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Community Prayer calls for unity, justice

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Community Prayer Trayvon Martin 2

LANCASTER – Protests, marches, and vigils were held across the country Saturday (July 20) as part of a nationwide effort to press for federal civil rights charges against George Zimmerman, the man acquitted of the murder of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.

Locally, a diverse crowd of about 100 area residents gathered in front of Antelope Valley Courthouse for a Community Prayer and Call to Action. The hour-long event featured nearly a dozen speakers from all walks of life with similar messages of peace, understanding, unity and justice for all.

Organizers also encouraged youngsters to get involved in the newly established Antelope Valley Youth Ambassador Program, a grassroots initiative created to channel youth energy towards a constructive agenda that includes efforts to lower crime, improve education, increase volunteerism and help senior citizens.

“If anyone fails to realize why I’ve organized this event, I will leave you with this quote, ‘Be the change that you wish to see in the world,’” said organizer Veronica Fields.

Highlights from the event 

“The time has come for everybody to recognize the fact that all men were created equal,” said Lancaster Mayor Emeritus Henry Hearns, whose speech was punctuated by applause throughout and shouts of “Amen!” Hearns cautioned the crowd against using violence to resolve perceived injustice, and urged attendees to strive for love and unity instead. “Vengeance does not belong to us, but justice does,” Hearns said.
“The time has come for everybody to recognize the fact that all men were created equal,” said Lancaster Mayor Emeritus Henry Hearns, whose speech was punctuated by applause throughout and shouts of “Amen!” Hearns cautioned the crowd against using violence to resolve perceived injustice, and urged attendees to strive for love and unity instead. “Vengeance does not belong to us, but justice does,” Hearns said.
Latinos have suffered oppression similar to the African America community, therefore Latinos were standing in solidarity with the African American community, said Xavier Flores, of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Flores spoke of human rights activists César Chávez and his nonviolent efforts to change the world. Brandon Zavala quoted biblical scriptures in stressing the need to overcome prejudice.
Latinos have suffered oppression similar to the African America community, therefore Latinos were standing in solidarity with the African American community, said Xavier Flores, of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Flores (left) spoke of human rights activists César Chávez and his nonviolent efforts to change the world. Brandon Zavala (right) quoted biblical scriptures in stressing the need to overcome prejudice.
Sixteen-year-old Alexander Rodriguez, Community Director of the OUT Project, said he’d recently decided to become an equal rights activist for the rest of his life. He urged the crowd to trust one another, practice tolerance, and take comfort in knowing that human beings are naturally good.
Sixteen-year-old Alexander Rodriguez, Community Director of the OUT Project, said he’d recently decided to become an equal rights activist for the rest of his life. He urged the crowd to trust one another, practice tolerance, and take comfort in knowing that human beings are naturally good.
Johnathon Ervin spoke about accountability in the African American community. “When an African American male dies and no one cares, it’s because so many of them die,” Ervin said. He gave statistics about crime and the Black community, and brought his two young sons to the podium to bring the point home. “One of us three, the statistics say, will be in the system – the correctional system,” Ervin said. “We’ve got to change that. This is why we’re here today.”
Johnathon Ervin spoke about accountability in the African American community. “When an African American male dies and no one cares, it’s because so many of them die,” Ervin said. He gave statistics about crime and the Black community and brought his two young sons to the podium to bring the point home. “One of us three, the statistics say, will be in the system – the correctional system,” Ervin said. “We’ve got to change that. This is why we’re here today.”
Local NAACP Vice President Waunette Cullors urged the audience to sign an online petition demanding that the Justice Department file civil rights charges against Zimmerman. The petition can be accessed online at naacp.org or by texting the word “Justice” to 62227, Cullors said.
Local NAACP Vice President Waunette Cullors urged the audience to sign an online petition demanding that the Justice Department file civil rights charges against Zimmerman. The petition can be accessed online at naacp.org or by texting the word “Justice” to 62227, Cullors said.
Other speakers included Daivion Boutte, Carrie Allen who recited a poem, and Lancaster Human Relations Tapestry Commission David Paul. At the conclusion of the event, attendees held hands, formed a circle in prayer and sang “We Shall Overcome.”
Other guest speakers included Daivion Boutte, Carrie Allen who recited a poem, Lancaster Human Relations Tapestry Commissioner David Paul and Lancaster Neighborhood Vitalization Commissioner and Nation of Islam member Stan Muhammad. At the conclusion of the event, attendees held hands, formed a circle in prayer and sang “We Shall Overcome.”

For many more pictures of this event, visit our facebook page.

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Filed Under: Lancaster

53 comments for "Community Prayer calls for unity, justice"

    • Z was found not quilty it sucks but as americans we have the right to double jepordy what he did was wrong yes but 12 of his peers found him not quilty so let god do the rest i get ur upset but ask urself ig u are a true belicer

  2. JUSTSAYING!! TM is dead and gone. Zimmerman found not guilty…MOVE ON…

    Why don’t you read the follow that is as if not MORE important.
    NOW lets see how many of you will march,riot,speak up for Antonio?

    I was sent this article to pass on to anyone and everyone….

    READ FULL ACCOUNT AT http://www.snopes.com/politics/crime/antoniowest.asp

    Hello. Don’t recognize me? That’s OK; I understand. My name was Antonio West. I was the 13-month old child who was shot in the face at point blank range by two black teens, who were attempting to rob my mother, who was also shot.

    I think my murder and my mommy’s wounding made the news for maybe a day, and then disappeared.

    A Grand Jury of my mommy’s peers from Brunswick, Georgia ruled the black teens who murdered me will not face the death penalty… too bad it was me who got the death sentence from my killers instead, because Mommy didn’t have the money they demanded.

    See, my family made the mistake of being white in a 73% non-white neighborhood, but my murder wasn’t ruled a ‘hate crime’.

    Oh, and President Obama didn’t take a single moment to acknowledge my murder. He couldn’t have any children who could possibly look like me – so why should he care?

    I’m one of the youngest murder victims in our great Nation’s history, but the media didn’t care to cover the story of my being killed in cold blood.

    There isn’t a white equivalent of Al Sharpton, because if there was he would be branded a ‘racist’. So no one’s rushing to Brunswick, Georgia to demonstrate and demand ‘justice’ for me. There’s no ‘White Panther’ party, either, to put a bounty on the lives of the two black teens who murdered me.

    I have no voice, I have no representation, and unlike those who shot me in the face while I sat innocently in my stroller – I no longer have my life.

    Isn’t this a great country?

    So while you’re out seeking ‘justice for Trayvon’, please remember to seek ‘justice’ for me. Tell your friends about me, tell you families, get tee-shirts with my face on them, and make the world pay attention, just like you did for Trayvon.

    I won’t hold my breath….. I don’t have to anymore.

    AT LEAST IN THE TM CASE, I FEEL JUSTICE WAS SERVERD “TWICE” THAT NIGHT AND AGAIN IN COURT. JUSTSAYING!!

    • Well said. When they speak of Marin as a just a child, they should remember Antonio’s age of only 13 months.

  3. If you can suspend your hate or doubt and open your heart for 6 minutes, this video will show the love and healing taking place at this wonderful event. I know if you had been there you would fell different about it all. You might have even made a friend of a different color. This was a great event!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsUfEJIojMM

    • Please refer the story about the commissioner using an anti-gay slur during that same event. Perhaps my idea of a wonderful event and yours differs. I can’t see calling one wonderful when an speaker was recorded using such a word.

  4. As a black woman I feel that it is important that we stand up against injustice everywhere. I personally feel as if Zimmerman deserved at the least, manslaughter. However, the jury made their decision. All we can do from this point is work towards changing or creating laws that are going to keep people safe and/or held accountable for their actions. As we evolve as people and how we treat one another. So must our laws. But it is ridiculous to call someone a Racist just because they do not agree with you. STOP throwing insults around, especially the word RACIST. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Im not saying that their are not racist who believe what Zimmerman did was ok jist because they hate African Americans. But What good does it do to attack one another. Instead make your pain count towards making a difference. Trying to insure that no other child has to be murdered and their killer walks free. We as a black community Cannot only be upset when someone of another race violates us. We must take black on black crimes just as serious, if not more. If we are not unified as a people how the hell can we accomplish anything to insure our equality and civil liberties are upheld? If we violate one another perpetually, how can we only be outraged when others do it. No. We have to embrace and learn to love ourselves.

    • Florida’s statues would have precluded him being charged with manslaughter most likely.

      The killing of a human being by the act, procurement, or culpable negligence of another, without lawful justification according to the provisions of chapter 776 and in cases in which such killing shall not be excusable homicide or murder, according to the provisions of this chapter, is manslaughter, a felony of the second degree.

      Negligence is the key here. usually this type of crime is an accident, but one that could have been avoided had reasonable care been taken.

      Also a jury cannot convict on a lesser charge, they can only consider the charge that the DA initially filed.

      • I thought the jury had the option to convict Zimmerman on manslaughter charges, once the judge gave them the option too.?.?.

    • AS A LATINO,WHT,ASIAN AN OTHER RACES, WE ALL FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT IN JUSTICE. BUT WE DON’T MAKE IT A SCANDAL, A DISTURBANCE! WE JUST GO ABOUT OUR BUSISNESS! WE WANT WHATS RIGHT! THIS IS WHAT I MEAN, PEOPLE OVER REACT AN THEY ONLY WIND UP LOOKING BAD!! THIS TRIAL LIKE ANYOTHER TRIAL WILL LONG BE FORGOTTEN!! THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER CASUALTY AN HERE WE GO AGAIN!!! YALL HAVE A NICE DAY

  5. One Hundred showed up?! Last year’s Hoodie March for solidarity drew about 1,000 people for a march. Why so little participation compared to last years march?!

  6. im so sick of these people sticking up for Zimmerman! if he wasnt following trayvon he would still be alive….so your child is walking down the street when a man starts following wouldnt you expect your child to defend them selves? you people sitting here taking zimmermans side are racist come on and get over your self

    • WOW! CALLING PEOPLE RACIST ON THERE BELIEVES IS PRETTY HARSH!!! LOOK AGAIN BEFORE YU JUDGE SOMEONE! FUNNY HOW YOU STATE”IM SO SICK OF THIS PEOPLE” HOW DO YOU THINK WE FEEL FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS A TRAGEDY LIKE ANY OTHER MURDER THAT TAKES PLACE HERE IN AV!! LIFE GOES ON BUT SOME PEOPLE JUST CAN’T ACCEPT THE FACTS OF THE TRIAL!!! YU PORTRAIT TRAYVON AS A INNOCENT CHILD, A STRAY “A” STUDENT, THE NEXT PRESIDENT TO BE! MOVE ON! ITS BEEN OVER ALREADY! THIS IS WHY “UNITY” DOESN’T WORK!! ITS PRETTY SAD BUT THAT’S REALITY! PEOPLE JUST TALK NO MATTER WHAT. ONLY THING WE CAN FO IS PRAY FOR TRAYVON AN TALK TO OUR CHILDREN ON HOW TO GO ABOUT IT IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENDS TO THEM!!!

    • Only one crime was committed that night. Trayvon Martin committed assault and battery against George Zimmerman, a Hispanic man.

      Self defense is a Natural Right AND a legal right. NO ONE has the right to batter another person.

      • Not true. Zimmerman stalked Trayvon first.

        The Violence Against Women Act of 2005, amending a United States statute, 108 Stat. 1902 et seq, defined stalking as “engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to—
        (A) fear for his or her safety or the safety of others;
        (B) suffer substantial emotional distress.”

        He followed that child, even though the 911 operator asked him not to do that. The child had a right to defend himself.

        But since he died, he is not able to tell the story of how he confronted the man creepily following him (why was Zimmerman even out of his vehicle? He knew he had a weapon, he could have just waited in his truck where he was protected from the child he assumed was more heavily armed than he.

        This was a disgusting trail of a boy forced to defend himself posthumously.

        • That’s your view. Zimmerman never said Trayvon was “heavily armed”. He said he looked suspicious walking around in between houses and that he disappeared, possibly behind some bushes.
          Trayvon never expressed fear and the only distress he seemed to express was racial, calling Zimmerman a “cracker”. If he was so scared, why did he call his girl friend and not his dad or the cops? Really.
          The kid looked at Zimmerman and said “you’re gonna die tonight”. Sorry Trayvon, you gave Zimmerman no choice.
          Opinions like your are the reason kids are committing so many violent heinous crimes and not giving the violence a second thought.
          My opinion.

    • Did you watch the trial? I did and what your claiming here is false about “a child walking down the street” while being followed. The dispatcher tells GZ to keep an eye on the person. “Just let me know if this guy does anything else,” he tells GZ. A little later, Zimmerman says, “He’s running.” The dispatcher asks, “He’s running? Which way is he running?” Again, this is an important point. It’s the dispatcher asking (for a second time) Zimmerman to watch the person. As for being “racist” for “taking Zimmermans side” how do we know the people taking TM side isn’t racist?

    • My children are taught to escape danger not confront an armed man. I am pretty sure Martin could of run alot faster than Zimmerman. He would be alive. The fact is he wanted to fight.

  7. Sorry to say but UNITY in my opinion will never happen!! We live in a cruel world. We can pray for peace an justice but every culture is different an as much as we would like for everyone to have peace within, it’s pretty hard. This world feeds of our negative vibes. Like I been saying, people have different opinions an no matter the facts/outcome, they’ll never be satisfy within. Always trying to spread hatred to others! How I wish all men were created equal but that’s not the case!! Some work hard an some choose not to work! Some get an education an some choose not too! list goes on an on!

    • As long as there are race hucksters like Sharpton who have gotten rich off of stirring hate, there will never be unity. If you want unity, do not rob, do not steal, do not batter people and be kind to one another. Holding vigils is just grandstanding.

      • Like a black guy on youtube said :”A black life only has value when the person that took that life is non white.Otherwise you won’t hear a word from black people about the thousands that die each year at their own hands.” You can always count on Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson the two race baiting poverty pimps to stir up people into riot mode against the white man but never at themselves. Disgusting.

  8. Well I can’t say that I agree with their point but I do appreciate that it was a peaceful protest/vigil. I see nothing wrong with this. I believe this is the way to get a point across not with flash mobs robbing people in the streets and tearing stuff up. Good job organizers!

    • Roderick Scott case is an example of how a Jury can find a black man innocent for the death of a white teenager. No rioting or protesting followed the decision.

    • Nobody would be protesting if Zimmerman was black. It wouldn’t even have made the news. I partially blame the TV networks for sensationalizing this incident.
      I think the President and his Staff should keep their comments to themselves. They can’t make laws for Florida and their remarks are inflammatory.

  10. The Rally was another success story for Veronica Fields. The speakers were respectful of the occasion for what we were meeting for. A number of positive programs for the future were announced. It was very positive day. I wish some of our current elected officials from Lancaster and Palmdale had shown up, but, ex-Mayor Hearns blessed us with his presence and support.

    • Chicago is full of programs with tons of Federal dollars and Black youths are killing Black youths at a rate of almost 500 a year. Programs do not save anyone, Jesus does. If you want better outcomes, tell these young men to be REAL MEN, treat women with respect. Do not call them bitchus and ho’s. Get married and love your families. Don’t gang bang. Quit trying to screw anything with legs.
      Young women, don’t sleep with those gang bangers and don’t have babies out of wedlock.

      THAT’S WHAT WORKS!!!!

  11. I am still a little fuzzy on which civil right Zimmerman violated. According to the NAACP, they claim martin’s right to life was violated. So wouldn’t this stand true for every homicide? (remember homicide doesn’t equate to murder, it just means the death of 1 person by another).

    There is no proof that this was a hate crime. In fact all no-white friends of Zimmerman interviewed stated that he was not a racist and never showed any tendencies. On the other hand, Martin’s girlfriend admitted that Martin called Zimmerman a cracker, which can be considered a racial slur.

    • Another inconvenient fact: FBI investigated the killing of Martin back in February and found no racially motives.

      • The FBI and DOJ investigation is still open. Where have you seen any official FBI findings?

        “As the Department first acknowledged last year, we have an open investigation into the death of Trayvon Martin. The Department of Justice’s Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation continue to evaluate the evidence generated during the federal investigation, as well as the evidence and testimony from the state trial. Experienced federal prosecutors will determine whether the evidence reveals a prosecutable violation of any of the limited federal criminal civil rights statutes within our jurisdiction, and whether federal prosecution is appropriate in accordance with the Department’s policy governing successive federal prosecution following a state trial.”
        http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2013/July/13-opa-788.html

        • FBI Released their report, They have already concluded there was no racism involved. No hate crime or anything. I see these people screaming about Trayvons Civil Rights have no problems violating George Zimmermans Civil Rights. Zimmerman had a right to defend himself and he did. He has had a right to a fair trial which he did not get but he did win because the Facts were 100% on his side. He was acquitted and all the evidence is to be released and his gun given back to him but the DOJ has stopped that.

          I hope when its all said and done Zimmerman sues everyone involved and all the Defamation and Slander he has had to endure, especially after the Verdict still being called a Murderer and more are outrageous.

        • Here is the key sentence: “Experienced federal prosecutors will determine whether the evidence reveals a prosecutable violation of any of the limited federal criminal civil rights statutes within our jurisdiction, and whether federal prosecution is appropriate in accordance with the Department’s policy governing successive federal prosecution following a state trial”.

          A polite way to say that we can’t find anything to charge Zimmerman with. There was no evidence proving this was a hate crime, the only possible charge against Zimmerman.

          The ACLU actually stated that they believe double jeopardy would be involved and suggested that DOJ not get involved.

          • The point is you made a false statement about FBI findings. You made this statement as fact:
            “Another inconvenient fact: FBI investigated the killing of Martin back in February and found no racially motives.”

            The fact is you LIED!

            Reply

          • @Letlow There is a difference between the FBI and the DOJ. The FBI found no evidence to support the theory that the shooting was racially motivated, however the DOJ can still file a case against Zimmerman. The DOJ is only saying that they are investigating. If you read the news, most people in the legal field say that it is near impossible to prosecute this case as a criminal civil rights violation.

        • @AVGirl & jkpalmdale. “The Department of Justice’s Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation continue to evaluate the evidence generated during the federal investigation, as well as the evidence and testimony from the state trial.”
          http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2013/July/13-opa-788.html

          Letlow sited his source that the case is still open, please site your source of the FBI findings.

          • This article does not state any facts of findings. When the investigation is complete the findings will be released. Fact, Serino does not believe Zimmerman is a racist from his FBI statement.

            Please learn the difference between FACT, Fiction, and opinion. Thank you for playing.

          • Since there cannot be new evidence, and any new can’t be admitted anyways, the DOJ will have a hard time contradicting their own initial findings. If the FBI HAD found evidence to suggest that it was a hate crime that would have been admitted as evidence and you can be sure the state of Florida would have used that in their prosecution. They did not however because no such evidence exists

            Read some comments made by former judges, attorneys and other legal professional who all say it will be difficult to pursue a civil rights case.

            Here is a very good article that explains the reason.

            http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2013/07/justice_department_says_crimin.html

            My degree is in the legal field, so yes I know the difference between fact and fiction. I also know that it will be almost impossible for the DOJ to prosecute this. Considering that the FBI could find no evidence to suggest Zimmerman was a racist and that the attack was motivated by that. Since there can be no new evidence considered, I don’t see how they can come to an alternate conclusion.

            And it is “cite” not “site”.

        • If I were you Letlow (and I’m well aware I’m not) I wouldn’t be holding my breath waiting for the outcome of the FBI and DOJ’s “investigation”.

  12. So where is Unity and Justice when the leader of one organization at the rally “urged the audience to sign an online petition demanding that the Justice Department file civil rights charges against Zimmerman”. Not an investigation, not fact finding, no an and out call for a prosecution without the benefit of facts or information. Neither Unity or Justice is served with that approach.

    • They do not seem to care about George Zimmerman’s rights. And these are the same people who have been silent on the 11,000 plus blacks killed by other blacks since Trayvon or all the Whites Killed or attacked by Blacks in the name of Trayvon since then.
      Also I see no outrage from these protesters about yet another 6 yr old killed in Chicago by blacks the 13 month old baby in the stroller shot in the face and killed by the 2 black teens.

      More Blacks use Stand your Ground and are successful in doing so then others.

      Zimmerman, had EVER right to defend himself.

      • I’m sure there is/was outrage. Are the 2 black teens in custody? Did the 2 black teens claim self defense? Where the teens acquitted by an all black jury? Do you live in Chicago? If you don’t live in Chicago, then this incident must have gotten national coverage.

        • Tyrus the point is, is that when its black on black crime not a word is said from the so called black leaders. But flip the script and have non black on black crime and its a huge issue they make about race. How many times has Sharpton shown up, made a case about race, then disappear and not a word when proven he was wrong? Hell we saw him do it here in the Valley a while back even though there was zero about the case that made it a racial incident.

          The two cases he talked about were in the news for a few days and then disappeared. Not one word condemning the acts from so called black leaders. They bring this double standard to the table but scream and yell when they think the double standard is being applied to them. They are complete hypocrites. True leaders bring people together, not divide them.

          • Yep what about Joshua Chellew who was murdered by 4 black thugs because he was going out with a black girl. They beat him unconscious and threw him in the middle of a highway and was struck and killed. Nowhere will Al or Jesse stand up for this guy because they race baiting scumbags.

      • We all know about black crime. But that is not what this particular case is about. Everyone deserves the understanding that you are innocent regardless of statics. The two are not the same issues. The courts are very specific about this. The court ruled. We don’t try Zimmerman again. But, the law in the book that is so broad and open to abuse needs a severe overhaul.

  13. Thank you Mr. Johnathon Ervin and sons for representing so well. I highly doubt you or your sons will become such a statistic, because it appears that you are teaching them about self accountability and responsibility. And that is basically what it all comes down to. Fathers in the household teaching their sons how to be responsible young men. Thank you again.