Saturday's Virginia Beach activists rallied to support a Black family being taunted by their next-door neighbor for making offensive, loud noises since 2017.
Russell Tee, a Richmond resident, organized the peaceful march as a sign of solidarity with the Salem Lakes neighborhood where the Martinez family has lived for almost five years.
A few dozen family and friends joined the march at 10 a.m. at the Food Lion, less than one mile from Martinez' home. They were joined by Black Lives Matter 757 members and carried flags bearing the BLM757 logo. They shouted that Racists would not be tolerated and that Black Lives Matter was their cause.
The people are always the power. We, the people, show up. Tee, 38, made the 2 hour drive from his home in Virginia Beach to lead this rally. Peace, love, and harmony are what this community is striving for. Hate must be defeated by love.
People need someone to support them. Debbie Pratsis of Virginia Beach, who didn't know the family, but was drawn to the story by the news reports, stated that people just need someone to be there for them.
Its quieter. Jannique Martinez stated that it was good to see the community coming together in a telephone interview prior to the march. Police are still investigating. Even though I have great support, my anxiety is still high. My safety and that of my children is a constant concern.
Martinez was there, but Joel and her three children aged 7, 12 and 20 didn't.
Tee is white and works as a self-employed financial analyst. He said that he organizes rallies against social injustices around the country.
He said that if we don't put the emotion and energy in the city councils or the halls of Congress (racism will not change). We must dismantle the system.
Martinez' neighbor was not reached.
Martinez claims that Martinez's family has been dealing with harassment, loud music, and other racist stuff slurs for years. Martinez also said that the noises coming from the house of their neighbor in the 2000 block Jessamine Court was blaring out like a monkey.
Continue the story
The incident attracted national media attention over the past two weeks. The Virginian-Pilot first published stories about the Martinez family's frustration and anger in The Virginian Pilot. Tee posted the story to his Instagram account, and it was viewed thousands of times. A Pilot reporter also recorded an audio clip of the noises and offensive animal sounds. It has been circulated.
Virginia Beach police released a statement earlier in the week calling the behavior of the neighbors appalling. The situation will be monitored by officials. The situation is being monitored by the state housing agency, which investigates harassment and intimidation cases.
Martinez stated that there was a verbal agreement between Martinez's neighbor and the police to reduce the noise but it is not sufficient.
Martinez stated that Martinez should make it a law and there would be consequences if he ever bothers anybody.
Lisa Vernon Sparks, 757-247-4832, lvernonsparks@dailypress.com
