Jay-Z gave major star power to the Trayvon Martin Peace Walk this past weekend. The Family Feud rapper attended the event in Florida and rendered words of inspiration.
“It’s very important, the support you guys are showing and the strength that Sabrina and Tracy and the family are showing,” Jay-Z told attendees. “We want to make sure we stand in support and we never forget that Trayvon served as a beacon of light to all the people out there, so you guys would never have to go through the pain and hurt that these guys went through,” he added.
God the pain this day would bring to my son’s mother…. happy 23rd birthday Trayvon…..😓 #TrayvonMartin
— Kirk Franklin (@kirkfranklin) February 5, 2018
Jay-Z went on to tell attendees that the 17-year-old, whose life was cut short by a self-proclaimed neighborhood watchman, will be remembered among the greats in history. “His name will sit alongside some of the greats who lost their lives to push our culture forward,” the celebrity father said. “The Martin Luther Kings, the Ghandis, that’s the intention that we set, that his name serves as a beacon of light and hope to push us in a better direction.”
Trayvon Martin was minding his business in February 2012 when a 31-year-old man named George Zimmerman harassed and murdered him. George suspected Trayvon of being up to questionable activity. In actuality, the teen was headed home after purchasing Skittles at the local market. Zimmerman was instructed by an emergency dispatcher not to pursue Martin but, being the zealot self-proclaimed watchman he was, decided to disobey the command.
Six years ago Trayvon was fatally shot by a racist who saw his Blackness as a threat. The racist walked, and Trayvon's family only has their memories. Injustice is not an occurrence, it is systemic and ongoing. Happy Birthday #TrayvonMartin, we won't ever stop fighting for you.
— Rashad Robinson (@rashadrobinson) February 5, 2018
The 31-year-old was cleared of all criminal charges by a jury who claimed that Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law gave Zimmerman the right to murder an unarmed Martin because he felt threatened. The verdict was the fuel needed to launch the Black Lives Matter movement, which continues to call for accountability within law enforcement and true justice for all.
Catch Jay-Z’s moving speech during this weekend’s peace walk below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lroegGX2HE
