SANFORD, FL MARCH FOR JUSTICE IN THE KILLING OF
TRAYVON MARTIN
TO: THE PARENTS OF TRAYVON MARTIN, MRS. FULTON AND
MR. MARTIN, MR. TURNER CLAY, PRESIDENT, SANFORD NAACP,
EXALTED RULER ROSELVETE CUMMINGS, BROTHERS AND
DAUGHTERS OF THE CELERY CITY ELK LODGE #542, OTHER
DIGNITARIES, PLATFORM GUESTS, ALL OF THOSE WHO
MARCHED AND ASSEMBLED HERE IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE.
GOOD MORNING.
I BRING YOU GREETINGS FROM THE HONORABLE DR. DONALD
PAUL WILSON, GRAND EXALTED RULER, THE HONORABLE
MARGARET D. SCOTT, GRAND DAUGHTER RULER AND 450,000
MEMBERS OF THE IMPROVED, BENEVOLENT, PROTECTIVE ORDER
OF ELKS OF THE WORLD.
FIRST, LET ME MAKE THIS CLEAR FOR THOSE THAT WOULD
HAVE YOU TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE HERE TO EXPLOIT THE
KILLING OF TRAYVON MARTIN. OBVIOUSLY SUCH INDIVIDUALS
HAVE IGNORED THE HISTORY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT –
WE ALL COME TO GATHER IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE AND WHEN
THERE IS NEED TO BE UNITED IN THE CALL FOR JUSTICE.
• OUR COMMUNITIES STOOD UP WHEN EMMETT TILL WAS
RACIALLY AND UNJUSTLY MURDERED –
• WE STOOD UP WHEN MEDGAR EVERES WAS RACIALLY AND
UNJUSTLY KILLED –
• WE STOOD UP WHEN MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WAS RACIALLY
AND UNJUSTLY MURDERED—
• WE NOW STAND UP FOR TRAYVON MARTIN WHO WAS
RACIALLY AND UNJUSTLY MURDERED.
I HAVE TEN GRAND CHILDREN; EIGHT ARE BOYS WHO LOOK
LIKE TRAYVON. I HAVE A LOT TO GAIN BY BEING HERE—
MEMBERS OF OUR ELK FAMILY HAVE BEEN REPRESENTED HERE
AT ALL O F THE MARCHES AND RALLIES SINCE THIS SENSELESS
AND TRAGIC HOMICIDE. WE COME HERE TO GIVE OUR
ORGANIZATION’S SUPPORT TO DEFEAT RACIAL PROFILING, HATE
CRIMES, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INJUSTICES. HERE, WE
DEMONSTRATE OUR SOLIDARITY AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED
PEOPLE AND OUR SOLIDARITY TO THIS COMMUNITY’S RESOLVE.
TO SEE THAT AN ARREST IS MADE AND JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED!
WE ARE A COUNTRY OF LAWS; THEREFORE, IT IS
UNDERSTANDABLE AND REASONABLE TO BELIEVE, GIVEN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES OF TRAYVON’S DEATH; AN ARREST SHOULD
HAVE BEEN MADE. MR. ZIMMERMAN WAS TOLD BY THE POLICE
DISPATCHER THAT HE WAS NOT NEEDED TO FOLLOW TRAYVON.
MR. ZIMMERMAN’S CONTINUING TO FOLLOW TRAYVON BECAME
INAPPROPRIATE FOLLOWING. MR. ZIMMERMAN’S INTENTIONAL
AND DELIBERATE DISREGARD OF THE DISPATCHER’S REQUEST TO
STAND DOWN LEAD TO HARASSMENT, AND UNLAWFUL
ENCROACHMENT AND INVASION OF TRAYVON’S CIVIL RIGHTS
ULTIMATELY LEAD TO HIS DEADLY ASSAULT ON TRAYVON
MARTIN. TRAYVON WAS NEVER GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPLAIN WHY HE WAS IN THE COMMUNITY; NOT THAT HE NEEDED
TO EXPLAIN HIS RIGHTS TO WALK THE STREETS WITHOUT BEING
FOLLOWED OR HARASSED BY MR. ZIMMERMAN.
THE LACK OF AN ARREST, THE INAPTNESS OF THE CHIEF OF
POLICE, STATE PROSECUTOR AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS IS BEYOND REASONABLENESS. THE LACK OF AN
IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF DEATH TO TRAYVON’S PARENTS,
THE WITH HOLDING OF INFORMATION, AND THE RECKLESS
DISREGARD FOR COMMON DECENCY, REMINDS US THAT RACISM
IS STILL THE ORDER OF THE DAY AND THAT WE HAVE NOT
ARRIVED YET!!!
WE STAND FIRMLY AGAINST ALL HATE CRIMES ---
WE STAND FIRMLY AGAINST THE “STAND YOUR GROUND
LAW” NO MATTER WHERE IT HAS BEEN ENACTED.
THE PURPOSE OF OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES DEPARTMENT IS:
• TO FIGHT AGAINST INJUSTICES AGAINST ALL PERSONS;
• TO SEE THAT LAW AND ORDER THAT AFFECT ALL CITIZENS IS
ADMINISTERED IMPARTIALLY;
• TO SEE THAT EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW IS EXTENDED
TO ALL CITIZENS;
• TO ELIMINATE SEGREGATION OF ANY AND ALL KINDS;
• TO SEE THAT ALL PERSONS ARE GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE OF
EARNING A DECENT LIVING WAGE;
• TO OPPOSE DISENFRANCHISEMENT AND
• TO SEE THAT THE RIGHTS OF THE BALLOT IS EXTENDED TO
EVERY QUALIFIED PERSON AND THAT THEY BE PROTECTED
IN THEIR RIGHTS TO USE THE BALLOT;
• TO EXTEND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO EVERY
PERSON AND TO SAFEGUARD AND MAINTAIN A FREE PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH THAT OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS
IN EVERY LOCALITY;
• TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC STATUS AND QUALITY OF LIFE
FOR ALL CITIZENS.
THE IMPROVED BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS
OF THE WORLD STAND FIRMLY WITH THE FAMILY, THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE AND
ALL THOSE WHO SEEK JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON MARTIN.
MAY GOD BLESS OUR EFFORTS AND ALL OF OUR FAMILIES.
HERBERT BROWN,
GRAND COMMISSIONER OF CIVIL LIBERTIES,
IBPOEW
TRAYVON MARTIN
TO: THE PARENTS OF TRAYVON MARTIN, MRS. FULTON AND
MR. MARTIN, MR. TURNER CLAY, PRESIDENT, SANFORD NAACP,
EXALTED RULER ROSELVETE CUMMINGS, BROTHERS AND
DAUGHTERS OF THE CELERY CITY ELK LODGE #542, OTHER
DIGNITARIES, PLATFORM GUESTS, ALL OF THOSE WHO
MARCHED AND ASSEMBLED HERE IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE.
GOOD MORNING.
I BRING YOU GREETINGS FROM THE HONORABLE DR. DONALD
PAUL WILSON, GRAND EXALTED RULER, THE HONORABLE
MARGARET D. SCOTT, GRAND DAUGHTER RULER AND 450,000
MEMBERS OF THE IMPROVED, BENEVOLENT, PROTECTIVE ORDER
OF ELKS OF THE WORLD.
FIRST, LET ME MAKE THIS CLEAR FOR THOSE THAT WOULD
HAVE YOU TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE HERE TO EXPLOIT THE
KILLING OF TRAYVON MARTIN. OBVIOUSLY SUCH INDIVIDUALS
HAVE IGNORED THE HISTORY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT –
WE ALL COME TO GATHER IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE AND WHEN
THERE IS NEED TO BE UNITED IN THE CALL FOR JUSTICE.
• OUR COMMUNITIES STOOD UP WHEN EMMETT TILL WAS
RACIALLY AND UNJUSTLY MURDERED –
• WE STOOD UP WHEN MEDGAR EVERES WAS RACIALLY AND
UNJUSTLY KILLED –
• WE STOOD UP WHEN MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WAS RACIALLY
AND UNJUSTLY MURDERED—
• WE NOW STAND UP FOR TRAYVON MARTIN WHO WAS
RACIALLY AND UNJUSTLY MURDERED.
I HAVE TEN GRAND CHILDREN; EIGHT ARE BOYS WHO LOOK
LIKE TRAYVON. I HAVE A LOT TO GAIN BY BEING HERE—
MEMBERS OF OUR ELK FAMILY HAVE BEEN REPRESENTED HERE
AT ALL O F THE MARCHES AND RALLIES SINCE THIS SENSELESS
AND TRAGIC HOMICIDE. WE COME HERE TO GIVE OUR
ORGANIZATION’S SUPPORT TO DEFEAT RACIAL PROFILING, HATE
CRIMES, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INJUSTICES. HERE, WE
DEMONSTRATE OUR SOLIDARITY AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED
PEOPLE AND OUR SOLIDARITY TO THIS COMMUNITY’S RESOLVE.
TO SEE THAT AN ARREST IS MADE AND JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED!
WE ARE A COUNTRY OF LAWS; THEREFORE, IT IS
UNDERSTANDABLE AND REASONABLE TO BELIEVE, GIVEN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES OF TRAYVON’S DEATH; AN ARREST SHOULD
HAVE BEEN MADE. MR. ZIMMERMAN WAS TOLD BY THE POLICE
DISPATCHER THAT HE WAS NOT NEEDED TO FOLLOW TRAYVON.
MR. ZIMMERMAN’S CONTINUING TO FOLLOW TRAYVON BECAME
INAPPROPRIATE FOLLOWING. MR. ZIMMERMAN’S INTENTIONAL
AND DELIBERATE DISREGARD OF THE DISPATCHER’S REQUEST TO
STAND DOWN LEAD TO HARASSMENT, AND UNLAWFUL
ENCROACHMENT AND INVASION OF TRAYVON’S CIVIL RIGHTS
ULTIMATELY LEAD TO HIS DEADLY ASSAULT ON TRAYVON
MARTIN. TRAYVON WAS NEVER GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPLAIN WHY HE WAS IN THE COMMUNITY; NOT THAT HE NEEDED
TO EXPLAIN HIS RIGHTS TO WALK THE STREETS WITHOUT BEING
FOLLOWED OR HARASSED BY MR. ZIMMERMAN.
THE LACK OF AN ARREST, THE INAPTNESS OF THE CHIEF OF
POLICE, STATE PROSECUTOR AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS IS BEYOND REASONABLENESS. THE LACK OF AN
IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF DEATH TO TRAYVON’S PARENTS,
THE WITH HOLDING OF INFORMATION, AND THE RECKLESS
DISREGARD FOR COMMON DECENCY, REMINDS US THAT RACISM
IS STILL THE ORDER OF THE DAY AND THAT WE HAVE NOT
ARRIVED YET!!!
WE STAND FIRMLY AGAINST ALL HATE CRIMES ---
WE STAND FIRMLY AGAINST THE “STAND YOUR GROUND
LAW” NO MATTER WHERE IT HAS BEEN ENACTED.
THE PURPOSE OF OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES DEPARTMENT IS:
• TO FIGHT AGAINST INJUSTICES AGAINST ALL PERSONS;
• TO SEE THAT LAW AND ORDER THAT AFFECT ALL CITIZENS IS
ADMINISTERED IMPARTIALLY;
• TO SEE THAT EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW IS EXTENDED
TO ALL CITIZENS;
• TO ELIMINATE SEGREGATION OF ANY AND ALL KINDS;
• TO SEE THAT ALL PERSONS ARE GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE OF
EARNING A DECENT LIVING WAGE;
• TO OPPOSE DISENFRANCHISEMENT AND
• TO SEE THAT THE RIGHTS OF THE BALLOT IS EXTENDED TO
EVERY QUALIFIED PERSON AND THAT THEY BE PROTECTED
IN THEIR RIGHTS TO USE THE BALLOT;
• TO EXTEND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO EVERY
PERSON AND TO SAFEGUARD AND MAINTAIN A FREE PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH THAT OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS
IN EVERY LOCALITY;
• TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC STATUS AND QUALITY OF LIFE
FOR ALL CITIZENS.
THE IMPROVED BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS
OF THE WORLD STAND FIRMLY WITH THE FAMILY, THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE AND
ALL THOSE WHO SEEK JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON MARTIN.
MAY GOD BLESS OUR EFFORTS AND ALL OF OUR FAMILIES.
HERBERT BROWN,
GRAND COMMISSIONER OF CIVIL LIBERTIES,
IBPOEW
| Grand Lodge Civil Liberties Department March For Justice - Trayvon Martin Case |
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