Hip Hop legend Jay-Z brought his star power out to the sixth annual Peace Walk & Peace Talk Saturday at Miami Gardens, and rose up Trayvon Martin's name with spiritual leaders such as Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr, reports the Miami Herald.
The "Empire State of Mind" artist aligned with hundreds of marchers at the rally to honor the many victims of gun violence, like Martin, who died by gunshot while walking in his father's Florida neighborhood, Feb. 2012.
Trayvon's mother Sybrina Fulton and father Tracy Martin, were also present on stage at the Betty T. Ferguson Amphitheater, alongside Jay-Z.
"We want to make sure that we stand and support and never forget that Trayvon serves as a beacon of light to the people out here. So you guys never have to go through the pain and hurt that these guys went through," Jay Z told the crowd.
Speaking of Trayvon, Jay Z added: "His name will sit alongside the greats whom lost their lives to push our culture forward — the Martin Luther Kings, the Ghandis. That's the intention we set so his name will serve as as beacon of light and hope to push our culture forward in a better direction."
Trayvon, who was 17 when he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch member, while walking through his father's Central Florida neighborhood, would have been 23 on Feb. 5.
"It means a lot to the community when you see people like Jay Z who come out to support your cause," said friend of the Martin Family, Brenda Martin Providence. "With everything going on, we all need to support the cause because our youth are dying in the streets. A lot of mothers are missing their children. For me, personally, my son will be 40 in a couple of days and I have two grandsons. We all need to come out and show our support and walk for the community."
Jay Z, who has three children of his own with Beyonce, is reportedly in the process of producing a six-part documentary series, "Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story," based on the book "Suspicion Nation" by attorney Lisa Bloom. He was reportedly threatened by Zimmerman during the film's production.
The Daily News reported that, at the time of the threat, Jay-Z did not comment, however fellow rapper Snoop Dogg, did have this to say: "If one hair on jays hair is touched that's when the revolution will b televised," he warned, adding, "We one, and to thank the system, let the [expletive] get away with murder try it again. Trayvon Martin Gone but not forgotten."