Vigil planned for Martin case

Published 8:33 pm Saturday, April 7, 2012

A candlelight vigil is planned this week to remember Florida shooting victim Trayvon Martin.

Bishop Wallace Johnson is hosting the vigil at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Peanut Park. The public is invited.

According to Johnson, there will be speeches and prayer. Everyone is asked to bring a candle.

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“I wanted to put together this vigil just to basically bring an awareness to our city for prayer, to make the city aware something like that could possibly happen in our city,” he said. “We pray that it wouldn’t.”

The shooting Johnson referred to occurred about 7:15 p.m. Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla. Trayvon Martin, 17, was returning to his father’s fiancée’s home from a convenience store when he was shot and killed by 28-year-old George Zimmerman, who admitted to shooting him and claimed it was in self-defense.

Investigations into the incident continue at the local, state and federal levels but there has been no arrest in the case, and Florida’s so-called “Stand Your Ground” law clouds an already complicated case.

“This candlelight vigil is not political,” Johnson said. “It’s for prayer for our city, state, nation and this young man’s family.”

Johnson added he especially wants to invite any parents who have lost a child to violence.

“If there’s a parent out there that has lost a loved one, we want them to please come,” he said. “I’m very passionate about that. We’re hoping as many people as can will come out.”

For more information on the vigil, contact Johnson at 438-9125.