CLEVELAND, Ohio-In the wake of the announcement yesterday by a special prosecutor that volunteer neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman will be charged with second degree murder in the killing of unarmed seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin (pictured) the Vision of Angels Youth Dance Troop, the Imperial Women Coalition, community activists, the Imperial Women Coalition, clergy, youth, elected officials, the United Pastor's in Mission and Cleveland NAACP and SCLC officials will go forward with a mass rally for Martin scheduled for Sun. April 15 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at Second New Hope Baptist Church in Cleveland, 2917 E. 116th St at Buckeye Ave . (Editor's note: View a complete list of rally speakers and participating organizations toward the middle of this article)
"We are rallying beyond the murder charge filed yesterday, which is the first step toward seeking justice for Trayvon," said Sears Mitchell, a blind man that is an organizer of the event with his 40-member Vision of Angels dance group. "Cleveland is a major metropolitan city and we will continue to play a part in the nationwide call for justice for Trayvon up to and including an unbiased finding by a jury of Mr. Zimmerman's peers and any necessary appellate hearings, and let's not forget that Rodney King was brutally beaten on camera by a group of White policemen illegally vindicated by a jury in the state trial proceedings and it was the community outcry that forced another federal criminal case to get them rightfully convicted."
Mitchell said that Sunday's rally will begin outside of the church at 3:00 pm and that at 4:00 pm Martin's supporters will go inside for an opening prayer by Second New Hope Baptist Church Pastor Frank Young and a praise dance by the Vision of Angels and that State Sen. Nina Turner, will initiate the inside rally with a speech and resolution from the Ohio State legislature. Also included will be a host of other speeches, and song and prayer froM five other youth groups.
Contacts for the rally are Mitchell at 216-548-4478, the office of the Vision of Angels Youth Foundation at 216-543-5330, Second New Hope Baptist Church at 216-229-2022, Imperial Women Leader Kathy Wray Coleman at 216-932-3114, Peace in the Hood Leader Khalid Samad at 216-538-4043, and Black on Black Crime Founder Art McKoy at 216-253-4070.
The charges filed by special prosecutor Angela Corey (pictured) come after six weeks of national outcries for justice and allegations of overt racism because Martin is Black and Zimmerman (pictured 2nd), who could face life in prison if convicted of gunning the teen down in an elite neighborhood in Sandford Fl., is White.
National Civil Rights activists such as the Rev. Al Sharpton, NAACP President Ben Jealous and the Rev. Jesse Jackson had called for criminal charges against Zimmerman and are urging that rallies continue across the nation until Zimmerman is brought to justice.
Martin's family is relieved to learn of the charges and said like Sharpton, Jackson and Jealous,that the fight to clear Trayvon's name and hold Zimmerman accountable for his murder is only at the preliminary stages.
"Just knowing that he [Zimmerman] is off the street and in custody shows that the wheels are turning in our favor," Trayvon's father told reporters about the murder charge.
Speakers for Cleveland's rally include SCLC Member and United Pator's in Mission Executive Director The Rev. Tony Minor, the Lucasville Uprising Freedom Network and Cleveland Chapter of the New Black Panther Party Leader Abdul Qahhar, area clergy, Missing Persons Advocate Albert Hudson, Linda Matthews of the Office of Congresswoman Marcia L.Fudge, East Cleveland City Councilman Nate Martin, East Cleveland Coalition Leader Charles E. Bibb Sr., Asst. Pastor Mike Oliver, youth participants, Carl Stokes Brigade President and Group Members David Patterson, Marva Patterson and Genevieve Mitchell, Underground Railroad Leader and Cleveland NAACP Vice President Dr. Eugene Jordan, Peace in the Hood Founder Khalid Samad, Empowerment of Women and Goddesses Blessing Goddesses Leader The Rev. Dr. LaDonna Blalock, Occupy Cleveland Members Leatrice Tolls and Peter Schanz, Criminal Defense Attorney and 100 Black Mem Member Michael Nelson, Cleveland Councilpersons Kenneth Johnson, Mamie Mitchell, Jeff Johnson and Zach Reed, State Reps. Bill Patmon (D-10) and John Barnes Jr. (D12), Survivor/Victims of Tragedy Founder Judy Martin, Imperial Women Leader Kathy Wray Coleman, Community Activist Donna Walker Brown, Cleveland Jobs With Justice Executive Director Debbie Kline, Black on Black Crime Founder Art McKoy, Committee to Bring Home Jamela and Jamyla Leaders Angelique Cunningham, Black on Black Crime Youth Rappers Leader Al Porter, Oppressed People's Nation Leader Ernest Smith, and a host of others.
Zimmerman's lawyers say that their client will plead not guilty to the murder charge.
Reach Journalist Kathy Wray Coleman at editor@clevelandurbannews.com and phone number: 216-932-3114.
