Napans organize “Justice for Trayvon” Rally

When: July 18th, 2013 at 6:30
Where: Old Court House in Downtown Napa off 3rd street
What: Somos Trayvon Martin
Press contact: Haley Rekdahl 707 266 8664

A Ceremonial dance will be performed by Danza Mexica Nanahuatzin. Speakers will include Napa Valley College Professor of Humanities and Africana Studies Janet Stickmon, Napa Valley College Instructor of Chicano Studies and Napa Valley Unified School Board Member Carlos Hagendorn, representatives from the Napa Valley Dream Team, and from the Napa Valley Ethnic Studies Advocates.

In light of recent protests, several Napa residents have decided to organize a “Somos Trayvon Martin” rally in Napa to demand justice for Trayvon Martin.

Organizers believe what happened to Trayvon could have happened to almost any person of color. In Napa, Over 30% the population is Latino.
“Somos Trayvon Martin is meant as an expression of black and brown unity,” organizer Rhina Noemi Henriquez explained. “We want to bring awareness to this issue to show we are all in this together.”

Trayvon Martin was 17 years old. He was a black youth and a junior in high school. On February 26th, 2012 he was racially profiled and shot by George Zimmerman during an altercation.

On July 13th, Zimmerman was found not guilty. This has sparked national protests and acts of civil disobedience.
For some protesters, Somos Trayvon Martin is about changing the social narrative.

“The narratives imposed on communities of color tend to criminalize and place people like Trayvon in situations where they have to defend their existence,” explained Edgar-Arturo Camacho-González. “I am not Trayvon Martin, but as a Queer Person of Color I understand all struggles are common struggles and that it could have been me wearing a hoodie and profiled that night.”

Others feel that no one is truly free while others are oppressed. Many white Americans have been standing up in solidarity with Trayvon Martin.

“I believe this should be a wake up call to every color including whites - that racism and sterotyping still exist,” said Tayler Tildsley. “It is important for all of us to work together in order to change the path of thinking in order for all of us to live with justice that we all deserve.”