The independent student news site of San Diego Mesa College.

The Mesa Press

The Mesa Press

The independent student news site of San Diego Mesa College.

Breaking News
  • February 27Mysterious burning smell permeates campus; cause under investigation
  • December 17Acting Chancellor Smith named new permanent SDCCD chancellor
  • December 17Women's Volleyball claims state title

The Mesa Press

The Mesa Press

Mesa College rallies for Trayvon Martin

Brisa+Johnson%2C+a+black+studies+and+public+relations+major+at+San+Diego+Mesa+College+and+San+Diego+City+College%2C+speaks+to+the+crowd+during+the+Trayvon+Marin+rally+on+March+30+at+Balboa+Park.+Johnson%E2%80%99s+wish+is+that+someday+parents+will+be+able+to+fully+protect+their+children+from+injustices.+%E2%80%9COne+thing+that+really+hits+home+for+me+is+the+fact+that+we+live+in+a+society+that+is+so+violent+that+our+children+aren%E2%80%99t+even+safe%2C+and+when+a+mother+can%E2%80%99t+protect+her+children+we+have+to+stand+up+and+say+%E2%80%98enough+is+enough%2C%E2%80%99%E2%80%9D+Johnson+said.+Photo+by+Lauren+J.+Mapp%2FEditor-in-Chief
Brisa Johnson, a black studies and public relations major at San Diego Mesa College and San Diego City College, speaks to the crowd during the Trayvon Marin rally on March 30 at Balboa Park. Johnson’s wish is that someday parents will be able to fully protect their children from injustices. “One thing that really hits home for me is the fact that we live in a society that is so violent that our children aren’t even safe, and when a mother can’t protect her children we have to stand up and say ‘enough is enough,’” Johnson said. Photo by Lauren J. Mapp/Editor-in-Chief

As backlash against the Florida “Stand Your Ground” law that kept George Zimmerman from initially being arrested sweeps the nation, students took a stand to support the family and community of Trayvon Martin through a rally held on March 30.

Martin was killed on Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., while returning home unarmed from 7-Eleven with a bag of Skittles and iced tea when Zimmerman allegedly felt threatened by Martin, responding by shooting Martin in the chest.

Eliminating violence in American pop culture was one of the major messages that was stressed during the March 30 rally. Black studies and public relations major Brisa Johnson, who attends San Diego Mesa College and San Diego City College, is most concerned with the need for parents to be able to properly protect their children.

“One thing that really hits home for me is the fact that we live in a society that is so violent that our children aren’t even safe,” Johnson said. “And when a mother can’t protect her children we have to stand up and say ‘enough is enough!’”

Story continues below advertisement

Keynote speaker Starla Lewis, a black studies professor at Mesa College, added to the note of protecting and loving the next generation.

“I have shed tears not only for the death of Trayvon Martin, not only for the death of my grandson’s peers, not only for the death of the unknown children. I’ve shed tears for the death of the children that aren’t even born yet,” Lewis said during her speech.

The rally also brought up the strong themes of racial profiling and prejudices that faces minority communities. The need to rectify these aspects of the community, not only from the perspective of people outside, but also from African Americans themselves, was a focus of Michael Hill’s speech.

“I have had hate crimes perpetrated on me, and I have had hate crimes perpetrated on me by my own people. That is not OK,” Hill said.

Many speakers and attendees at the rally agreed with Hill in regards to the crimes within and against the African American community. Lewis called for a movement not only for Martin but for everyone who has been the subject of violence.

“Trayvon represents not just this one beautiful, brilliant child, Trayvon represents all those other children who things have happened to before and who are still happening to. They never made the news,” Lewis said.

Though racial profiling, especially against black men, was one of the main problems discussed throughout the rally, the message that change needs to come from within the African American community was another main point of discussion.

“Change is on the way, but we’ve all been waiting for change for a long time … because the reality is we are that change. We are the change, when we get together and come together as a people,” Hill said.

Brisa Johnson, a black studies and public relations major at San Diego Mesa College and San Diego City College, speaks to the crowd during the Trayvon Marin rally on March 30 at Balboa Park. Johnson’s wish is that someday parents will be able to fully protect their children from injustices. “One thing that really hits home for me is the fact that we live in a society that is so violent that our children aren’t even safe, and when a mother can’t protect her children we have to stand up and say ‘enough is enough,’” Johnson said. Photo by Lauren J. Mapp/Editor-in-ChiefStarla Lewis, accompanied by Jelani Brown and Kahlil Hollins McGee, speaks about the tragedy of the death of Trayvon Martin during the rally on March 30 at Balboa Park. Lewis stresses that students need to know their cultural history in order to grow. “Our children become 4.0 GPA students in myths, lies and stereotypes. We get very proud when the illusions that they learn in school they take out into the streets and start judging themselves and each other with somebody else’s definition of who they are.” Photo by Lauren J. Mapp/Editor-in-Chief

Leave a Comment
Donate to The Mesa Press
$270
$500
Contributed
Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of San Diego Mesa College. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

Donate to The Mesa Press
$270
$500
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (0)

Here at The Mesa Press, we want to foster a community for civil discussions. We welcome your insight and perspective. Comments posted must be appropriate for all ages. Any profanity or cursing is prohibited. That includes any attempts to curse with special characters (!@#) or spacing. Discuss and criticize ideas. We don’t allow comments that intend to intimidate, demean or harass other readers in any way.
All The Mesa Press Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *