Kids & Family

Reston Church Holds Vigil For Trayvon Martin

Support, prayers in Reston for teen shot in Florida and the hope that shooter will be brought to justice.

More than 100 people gathered at the pavilion on Tuesday for a "Vigil of Consciousness" in support of justice for Trayvon Martin.

Martin is the Florida teen who was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, in February.

Zimmerman says he shot Martin, who was unarmed, in self defense. Zimmerman has not been charged, and that has infuriated many around the country, particularly in the black community.

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(Note: Zimmerman was arrested and charged with second-degree murder on Wednesday).

"Today is National Hoodie Day," said vigil organizer Mary Barrino-Smith, pastor of the Community of All People United Church of Christ. "It is a day for the nation to come together. We stand together. This is a social justice issue. The outcome WILL BE a charge against Zimmerman."

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Reston resident Alene Smith attended the event because she said "you have to be supportive."

"You have to fight for justice," she said. "This is not just justice for Trayvon. This is justice for all."

Organizers were initially denied access to the pavilion from Reston Town Center management, who said the request was put in on short notice and, in general, they decline applications from political and religious groups.

"The denial of the use of the Reston Town Center for the vigil displays a lack of awareness and insensitivity to what is important to the residents of our community and the nation," Barrino-Smith wrote in a letter to Reston Town Center Property Management.

Representatives from Reston Town Center said they are committed to treating all applications in a fair and consistent manner.

"While we are certainly sensitive to this religious group’s desire to bring people together around this important cause, we declined their request because we have a long-standing policy of not granting permits for the use of the Pavilion for religious or politically sponsored events and functions.

We discussed our policy and position with Reverend Barrino-Smith and requested that the grouphold their vigil elsewhere."

The event went ahead as scheduled, however, even without permission.  


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