On July 20th, Beats Rhymes and Life, Youth Uprising and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights joined together to hold a candlelight vigil to honor the memory of Trayvon Martin and all youth who have died from gun violence in our communities at Oakland’s Lake Merritt. The vigil was one of hundreds of actions across the country representing 100 different cities.
Official BRL Statement
BRL’s thoughts and support are with Trayvon Martin’s family. What we have learned from Trayvon’s case and countless others is that the same thing could have happened to any of our young black men walking down the streets of Oakland, San Francisco, the South Bronx and beyond. Too many of our young people of color nationwide are having to deal with racial profiling, gun violence, and institutional oppression as a fact of their daily experiences. Trayvon’s case forces us to ask the question: if our youth cannot be safe in their own communities, then where can they be safe?
Since 2004, BRL has been committed to the healing of our communities and supporting our youth dealing with many of these difficult issues. We have worked to create safe spaces where our youth can come together to express themselves, dialogue, promote healing and change, and create positive outcomes for themselves and their communities. We are currently working with our youth to process the verdict in order to encourage discussion, pro-activeness, and healing. Their voices, concerns, and expressions need a positive outlet and support. Our youth need and deserve positive messages that their lives do matter and their community cares about their well-being.
We stand committed to advancing our efforts to promote healing, social change, and youth development in the face of this tragedy. We will continue to work with our partners to create communities where youth can thrive and not have to worry about their safety or human rights. We encourage others to seek support to engage in their own healing, or engage their own children, youth, or communities in conversations to process how these issues affect them. Rest in Power to Trayvon Martin and all the young people who have lost their lives to violence.
