On Thursday, March 22nd, I had the opportunity to attend my first rally last week, in response to the tragic shooting and death of 17 yr old, Trayvon Martin. Were we going to be sitting in a room watching performances like in ‘Coming to America?’ or would we just be chanting and shouting words of protest? As you can see, I didn’t know what to expect…
Turns out, the rally was a little bit of both. I found myself wandering through the crowd that was growing on the steps of the church. The rally was being sponsored by the Atlanta Chapter of the National Action Network and they had set up a podium where we listened to a few different speakers. I was able to find a spot to stand in the middle of all of the action. Occasionally someone would yell out “no justice, no peace” and get a chant going through the crowd. I, also, enjoyed seeing all of the signs and banners that people took the time to create.
If there is one thing that I can take away from this experience, it would be not to let our momentum dim. As there have been countless ‘hoodie’ marches , rallies, and peaceful protests, we must remember that this is just one of numerous causes. Perhaps, it is time for a new social movement like our grandparents were part of. I will be ready to stand up for what I believe is fair and just….will you?
Ayana Smith currently resides in Atlanta, GA and holds a position within the insurance industry. She recently graduated from the University of Houston-Victoria with an MBA in Marketing. Ayana also owns her own business, Savoir Faire Events, where her specialty is corporate event management. Other hobbies include reading, shopping, and training girls as a Girl Scout Troop Leader. Ayana lives by her Alma Mater’s (Clark Atlanta University) motto – Find a Way or Make One!!!
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