(School Without Walls, DC) "If you really want to take action, you guys should organize a rally!" says my teacher, Dr. Demczuk, after having a discussion about the Trayvon Martin. Another classmate and I looked puzzled. He encouraged us to raise our voices as the new generation of youth.
After class, our principal approved of having a rally and began sending emails and making phone calls. As a first time protester, I was in awe. Throughout the week, my classmates and I began promoting the rally and wrote letters to the general attorney in Sanford, FL, explaining our feelings and why justice for Trayvon's ended life was important. News stations and journalists in the community came to the school and interviewed the organizers of the rally and letter campaign. Then came the big day, Tuesday, March 27, 2012. I woke up that morning with butterflies because it had finally hit me as to what I was doing and the intensity of the situation. I was also very excited. Students and faculty came dressed in black and white and had posters and banners ready to go! At lunch time, my principal made an announcement for us to line up and prepare to march. As we walked outside, there camera and news reporters everywhere!
College students, members of the NAACP and DC Public School board, and the community waiting to join us. It was truly amazing to see so many people come and support. The police officers got on the motorcycles and led us to the White House and back to school. The entire time marching, we shouted "Justice for Trayvon Martin! We are Trayvon Martin! No justice, no peace!". When were almost to the White House I started crying, that's how real it was for me. I learned so much about my identity, where I come from, and why it's so important to be a leader and change agent for my generation! I truly enjoyed that feeling because my heart felt good about what I was doing. All I remember thinking was "I hope this will make a difference in my future." I'm just so happy & grateful that I was able to do this. Check out a clip of the action!
MY OPINION/THOUGHTS: In my opinion,Trayvon Martin's life was ended unreasonably. Although I didn't know him personally, I know that he was a teenager just like me. While I do not condone aggressive retaliation, I do believe that justice should be served and Zimmerman should be arrested and charged. It was unfair the way that this incident was handled, and I think the nation can agree to that. While there are a variety of both facts and biases to this case, I think that racial tension and stereotypes should be eliminated when determining the outcome. I say this because it will not make anything better for our nation. As youth, we are taught about the Founding Fathers and their hopes for this nation, our rights as citizens, and a key factor: the Pledge of Allegiance. Does this pledge not state that there is "liberty and JUSTICE FOR ALL"? If justice is not served for this young man's life, what type of examples are we setting for future leaders of America? Better yet, how are we to be a role model for other nations around the world? I wonder messages are being conveyed about our country right now as the world is watching our country experience this chaos. It is my hope that the grand jury will do what is right and that my generation will have learned something from this, aiming to shape a better nation in our future.
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