken into the night air. Silence again as we prepared to pray. Nearly 2,000 hoodied heads bowed and I couldn’t help but hesitate and watch in astonishment at the great unity and symbolism that I had just witnessed. We held hands in prayer, pledged allegiance to our country, and then sang the Negro National Anthem before welcoming the first of many speakers to the stage.

The first to bless the podium was spoken word artist, Jessica Care Moore with a powerful poem she had written entitled “There Has To Be A Place for Boys.” Moore was followed by a Florida Sun Times reporter who had covered the Trayvon Martin story in Sarasota and then by attorney and pastor, Betram Marks who explained to us all the meaning and provisions of the “Stand Your Ground” law as related to the Trayvon Martin case. We also heard from Reverends Wendell Anthony and Horace Sheffield III, Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee, Councilwoman JoAnn Watson, State Rep Thomas Stallworth (D-Detroit) and Detroit 300 leader and radio host, Angelo Henderson among several others. Each orator worked tirelessly to not only motivate the crowd to end the senseless and unnecessary killing of innocent lives but to also find ways to promote justice within our city.

"Let this be the wake-up call that we need to stem the tide of blood in our own neighborhoods. It doesn't have to be either/or," Pastor Marks commented.

Several times during the Justice and Peace Rally the crowd broke out in chants of “No Justice, No Peace!” Our incensed cheers could probably have been heard all the way down Jefferson to Belle Isle, but some would say the cries of those who had lost loved ones in similar situations to that of Trayvon Martin could have been heard even further away. Closer to the stage, Cynthia Wilkins, the grandmother of 9-month old Delric Miller who was recently killed in a drive-by shooting screamed and cried out for justice for those who had been killed in our own city.

“What about us?” she lamented through tears and short breaths. “Who cares about us?”

Wilkins questions were valid. In the past year alone, Detroit has not only buried Wilkin’s infant grandson but 11-year-old Kade’jah Davis (killed over a cell phone), 5-year-old Mariha Smith (raped and burned to death in an abandoned home) and most recently, Abreeya Brown and Ashley Conaway (murdered and buried in shallow graves after an altercation with the former’s boyfriend). Unfortunately, this is just the very tip of the iceberg. Over the past ten years, the violent crime rate in our city has increased significantly, giving few citizens hope for any type of change.

 However, there are still those who do believe. Councilwoman JoAnn Watson reminded citizens of a time when Detroiters looked out for each other’s well-being and also encouraged us to restore that type of love within the city. Representatives from the United Communites in Prayer organization spoke on the importance of being fully involved in simply one particular organization or movement to better our city. LaDon Forte, also of the United Communites in Prayer movement performed a song he wrote for the city entitled “I am Detroit!” Spirits were lifted as Forte sang about the city’s successes and attributes, and we all seemed that much more encouraged to get involved in something greater than ourselves.

When the program ended, I exited Hart Plaza alone but with the feeling that I had gained at least 2,000 more brothers and sisters in the struggle for justice within our city. We have all been touched by injustice in one way or another, but at least, 2,000 of us want to do something to end the killing of innocents. Although sparked by the sensless murder of Trayvon Martin, the Justice and Peace Rally covered so much more than what happened in that small suburb of Sarasota, Florida. We all hope and fight for fairness to reign in the prosecution of George Zimmerman, but on a more personal note, we all hope and fight for fairness to reign in the prosecution of those who take lives within our own city.

I genuinely thank all of the organizations that participated in the rally including but not limited to the Detroit chapter of the NAACP, La Sed, Rainbow Push, the Arab Civil Rights League, the Detroit 300, UAW Local 600 and several other organizations. I guarantee that you reached many a mind and touched many a heart. It is up to us as citizens to continue the message in remembrance of those who have passed due to unnecessary circumstances and in honor of those who will live due to the positive change that we will enforce in our great city.

HOODIES UP DETROIT!!!!!

VIA ALIUS MAGAZINE