The increasingly alarming numbers of Black men killed at the hands of law enforcement has broken my soul. I cannot help but think that any of those men could have easily been my husband or Lola’s Boyfriend or maybe just another Black man that someone somewhere loves. History proves that the US Justice System has never been on the side of black men but technology and cell phones and social media has brought these facts to greater light interrupting all of us in our tracks and commanding that we at least give these brutal acts a second look. When I witnessed the senseless killing of Eric Garner as he pleaded for his last breathe while a plethora of police officers stood watch moved me beyond my brokenness and into action. I called on my best girlfriends and asked them to interrupt their holiday plans, disrupt their schedules and pause some of their planned holiday activities with their families to join me for we needed to make our voices heard and our presence felt. On December 23rd, myself along with Sheree Fletcher, April Daniels, Sandra Campbell and Treiva Williams hosted #UnitedForJustice – a fundraiser to benefit the widow of Erica Garner. We received a tremendous amount of support and criticism which both prove that our efforts were perfect for this moment in time.
Sheree Fletcher, April Daniels, DV and Sandra Campbell
It is hard work trying to get the perfect selfie! Photo by Earl Gibson
Photo by Earl Gibson
@Joistarr Sandra Campbell and @Major – Photo by Emarie.Marie
The Daniels – LaShawn, Omarr, Jett and April – Photo by Emarie.Marie
The Wright Sisters of YES Productions and Miss Dunnie O. – Photo by Emarie.Marie
Carl Ihemacho, Jarron Gilbert and Justin Cole – Photo by EmarieMarie
PJ & Kortni Morton, Damon Thomas & Cindy Virani – Photo by EmarieMarie
Ray J – Photo by EmarieMarie
The Beautiful Garcelle Beauvais – Photo by EmarieMarie
GooGoo Atkins – Photo by EmarieMarie
Leah & Kelcey Newman of Attain Design & Marketing Creator of the #UnitedForJustice Logo – Photo by EmarieMarie
Pastor Michael McBride and Guest with Patrisse Cullors – Photo by EmarieMarie
The Beautiful Mechelle Epps – Photo by EmarieMarie
The Beautiful JaVonnie Bryant and DV – Photo by EmarieMarie
Our Celebrity Host Committee signed this commemorative poster that will be sent to the Garner Family!
Concerned Moms, Wives & Sisters Daphne Wayans, Liz Bonds, Sheree Fletcher and Shamicka Lawrence – Photo by EmarieMarie
The Beautiful Tiffney Cambridge
Affion Crocket – Catch him in the Wedding Ringer!
Joi, Erica, Sandra and Warryn Campbell – Photo by EmarieMarie
Warryn Campbell signing our commemorative poster! – Photo by EmarieMarie
Pastor Michael McBride sharing the amazing that he and activists all over the country are doing!
LaShawn Daniels sharing his passion for our cause!
Toasting to a successful evening! – Photo by EmarieMarie
No evening is complete without the love of my life and biggest supporter Damon Haley!
We hosted this event with a $0 budget and 100% of all donations will be sent to Mrs. Garner after January 1st. None of this would have been possible without the gracious support of our generous sponsors: The Hotel Angeleno, Miss Dunnie O., The Wright Sisters of YES Productions, Attain Design & Marketing, CGS Graphics Services, Emarie Marie Photography, Allied Protection Services, All Printing Services, Earl Gibson and Musical Director Nissan Stewart. In addition to our sponsors, my friends and I called on everyone within our reach to amass a strong host committee from Black Hollywood and I would like to personally thank the following people for their courage and commitment to lend their names and voices to our mission: Tichina Arnold, LaShawn Daniels, Tameka Raymond, Nicole Murphy, Shamicka Lawrence, Omarosa, MC Lyte, Daphne Wayans, Terrell Mullin, Mechelle Epps, Winxed, Shanna Moakler, Meredith Adkins, Mayte Garcia, Liz Bonds, Damon Thomas, PJ & Kortni Morton, Damon Thomas and Cindy Virani, Erica & Warryn Campbell, Tina & Teddy Campbell, Tamar Braxton & Vincent Herbert and Ray J! May the Lord bless you ten-fold for your willingness to be a blessing to someone else this holiday season for we are our sisters keeper.
I realize that there are many causes we could have selected and countless worthy organizations that deserve attention but the thought of another Black woman left to raise her children alone after the dehumanizing manner in which their father died while living with the ability to watch the life choked out of him again and again called me to respond and respond we did…
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Speak Up, Do Something and for God’s sake…keep spreading the love!
So what did you do this holiday season to be a blessing so someone else? Join the Diann Valentine family and share it with us all!
Your Favorite Valentine,
