The fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha decided to commemorate the death of Trayvon Martin by wearing hoodies and taking a photograph in front of the Memorial Clock Tower at 12:30 today.
After briefly meeting and putting their hoods up, all attendees gathered on the steps of the Memorial Clock Tower. One member spoke about the significance of the photo and urged the participants to remember not only Martin, but other victims of racial profiling. Another led a prayer before they took a commemorative photo (pictured above).
The event was open to anyone who wanted to participate, but all participants were asked to wear hoodies in respect for Martin.
Lekan Kassim, a junior studying chemical engineering, explains that February 5 would have been Trayvon Martin’s birthday, had he not been shot. The photo was the fraternity’s way of paying respect to Martin’s memory and letting others know that he has not been forgotten.
Kassim explains that as an African American male in society he knows that racial profiling happens and it could have been him or anyone he knows, but, in this case, it happened to Martin. He states that racial profiling, no matter the race, isn’t fair.
Brandon Williams, a junior studying business administration, explains that their fraternity had a burning drive to do something and send a message. He states that this photo is not about race, but unity and helping the American Youth come together to make a change like the youth have done throughout history.
He hopes that people will see this photo and realize that they can come together and make a change.