Posted on 04/10/2012 7:29:28 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
What happened to Trayvon Martin in Florida could just as easily happen anywhere else in the country, including the streets of Allentown.
That was among the messages conveyed today by some of the 25 people who marched along city sidewalks today in protest of controversial Feb. 26 shooting death of 17-year-old Martin.
"I have a daughter, and if this would have happened to her, it would be an injustice," said Carmelo Reyes, one of the protestors. "This is America, it's supposed to be 'justice for all,' but where's the justice for Trayvon?"
The protestors -- some of whom belong to Occupy Allentown -- walked in the areas of Sixth, Seventh, Hamilton and Tilghman streets this afternoon, chanting "No justice, no peace. No fascist police."
They held signs, including some that read "Justice for Trayvon, "I Am Trayvon Martin" and "Stop Racial Profiling," and displayed a large drawing of Martin wearing a hooded sweatshirt like the one Martin wore when he was shot.
Martin's shooting at the hands of George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old white Hispanic man, has raised questions of police misconduct and inspired protests across the country from those who believe it was racially motivated.
Two candlelight vigils were held in Allentown last month for Martin. They were organized by Jalil Rasheed and Wanda Middleton, who also organized today's protest.
"We want to make sure people are aware of what's going on," said Rasheed, who is not a member of Occupy Allentown. "We can't just go to sleep and slip this under the rug because it's happening in the Valley too, the same kind of situation."
Rasheed said another protest is planned for Friday. It is planned to start outside William Allen High School, where they will encourage students leaving after dismissal to walk with them to Seventh and Hamilton streets in protest.
"We want to get the kids involved because they are the most affected," Rasheed said.
Allentown School Board President Robert Smith Jr. said security would likely be present to ensure there were no problems, but he had no concerns otherwise with a protest outside the school.
"I have no problems with students doing a peaceful protest, as long as it's peaceful," Smith said. "It's an American way of life, protesting, from Martin Luther King Jr. on to today."
Zimmerman has claimed the shooting was committed in self-defense, and no criminal charges have been filed against him.
Occupy Allentown member Elijah Lopinto, who participated in today's Allentown protest, said he did not believe the crime was motivated by class, not race.
"I don't really think it has anything to do with the color of Trayvon's skin," Lopinto said. "I think he went after him for not looking like he fit in to the upper-class gated community they were in at the time."
Lopinto said he has experienced such profiling in Allentown before. He said two years ago he was walking along a city street wearing a cape, and was questioned by police officers for two hours.
Rita Cohen, another Occupy Allentown member, said many have questioned her about whether such protests help matters, but she feels it is important to continue them.
"I tell people it's important everybody pay attention to local government and local police forces because when that happens, darkness cannot happen," she said.
Faith Laugier, an Occupy Wall Street member and radio show host from New York City, also participated in the Allentown protest today.
Laugier has participated in previous Allentown rallies and events, and said she wanted to be there today because she feels there is a lack of social justice and awareness in the city.
"We're trying to get people to stand up for their rights," Laugier said.
People need to get a life.
A 25-person protest? I’ve seen pub crawls bigger than that.
“We want to get the kids involved because they are the most easily influenced,” Rasheed said.
There fixed it for him.
‘He said two years ago he was walking along a city street wearing a cape, and was questioned by police officers for two hours.’
They, the police, were probably on vampire patrol and were perfectly justified in questioning him.
That’s 3 lines at Walmart.
Time for white guys to don hoodies with a picture of the business end of a 9mm with the caption:’
I AM ZIMMERMAN.
MAKE MY DAY.
It’s quite disturbing the media has the tools to disseminate the kind of falsehoods that rally the ignorant to thoughtless action and potential hostility — to Hell with the facts and due process.
Do that & Janet Napolitano will declare you a terrorist. Cuz you see, only rightwingers can be domestic terrorists here in Obama’s USofA? Black Panthers can cruise polling places with nightsticks & issue “bounties” for any individual they please and the feds don’t even twitch.
These dumbasses don't know the facts, and have no clue as to what they're complaining about. They've been incited to act by the State-Run-Media, and are too dumb to realize it.
Not at my Wal-Mart,LOL!
“And we’re crybabying here in Allen-town”
“I have a daughter, and if this would have happened to her, it would be an injustice,” said Carmelo Reyes, one of the protestors.........
Well Carmelo, if your daughter is out late at night and up to no good, perhaps it might happen to her as well. If YOU, as her mother taught her right from wrong, perhaps she would not be exposed to some neighborhood watch person doing his duty to protect the neighborhood from crime. Instead, perhaps your daughter would be home doing her homework for school which she was NOT kicked out of.......
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