RRSpin - Journey for Justice: Never give up

Friday, 24 June 2016 16:51

Journey for Justice: Never give up

Written by Lance Martin

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Burnette speaks to the audience.

They will never give up.

That was the rallying cry today on the lawn of the Halifax County Courthouse where family and friends of the missing and murdered in the Roanoke Valley gathered for Journey for Justice, an event sponsored by the Halifax and Northampton branches of the NAACP.

“This is not for Daniel Moses,” said Sheila Moses, referring to her brother, who is one of the missing. “We are tired and weary. We are here for everyone. We want justice for our family members. We want it now.”

Tony Burnette, president of the Northampton County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, told the audience, many sitting under a tent, “My heart and my prayers go out to the families. We hear you crying. We have formed a union of brotherhood to seek justice. We're not going to stop. We're going to be relentless by all means necessary.”

The rallies, he said, were started by Moses and Lola Robinson, who died this year after a tireless effort to find out what happened to her son, Shawn Alston. “We will be with you until the end.”

Burnette said the chapter and those gathered want action and called on District Attorney Valerie Asbell to pursue the cases, saying he understands the DA can only prosecute cases.

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He said the families want the DA and law enforcement to stay focused on the cases. “The families told me they are looking for answers. Ask (law enforcement to call them), update (them). It hasn't been done. We're asking the SBI and FBI to assemble a task force. We have to retrace the steps of law enforcement. Someone knows what's going on with these cases.”

Damien Robinson said it was still difficult to talk in the wake of his mother's death. “I don't know what to say. She put in everything she had. Now I feel like I have to follow her example. I feel like I have to do this.”

“I've been crying for four years,” said the aunt of Crystal Bell. “They say we're getting closer and closer. I haven't had a phone call in over a year. There are no answers, but I refuse to give up. I'm going to stay focused. Justice is coming one day.”

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Kim Wallace, spoke on behalf of the family of Amy Wells Bridgeman, and called Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp to her side. “Wes talks to me, he calls me. I see these families growing in numbers. We have to keep them in the forefront.”

Wallace said she doesn't understand why people don't want to speak since Crimestoppers is anonymous and there is a Facebook page especially devoted to Bridgeman. “They deserve to come home.”

Others spoke about the anguish of not knowing. Jeffrey Cotton's mother told the audience, “The only thing I ask for is justice.”

The family of Jalesa Reynolds said in the days after her disappearance there were many leads. Now the case has gone cold. “We know law enforcement can't do miracles. We want you to stand with us. People don't talk about it anymore, but we're not going to give up.”

Leon Moses, Daniel's brother, asked law enforcement to simply pick up the phone and call. “Pick up the phone and say we don't have anything. We want to hear from them. Take a moment to call them. They will feel so much better. All we're asking you is to show you care. We're praying you will do that.”

Read 4485 times Last modified on Friday, 24 June 2016 17:21