Cover Stories Ezell Ford Family Unites with Bakewell for Historical MARCH on Feb. 21; On the 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of Malcolm X, Leaders Unite
By Kenneth D. Miller
Assistant Managing Editor
By Amen Oyiboke
Staff Writer
Tritobia Ford, the mother of Ezell Ford who was fatally shot by LAPD officers on Aug. 11, 2014 in a tragedy that inspired a nation against police brutality, has agreed to join Los Angeles Sentinel Publisher Danny J. Bakewell Sr. on the anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X for the historical MARCH for Unity & Peace on Saturday February 21 beginning at 10a.m. at Southwest LAPD Headquarters on King Blvd.
“I will be there to participate to honor the legacy of my son,” Mrs. Ford told the Sentinel.
Led by The Black Leadership Coalition ‘THE MARCH for Justice & Unity” will gather members from many of the most powerful organizations in the nation and region, including Civil Rights Leader Bakewell Sr. (also Chairman of the Board Brotherhood Crusade), Pastor Xavier L. Thompson (Baptist Ministers Alliance), Bishop Charles Blake II (West Angeles Church of God In Christ), Pastor Edgar Boyd (First AME Church, Pastor Melvin Wade (Mt. Moriah Baptist Church), Joe B. Hardwick (Praises of Zion Baptist Church), Nolan Rollins (President Los Angeles Urban League), Charisse Bremond Weaver (President Brotherhood Crusade), Senator Isadore Hall III, Assembly member Reginald Jones Sawyer,, Dr. Maulana Karenga (Professor and Chair -Department of Africana Studies California State University, Long Beach), Rev. K. W. Tulloss (National Action Network), Bro. Tony Muhammad (Community Activist), SEIU President LaPhonza Butler, Activist Yolanda ‘Yo-Yo’ Whitaker’ and others.
“I cannot say enough about my co-chair for the March, Xavier Thompson. The leadership he has brought to this March and the vision he has brought in fighting for the lives of our community has been extraordinary. I am so grateful to all of the leadership council in making this event possible,” commended Bakewell.
This is the largest and most powerful contingent of Black organizations ever assembled in Los Angeles, and while the underlying theme is UNITY, they will also be advocating for the protection and preserving of Black life, education, economic progress among other issues that impact the quality of life for Blacks.
“I am elated that Mrs. Ford will join us on this historical occasion,” said Bakewell. “It is my hope that she can continue to heal emotionally and she offers hope that other families afflicted with such tragedy can also begin to mend.”
Leaders gathered in front of the Sentinel offices urging community members to stand up for justice.
The March will conclude with a rally in Leimert Park.
The demonstration is in response to the recent killings of LA local Ford, Ferguson’s Mike Brown, Ohio’s John Crawford, NYPD’s Eric Garner, Cleveland’s Tamir Rice and countless others across the country.
“Part of this will talk about the life of Ezell Ford. His mother weeps everyday and when she weeps we all weep with her,” Bakewell, Sr. said.
“I am excited to partner with a community icon Danny Bakewell, Sr. for the advancement of unity in our city and in context of the African American experience. We find ourselves in a season that things are happening all around us. We must speak truth with power, courage and build with our convictions without compromising our characters,” said Thompson. “We look forward to the call going out to working professionals, local organizations, public figures and faith based communities from all religious backgrounds. We are uniting together in an unprecedented fashion unlike anything this city has witnessed before. We are pushing for justice, equality and respect of black lives.”
Organizers are calling for demands in response to the police shooting deaths asking for special prosecutors, a civilian review board, a strengthening in community policing, demilitarizing the functions of police and changing the practices of police personal and professional practices.
Now more than ever, the voices of African and African Americans are imperative to the narrative of police relations, economic injustices and community development.
“We are morally outraged at the level of police violence directed towards our community. Also the general systemic violence and injustices that still shake our lives today as Black people that refraining us from the sense of community and opportunity that America has given us as citizens. We come together to reaffirm the unity as a community as a united spirit in the dignity of Black people, especially our right to live,” said Chimbuku Tembo from the African American Cultural Center.
Others participating at the March will include Rev. Rosalynn Brookins Walker -Temple AME; Dr. Shalamon Duke-The Guild Group; Marqueece Harris-Dawson Community Coalition; LaMont G. Jackson-Los Angeles Community College District; Marc Little Faithful-Central Bible Church; Tracy Mitchell-Mothers In Action; Khalid Shah-Stop the Violence; Pastor William D. Smart-Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC); Daniel Tabor-Southwest College Foundation; Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer-Faithful Central Bible Church; Rev. Melvin Wade Mount Moriah Baptist Church and Yvonne Wheeler-AFGF.