Commission on Black Men and Boys Trayvon Martin Roundtable Tonight Seeks Solutions for D.C.

Washington, DC – The first forum for D.C. residents on the meaning of the Trayvon Martin tragedy, "Lessons from the Life and Death of Trayvon Martin," hosted by the D.C. Commission on Black Men and Boys, will be held this evening, Tuesday, April 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the D.C. Armory. The Commission, which regularly holds roundtables and works to help resolve the issues that affect African American men and boys in the District, will hold a forum for the community, distinct from the many rallies held throughout the country, to focus on local experience with and problem-solving for the negative branding of African American youth and men because of the color of their skin.

Witnesses include: Charles Rawlings, the father of DeOnte Rawlings, a 14-year-old African American boy who was killed in 2007 by two off-duty Metropolitan Police Department officers, but federal prosecutors declined to charge the officers and the family settled a civil lawsuit with the city;Barry Hudson, National Mentoring chair for 100 Black Men of D.C. and father of two teenage boys, ages 13 and 15, who attend D.C. Public Schools; Ryan Washington, a D.C. Co-Youth Mayor, a ward 8 resident and student at Gonzaga High School. Members of the audience will get up to two minutes to respond during the question and answer period following the panel.

For a decade, the Commission, established by Norton, has provided a thoughtful forum for discussion and problem-solving concerning the most persistent and controversial issues that African American men and youth face, including crime, education deficits, and high unemployment.

Published: April 10, 2012