OrlandoCommunityNews

At the one of the rallies for Trayvon Martin, a speaker asked a rhetorical question to drive home a point: How do you spell RELIEF? His answer: ARREST. Trayvon’s parents and all the people standing with them got some relief on Wednesday, April 11, when Florida special prosecutor Angela B. Corey held a press conference and announced the second degree murder charge against Trayvon’s shooter, George Zimmerman. By the end of the day, Zimmerman was indeed arrested and taken to the county jail.

It seems the determination of Trayvon Martin’s parents, their attorneys, concerned people from all over the country, along with local and national leaders, turned the tide in this case. People from near and far signed petitions, made signs and marched, put on hoodies and walked out of school. Still others stood in prayer for Trayvon’s family, for justice.

Although the legal process has just begun with the arrest, it is more progress made since this case hit the news. Many will admit that something went seriously wrong in Sanford, Florida (just north of Orlando) on the night of Feb. 26 because Trayvon, who had recently turned 17, was shot and killed by Zimmerman, an armed neighborhood watch volunteer. Reports say that Trayvon was walking back to the home he was staying from a convenience store when Zimmerman noticed him in the gated community. Zimmerman told a 9-1-1 operator that he looked suspicious and Zimmerman followed him, despite an operator telling him that they didn’t need him to do that.

Since then, every day for a while, there has been a new angle reported.

Deeper than the reports, though, is the strength of two people who refuse to give up what’s right on behalf of their son, whom the two say could have been anyone’s son. The two have traveled around the country to the state and national capitols, for instance, to testify of their experience with local law enforcement and to media houses to testify of who their son was. They have attended and spoke at a many of rallies.

There have been other similar cases in our nation down through the years. This case involves a child doing nothing wrong and an armed citizen patrolling a neighborhood. Bottom line: In America, attitudes and perceptions of the value of human life are once again challenged.

© Orlando Community News, 2012

Sanford, Florida – Residents here must have mixed feelings. On one hand, they love their hometown and brag about it. On the other hand, their temperatures boil over the shooting death of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February 26 in their ‘hood at the hands of an armed crime watch volunteer, George Zimmerman, who has not been arrested. Sanford Police officials said in reports that Zimmerman told them that he shot the teenager in self-defense. Many believe the 9-1-1 tapes, released a few days ago by police, contradict Zimmerman’s statement to police.

But still, Sanford residents and people from Central Florida and all over the country, including Trayvon’s parents and other family members from Miami, showed up by the thousands with their children and signs in tow, rallying in downtown Sanford (just north of Orlando) for justice for Trayvon by the arrest and indictment of Zimmerman.

Amid chants such as “No Justice, No Peace,” there were prayers for families, the Sanford community and children by local pastors. One spoke about how bad things look now and how God had the power to turn things around for good. In fact, rally organizers announced reports that the Sanford Police Chief had stepped down temporarily because “he has become a distraction in the investigation.”

The signs in the crowd revealed the hearts of the many of the people: “Why?,” “Being A Black Teenage Male is Not a Crime” and “Justice for Trayvon and all Who Came Before Him.”

Perhaps the key part of the rally was the attendance by national leaders, several of whom spoke passionately about the purpose of the rally and desires of the community.
“All I want is an arrest,” said U.S. Representative Corrine Brown, whose third district includes Sanford. “I don’t care who does it, as long as there is an arrest.”

Trayvon’s family attorney called the rally a movement which has gained the support of people all over the world, with the help of national media entertainers such as Michael Baisden, Tom Joyner and Al Sharpton.

Sharpton, who showed up to the area hours after getting news that his own mother had passed, took the mic and said Zimmerman should have been arrested the night of the shooting. Sharpton introduced Trayvon’s parents, who spoke briefly about who their son was.

The teenager’s mother said this is not about a black and white thing. This is about a wrong and right thing.

What happened to their son was wrong and the fact that no one has been held accountable for his death is wrong.

Judging from this rally, people from all walks of life, all over the world are stepping up to the plate to help this family fight for justice. Rally organizers collected donations to help the cause.

© Orlando Community News, 2012

Orlando’s local economy will get a shot in the arm this weekend when the NBA brings its 2012 All Star Game to the city on Sunday, February 26, at the Amway Center.

Hotels in the immediate area are booking up fast at a premium.

Traffic has been jammed since Wednesday, especially along state Interstate 4. Drivers will have to leave well ahead of time to get to their destinations in and around downtown Orlando this weekend. No complaints, for sure, from business owners near the Amway Center and even local residents looking to make extra money from parking, food vending and the like.

Visitors from all over the country will attend a variety of events this weekend, including the Slam Dunk contest, All Star Celebrity Game, All Star Rising Stars Challenge and a fitness event, to name a few.  Tons of celebrities parties and volunteer efforts are planned  throughout the Central Florida area.

You can get details of official NBA events at www.nba.com.

© Orlando Community News, 2012