Editor’s Note: This is the ninth in a series of articles published by The Apopka Voice in 2016 that were the most noteworthy events of the year. The Apopka Voice will publish them starting Monday, December 26th and running until Sunday, January 1st. On January, 2nd we will publish a poll and let the readers decide on which story is the most impactful of the year.
Originally Published: July 25th, 2016
On an overcast and muggy evening 175 marchers in support of the Black Lives Matter movement walked from the Alonzo Williams Park through the streets of South Apopka to The Apopka Police Department. They chanted, “black lives matter,” “hands up, don’t shoot,” and “no justice, no peace.”
They marched, they prayed, they called for unity, and an end to the violence. There were no violent incidents, and no threats to law enforcement.
Representatives from the Apopka Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office attended the event, blocked off roads along the route, and led the marchers to APD headquarters.
"We support the freedoms provided by our constitution and everyone's opportunity to exercise their first amendment rights," said APD Captain Randall Fernandez. "This march was peaceful and embodied the unity found within our community. It highlighted the support of the members of the Apopka Police Department and of the community and the community of the officers. This proud and strong relationship is key to what makes Apopka a great place to live and work."
Melvin Bolder, one of the group organizers, was pleased with the turnout both in attendance and in the varieties of people attending.
“I see a lot of diversity, a lot of cultures and a lot of religions and at the end of the day that was our goal.”
Earlier in the week, Bishop Kelvin Cobaris of The Impact Church in Orlando was critical of the Black Lives Matter group at a rally in support of law enforcement at the Apopka City Hall. Cobaris, who is running for Florida House District 45 (which includes Apopka south of 441 and 436), said that “If the Black Lives Matter narrative brings us to divisiveness and to hatred, and violence, then I condemn it. I stand against it."
But at the march, he explained the distinction between the narrative and the violence he condemns.
“Just to help you understand the Black Lives Matter narrative better, because there is so much confusion about it all over the nation… And there are some radicals that are taking the wrong approach and being vigilantes and taking matters into their own hands. But the reality is the narrative of the black lives matter started out of the Trayvon Martin shooting and evolved into a protest of police shootings and violence against blacks…so we’re saying black lives matter too. It doesn’t mean other lives don’t matter. But the focus was about the excessive force and brutality that was going on with black males and law enforcement. So I don’t want you to misconstrue why we’re here today. We’re not here to divide. We’re not here to protest for division in Apopka. We’re here to unite.”
Pastor Richard King, the Vice President of the South Apopka Ministerial Alliance, challenged the community to let their voices be heard at the upcoming elections as well as at the march.
“All of us are created in the image of God, and that means that every life matters. We were made in his image. We condemn violence against anyone. But not only does every life matter, but every vote matters. There are elections coming up that are vital to this community. So do your research and vote. We can do more with a pen and in a ballot box than we can ever do on the street. We are better than that.”
Pastor Darrel Morgan of the Word of Life Church in Apopka quoted from the Gospels in calling for an end to the darkness.
“Jesus asked us to be the light of the world. Light gives guidance when there is none. Light is mercy. It’s time for Apopka to turn the lights on, and let the goodness of God shine through.”
Pastor Hezekiah Bradford, the President of The South Apopka Ministerial Alliance and The Apopka Christian Ministerial Alliance, wants to see accountability rather than cover-ups.
“This march is about peace. It’s about bringing love into our community. Yes we have major problems but we can fix them. But if the police do something that is wrong, it should not be covered up. We need to make sure they are held accountable when that sort of thing takes place. That’s what Black Lives Matters is saying. If you are wrong, own up to it. All of us can make mistakes, but in the process of making that mistake, let’s do something about it."
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