Director with the Community Action Group of Brookhaven Roy Smith led a march from the Lincoln County-Brookhaven Government Complex, down Justice Street, to the Dr. A.L. Lott Baseball Field in honor of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin on Saturday afternoon.

     Smith said he wanted to have a march in honor of Martin to shed light on the fears surrounding racial issues and to demonstrate how far African Americans have come.

     “We can’t allow our fears to dictate our future,” Smith said, “And our children are our future.”

     The controversial issue of racial profiling and fears that surround young black males has been a much talked about topic since George Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder in the Feb. 26, 2012 shooting death of Martin.

     Smith said his march Saturday gave local young people a chance to be part of the American political process.

     “The children are getting ready to return to school and this was an event that captivated the nation and even the world,” Smith said.

     “Some of the kids got caught up in the moment instead of the movement,” he continued. “I grew up in the 60s and 70s when racial strife was an every day existence, so I want to also demonstrate how far we have come in this country since that time.”

     Smith encourages anyone interested in being a part of the Community Action Group to come to one of their meetings held the last Tuesday of every month at 934 Bryant St., Brookhaven.

     For more information contact Smith at (601) 695-7255, or co-founder for the group, Bernetta Character, (601) 757-8094.