Non-violence vigil planned for tonight
Bishop Nealon Guthrie says it is a response to the troubling Trayvon Martin murder trial, but not “to question the innocence or guilt of Mr. Zimmerman.”
As the reactions to the not guilty verdict in the trial of Florida neighborhood watch volunteer George Zim- merman continue to resonate throughout the nation, a local minister is hoping to nurture some perspective.
Bishop Nealon Guthrie and Greater Christ Temple Rapture Preparation Holiness Cathedral’s prayer vigil will be tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. at the church, 1321 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
The public is invited, and Guthrie said he hopes it will allow those who are feeling troubled by anything, including the events in the Trayvon Martin murder trial, to come together for prayer in a peaceful setting.
“Violence is not the answer,” Guthrie said. “This is not about a rally of support for the Martin family or of violence and hatred due to race. We’re not there to question the innocence or guilt of Mr. Zimmerman.”
Across the country, rallies over the weekend were largely peaceful as demonstrators voiced their support for the 17- year- old Martin’s family and decried the verdict.
After seeing the reaction to a jury’s decision to clear Zimmerman in the shooting death of the unarmed black teenager, Guthrie said he decided to hold a vigil.
“I’ve talked to a lot of young people and they seem to have a very negative reaction,” he said. “I know that there is a lot of anger and frustration built up in young people about this but you can’t let personal emotions overtake your actions.”
The Rev. Al Sharpton said Monday that his organization will hold vigils and rallies in 100 cities Saturday in front of federal buildings.
The Justice Department has said it’s considering whether federal prosecutors should file criminal civil rights charges now that Zimmerman has been acquitted in the state case. The department opened an investigation into Martin’s death last year but stepped aside to allow the state prosecution to proceed.
Sunday’s demonstrations, in cities from Florida to Wisconsin, attracted anywhere from a few dozen people to a more than a thousand.
“As a minister, I do believe in the saying, “Why can’t we all get along,’” Guthrie said. “We don’t need violence to beget violence.”