Black Solidarity Sunday March Planned for Pasadena

[Updated December 13, 2014 | 6:42 p.m.]  Reverend Nikia Smith Robert of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME) of Pasadena is scheduled to lead a protest march in central Pasadena on Sunday, December 14 as part of “National Black Solidarity Sunday!” events planned nationwide.

The march is a local response to the police killing of Michael Brown last August in Ferguson, Mo., and, organizers say, “the many instances of police killing unarmed men, even children, across our nation.”

“We want to speak truth to power on behalf of all the voiceless, powerless, targeted, profiled, named and unnamed black and brown bodies who are victim of police brutality, criminalization and a prison industrial complex,” organizers said in a statement online.

“This demonstration is the beginning of a larger effort to make systemic and structural change to end retributive punishment, draconian policies and a prison industrial complex that disproportionately affects poor black and brown communities,” a press release provided by Rev. Robert said.

Marchers plan to gather at 132 North Euclid Avenue (the Center Quad Lawn at All Saints Episcopal Church) at 2 p.m. and to end the march with a Prayer Vigil on the West steps of City Hall (on the side of the Jackie Robinson statue).

A statement said organizers are enlisting “identifiable monitors” to ensure safety and order during the protest and urged those considering attending to “help to make this a peaceful protest.”

“All Saints is supporting this protest and serving as the gathering place,” The Rev. Francisco Garcia, Director of Peace and Justice ministry of All Saints Church said in an email Saturday.

First AME Church of Pasadena has joined congregations of all denominations across the country in asking parishioners to wear black clothing to church services on Sunday and for marchers walking in the protest to do so as well to demonstrate that “Black Lives Matter.”

Rev. Robert is an Associate Minister and Director of the Social Action Commission at First African Methodist Episcopal Church Pasadena.