Location: Seattle, the question: “Why Are You Here Today”Trayvon Gilliam of Seattle, “I’m here to show support for Trayvon. For justice” When I asked him if he had anything else to say or if he wanted to add anything else, Trayvon replied  “Isn’t that enough.”

(l-r) Father and son, Glenn and Jennar, of Redmond, Washington: “This is my son’s first rally. We attended President Obama’s inauguration.” Jennar: “I don’t think it’s fair, what happened to Trayvon Martin. Marissa Alexander fired a warning shot and she got jail. Her husband should have gone to jail. George Zimmerman should have gone to jail. It’s good that people came here to show they care.”

(l-r) Son and mother Myles and Vanessa of Edmonds Washington:  Vanessa: “It’s my opportunity to come and participate. We need our justice system revamped. I think the verdict is just another statement of this. Young black men are profiled because of the color of their skin. It’s unjust. I want justice for everyone. I don’t want my son to be another statistic. I am here to represent who I am”

Myles: “Don’t visualize me as a wrong person just because of the color of my skin. Don’t profile me”

(l-r) Two friends speaking: Ahoua of Seattle: I’m here to demand justice for Trayvon. To keep his name alive. I have two young boys of my own. Trayvon did nothing wrong. I do not want him to be forgotten”  Holding the flag is Gwen of Seattle” “I’m here because we need accountability. He is dead. This child did nothing wrong. I have granchildren. Are they next? We are all the same. We’ve all come together, sorry we here again.”

At front, is Cheryl of Seattle: “I have black people in my family. I have black grandchildren. We talk about race all the time. All the time. They tell me whats really going on. 70 percent of black men have been, are in, or will be put in jail. My family is humiliated. Humiliated every day. They are terrified. They are frightened to leave the house. Afraid they are going to be the next to get killed. Last week my grandson was blowing kisses from the parking garage to his wife on the sidewalk below. The police stopped him and her, and asked her if that man was bothering her. My grandchildren ask me to take them downtown because they know I will protect them.”

Cheryl of Seattle, above left.

A Line in the Sand. What’s it all about?

If you draw a line in the sand, as the saying goes, you draw distinction, sets boundaries,  throw the proverbial gauntlet. Simply say,  enough is enough.

This column aims to address the tantamount concerns facing our environment, culture, society, and ethos. There is no better way, in my humble opinion other than to record the visual and opinion of the person on the street.

Think of it as a visual cross section of Americans.

I really love people. It is the  joy of my profession is to speak, engage and converse with other people. I really do, love to listen and hear what people have to say.

My method is simple.

I ask a question. Write down the answer. Speak back what I’ve heard.

This keeps me in balance as a journalist, and gives the participant the space to add, ameliorate or subtract from the sum total of our conversation.

My twitter paper, also titled A Line in the Sand, may be found here

Related articles

• Justice for Trayvon rally in Seattle (q13fox.com)
• Trayvon Martin rallies in Seattle, around country (q13fox.com)