They are honoring his name!
Eight years after his tragic death, Miami-Dade is taking another step to make sure Trayvon Martin’s memory remains alive. Last week commissioners unanimously passed a resolution to co-designate the road that leads to his former high school, Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High, as “Trayvon Martin Avenue.”
Martin’s death, which sparked rallies across the country, reignited demands for racial justice and equitable treatment of all people. The resolution, which Commissioner Barbara Jordan sponsored, stated that they are using this tribute to honor his unfinished life.
“Trayvon Martin, a young man whose life and future prospects were tragically cut short, was homegrown; and this Board appreciates the social justice reforms spurred by his death, recognizes all that his legacy could have been, and would like to honor the life and memory of Trayvon Benjamin Martin,” the resolution said.
Although his horrific murder went without justice, his beloved memory lives on as he’s inspired others to create necessary change. In 2012, his parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin founded the non-for-profit Trayvon Martin Foundation to advocate against gun violence. His death, along with Mike Brown in 2014, catalyzed Black Lives Matter, the hashtag and global political movement, which has mobilized people against police brutality while sparking calls for social justice reform.
Two of his family members, motivated by their desire for change, have begun careers in politics. As we reported previously, his mother recently campaigned to represent Miami-Dade District 1. Although a newcomer, she garnered a large amount of community support, losing by only 1% of the vote to Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert. And his brother, Jahavaris Fulton, has worked with the Trayvon Martin Foundation and as a community organizer in New York City’s local government. A 2017 Vice story described the work he’s been doing.
“In his job as a special assistant to the NYC Young Men’s Initiative (YMI), a public-private partnership with the mayor’s office that launched in 2011 to help improve the lives of black and Latino men in the city, Fulton, who is also an active member of the Trayvon Martin Foundation, is focused on juvenile justice, health, education, and employment,” the article stated.
Martin, who was cherished by his family, friends, and community, is remembered as a regular teenager who enjoyed playing video games, listening to music, and watching movies while also looking forward to the future. He was interested in mechanics, especially building and fixing dirt bikes, and wanted to pursue a career in aviation after attending the University of Miami or Florida A&M University.
The resolution will go into effect ten days after being passed. Miami-Dade Public works department told the Miami Herald that the new signs should be up within a few weeks of the resolution being distributed.
We will never forget Trayvon’s memory!
Photo Credit: The New York Times/Fatema Aries