As La Peña mourns the murders of Nia Wilson and Markeis McGlockton, we recognize the important role that seeing each other plays in creating safe spaces. La Peña is a safe space not because of its physical location, but because of the attitudes of the people who come here to form communities. La Peña strives to make everyone who walks here feel seen, safe, and welcome, and that is only possible if we continue to look out for each other.

The poster to the right exemplifies this idea of community strength through mutual support.

Originally created by Micah Bazant for the Justice for Families’s “Night Out for Safety & Democracy” event (an alternative to the police-and-neighborhood-watch-sponsored National Night Out), the poster’s message took on a new level of meaning and urgency as George Zimmerman was found acquited for the murder of Trayvon Martin at the same time the poster was being designed.

Recently, Florida’s controversial Stand Your Ground law spared a white man from criminal charges after he shot and killed a black father in front of his young children over a parking spot.

The gunman, Michael Drejka, 47, shot and killed Markeis McGlockton, 28, after McGlockton parked in a disabled spot in the parking lot of a Circle K convenience store and gas station in Clearwater, Florida, on July 19. The Pinellas County sheriff, however, declined to press charges against Drejka because of Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, which allows anyone who fears for their safety or life to use lethal force.

Next month, Nia Wilson’s murderer, John Lee Cowell, is due back in court to enter a plea. He is being charged with murder and attempted murder.

La Peña demands justice for Markeis McGlockton and Nia Wilson. Their murders cannot go unpunished.

Here are a few ways you can take action online:
Support Nia’s family’s fundraiser
Support Markeis family’s fundraiser
Sign a petition for Justice for Markeis McGlockten