In response to
the Ginger Rutland’s article regarding the national call for “Justice For
Trayvon Martin” vigil-- a few concerned community members did submit the
following Op-Ed to the Bee. While the Sacramento Bee chose not to publish our
Op-Ed letter we submitted July 29, 2013. Here’s our Op-Ed letter:
Why We March: Another View
On Saturday, July 20, 2013, hundreds of
people met at the Robert Matsui Federal Court House in downtown Sacramento to
protest the Zimmerman verdict. The participants reflected the diversity of the
region; they were ethnically and culturally varied, young and old, and passionate
about the issue bringing them together. They were also determined to keep the
protest peaceful, and they succeeded.
Yet Ginger Rutland’s article of Tuesday,
July 23, 2013, called for the public to stop protesting the Zimmerman verdict
and channel that energy into mentoring a child. Yes, we should indeed
continue mentoring and supporting our young people, and yes, we should
acknowledge the myriad number of grassroots organizations and individuals in
our region dedicated to working with youth. But end protests? Not yet.
