Daytona Times - January 24, 2013

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Wright to be sworn in Tuesday

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Daytona

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit #189 Daytona Beach, FL

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GEORGE E. CURRY: Hands off Malia and Sasha Obama Page 4

A ROUNDUP OF LOCAL SPORTS See page 7

East Central Florida’s Black Voice

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www.daytonatimes.com www.daytonatimes.com

JANUARY 24 - JANUARY 30, 2013

YEAR 38 NO. 4

PEOPLE SPEAK

Trayvon remembered at MLK banquet Peace march, vigil planned in memory of slain teen BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

COURTESY OF DUANE FERNANDEZ/HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY

Members of the Daytona Black Clergy Alliance lead Monday’s march from Allen Chapel AME Church to Greater Friendship Baptist in Daytona Beach for a worship service.

Still marching for justice Daytona Beach ministers, residents continued a tradition of kicking off MLK Day with march BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES butleramj@yahoo.com

The Daytona Beach community joined the nation on Monday in celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s holiday observance. Hundreds of area residents participated in the annual ceremonies, which included a breakfast, march and worship service. “We have been blessed to see this march gain popularity in the community. People look forward to it every year. It has become a staple of the weekend activities. It demonstrates us remembering Dr. King marching for our rights. This is appropriate rather than a parade to exemplify what he stood for,” said Dr. Ronald L. Durham, pastor of Greater Friendship Baptist Church.

Durham organized the event along with other members of the Daytona Black Clergy Alliance. A breakfast was held at Allen Chapel AME Church followed by a march. The march started at the church and ended at Greater Friendship Baptist Church where a worship service took place. Dr. James P. Sampson, president of the Florida General Baptist Convention, was the guest speaker.

‘Work in progress’ The main goal of the event was to honor the legacy of King. “His legacy is still a work in progress. His vision was far reaching and broader than I believe he realized at the time. We have seen things come to pass, but we still have a way to go in education and hiring

practices,’’ Durham explained. “We have a Black president. We will move forward to do things that we need to as African-Americans to be in full citizens in this country, which was (King’s) dream.’’ Those who participated in the events in Daytona Beach expressed pride but opinions differed on the fulfillment of King’s dream. “It’s great to do this, but I think that more people should have come out. Some of what Dr. King wanted to happen has happened but more needs to happen and I believe that it will over time,” said Marlene Brooks. Twelve-year-old Stephanie Correira participated in the march with her school Lourdes Academy of Daytona Beach. “I think this is a good thing to do. We do it every year. Dr.

King was a great man. His legacy and dream shows everyday in our school. We have people from all different cultures and I have been able to be friends with them. Diversity expands and changes our lives,’’ the seventh-grader told the Daytona Times.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have been 84 years old on Jan. 15 if he hadn’t been killed in Memphis, Tenn., at 6:01 p.m. on April 4, 1968, at age 39 by an assassin’s bullet. Trayvon Martin would have turned 18 years old this coming Feb. 5 had he not been shot and killed Feb. 26, 2012 in Sanford at 7:17 p.m. while walking from a store to an apartment in a gated community. How both deaths galvanized a nation was explored on Jan. 17 during a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. banquet at the Hilton Resort and Spa in Daytona Beach. Derrick Henry, Daytona’s first elected Black male mayor, welcomed Trayvon’s parents – Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton to the banquet and the city. Henry was sworn in last month as the city’s mayor. “We cried with you, wept with you, stood with you when you demanded justice,” said Henry, who also acknowledged others in attendance, saying “Thank you for not allowing the dream (of King) to die.”

‘Working together for justice’

Quinicia Stokes is the NAACP president at BethuneCookman University. The sociology major also participated in the ceremonies. “This is a great thing to do to honor Dr. King, especially for the younger generation. Their generation is all about having a Black president. They don’t understand how far we have come. I also believe that King’s

Attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents Trayvon’s parents, was the keynote speaker. “(There are) far too many Black and brown (males) nobody seems to care about when they are taken away from this world. It’s about us working together for justice,” said Crump, who spoke before a crowd of about 300 people. “In the end, we will not remember the works of our enemies but the silence of our friends,” Crump continued as he called on those in attendance to help him and Trayvon’s parents make a difference. The day before the banquet, Crump was in Tallahassee with Trayvon’s parents to lend their support to a bill filed by legislators to repeal the “stand your ground law” that George Zim-

Please see MARCH, Page 5

Please see TRAYVON, Page 5

Important for youth, community

Public invited to Thursday forum on Black men and boys BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

Dr. Eddy Regnier, a clinical psychologist who practices in Sarasota, says Black men and boys are still suffering from “what happened to us during slavery.” “We were not lazy before slavery but became lazy after slavery,” said Regnier, who also is chair of the Florida Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys. The council will be having a public forum on Thursday, Jan. 31, from 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Greater Friendship Baptist Church, 539 George W. Engram Blvd., Daytona Beach. The purpose of this public forum is to hear from communi-

ty leaders and the public on the issues and concerns affecting Black men and boys in Daytona Beach. The information will be compiled and passed on to Florida legislators and their staff.

Mission of council In an exclusive interview with the Daytona Times this week, Regnier said, “Young Black men lead in every negative indicator. There is a relationship that exists between academic failure, dropping out of schools and Black men succeeding.” The mission of the Florida Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys is to research and propose measures that improve conditions affecting Black men and boys.

Florida is committed to engaging, educating, equipping and encouraging all Black men and boys to successfully achieve their full potential,” according to information provided to the Times from the council.

Officers invited Regnier said the council needs people to go to Greater Friendship to talk about their concerns. He noted that what they hear and compile in reports have made a difference since the council was first created in 2006. Regnier cited the passing of the “pants on the ground legislation” and directives to school districts to not suspend students for minor infractions happened because of input from their group.

He said the council has invited law enforcement, including Sheriff Ben Johnson, Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood and Volusia County SuperinDr. Eddy tendent Margaret Regnier Smith to attend the forum to educate them as well as learn what they are doing to make a difference in Black males’ lives. The council travels to five cities across the state every year to discuss the disparities that exist between Black men and boys and others in education, dropout rates and arrest records. Regnier was disappointed with

the reversal of a law under Gov. Rick Scott’s administration that no longer restores rights to felons who are not incarcerated or are under probation or parole.

Making a differnece Regnier, 62, says he likes making a difference. “By helping Black people, you help all Americans. The church has led the struggle of freedom of all Black people,” he said, noting that the council likes to partner with churches and local entities to gather their information. Dr. L. Ronald Durham, pastor of Greater Friendship where the forum will take place, said he and the council are looking forward to city and Volusia County resiPlease see FORUM, Page 2


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