Homestead Councilwoman Patricia Fairclough-McCormick summoned a meeting of Homestead and Florida City community leaders, safety officers and members of the Homestead and Florida City Community Relations Board to discuss efforts to appeal for peace and a calmed community once the verdict of the Trayvon Martin case is announced.
“This is a very emotional case and we want to make a call to our residents to keep calm and united as a community whatever the verdict is,” said Councilwoman Fairclough-McCormick during the meeting that took place on Tuesday, July 2nd at Homestead City Hall.
Councilwoman Fairclough-McCormick has also made contact with various local pastors and church leaders to encourage them to keep churches open the day the verdict is delivered to provide a safe space for their congregants and the community to positively express their emotion and receive counseling as needed.
“Although we do not anticipate any acts of violence in our communities, we do want to provide emotional support for those who may need it,” said Councilwoman Fairclough-McCormick. “It is going to take concerted efforts on all of our parts to ensure Homestead is unscathed once the verdict is announced.”
City of Homestead Police Chief Al Rolle said Homestead Police Officers have been in contact with Miami-Dade County so all lines of communication are open between the two agencies the day the verdict is announced at the George Zimmerman trial. Although there has been no indication of trouble the Homestead and Florida City Police Department expressed being ready to respond to keep the peace and welcome any information that would help achieve that goal.
