BISHOP JOSEPH WALKER Speaks to Nashville and the World As Thousands Rally at ‘Justice For Trayvon'

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - July 21, 2013 - PRLog -- Nashville, TN – July 20, 2013-- Thousands gathered Saturday at rallies in more than 100 cities nationwide to remember Trayvon Martin, to press for federal civil rights charges against the man who shot him, and to attack stand-your-ground self-defense laws. The Justice Department is investigating whether Zimmerman, 29, violated Martin's civil rights when he shot the 17-year-old during a February 2012 confrontation in Sanford, Fla.  

The scene was the same in Nashville, TN, where a crowd of over 25 Faith Leaders and about a thousand supporters gathered, despite the sweltering 96 degree temperature.   In front of Nashville's Federal Court House, the supporters participated in a peaceful prayer vigil and demanded justice and held a voter registration campaign.

“Today we stand with our brothers and sisters of all races - we stand against racial injustice and we stand to repel laws that oppress us.” stated the opening speaker.

Other speakers reminded us that Trayvon Martin’s death must not be in vain and that we must stand, collaborate and spend the necessary energy to engage the proper elected officials.

It is clear that this travesty impacts the minority community and we must stop the violence now.  Our voices must be heard, not only in the police square, but also in the voting polls.

As the afternoon heat settled in, Bishop Joseph Walker addressed the crowd with a familiar Bible passage, “In Acts 16, Paul and Silas 'stood their ground' for change in a disorganized town. Because of their act, Paul and Silas were imprisoned. This was an act of injustice! While they were sitting in the middle of their dilemma, their injustice, their prison cell, THEY PRAYED, and there was a great shaking, an earthquake, and so Paul and Silas were freed.

I submit to you today, it is crucial that we continue to pray in these dire times.  I’m here to say to America - there's about to be a shaking here! A shaking in Nashville, a shaking in Florida, a shaking in every place where injustice exists!

We are not going anywhere! This was a tough blow, BUT, we as a people are still here! Until justice rolls down! We are still here! Until every young child can walk safely in neighborhoods around the country! We are still here!

We have to change the system because there has been a system failure!  There’s been failure in our legal system, in our educational system, in our parenting system, and with our religious institutions.

We must be committed to change the system!”

Bishop Walker closed his remarks with the same passion and fiery bravado heard in the pulpit on Sunday morning, as he echoed the powerful words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,  “I have a dream that our children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

And the enthusiastic crowd chanted, 'What do we want?  JUSTICE!  When do we want it? NOW!'

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About Bishop Joseph Walker, III:  Noted as one of the most educated and influential leaders in the ministerial community, Bishop Walker, born in Shreveport, LA, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern University, a Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt University and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, and is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Recently, Walker was elected as the next Presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International, a fellowship of 2,000 churches and two million members.  He is the author of eight books, including the current top selling title, Becoming A Couple of Destiny. Bishop Walker also serves as the Bishop of Senior Pastors within the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International. Walker is married to the former Dr. Stephaine Hale. She is the Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatology at Vanderbilt University and they have one beautiful daughter, Jovanni Willow Walker.

For more information, please visit josephwalker3.org

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About Mt. Zion: Mount Zion Baptist Church is one of the largest churches in the nation with over 28,000 members located in Nashville, TN. Mt. Zion’s focus is outreach. With over 30 help, healing and empowerment ministries, Mt. Zion has helped over 100,000 families, and donated over $3 million dollars towards charity. Mt. Zion has eight weekly services in three locations. Under Bishop Walker's leadership, the church engaged in the development of a brand new recreational complex called, The Dream Center. This facility will be designed to promote family and safety in the community. Mt. Zion is petitioning to have the first Starbucks in the Nashville inner city. The recreational complex will include a top-notch dance studio, a fitness center and a gym with a track around the top. “We’ll have state-of-the-art workout equipment. This will be a major facility to meet the needs of people in North Nashville,” said Walker.

For more information, please visit mtzionnashville.org

CONTACT:

Michelle S. Duffie

mduffie@d3egroup.com

(615) 440-0000