On the evening of February 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager, was shot and killed. That night, Tyravon Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, and father, Tracy Martin, lost a son. That night, Trayvon Martin’s brother, Jahvaris Martin, lost his younger brother. On July 13, 2013, George Zimmerman, the man who killed Trayvon Martin, was acquitted.

There is much that can be said about the killing of this young man, Trayvon Martin. It is without question that young black men have long-been seen as a menace, whether this bias and prejudice has been, or is, conscious or subconscious. For decades, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has worked to uplift black people, including young black men through its various national programs and partnership—e.g., Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Go-to-High School, Go-to-College. It is apparent that in this time—specifically this cultural, legal, and political environment—this fraternity must and will, with every resource at its disposal, do much more in its fight for justice and equality as it relates to our communities and our young black men.

Alpha Phi Alpha extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of Trayvon Martin, and we call for calm and, hopefully, rational action on the part of those who are outraged by the jury’s verdict in this case. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is grateful for the work of Brother Daryl Parks, his law partner Benjamin Crump, and the members of their legal team, for their work on representing the Martin family. Alpha Phi Alpha also applauds community leaders for bringing the Trayvon Martin murder to the national consciousness.

In the coming weeks and months, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity …

Read the full statement here – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Issues Statement on Zimmerman Trail Verdict