As a tribute to the slain Florida teenager Trayvon Mitchell, nearly 3,000 passengers on the 2012 Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage presented by Ford paused for a moment of silence, and draped their heads with their hands or clothes to represent Martin’s hoodie. While the cruise is traditionally, titled with the “Party with a Purpose” to support students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the sense of community rallying around Martin took hold as the ship was leaving Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
Martin, wearing a hoodie at the time of his death, was shot by George Zimmerman in the gated community of Retreat at Twin Lakes, on Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla. The incident has sparked rallies around the country, fueled by social media and punctuated by many participants wearing hoodies.
Right before the ship sail, Joyner rallied his passengers to join him poolside to take a picture with the guests in memory of Martin. Several of the guests were wearing T-shirts that recognized Martin’s death.
For seven days and six nights, more than 3,000 passengers will be on board the Royal Caribbean International’s ‘Navigator of the Seas’™, helping to support students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This luxurious ship will be home to some of the most fantastic artists in soul music including headliner – Queen Latifah along with Fantasia, Chante Moore, SWV, Boyz II Men, Silk, H-Town, Shai, Tony Toni Toné , Yarbrough & Peoples, Rose Royce, Taste of Honey, Anita Ward, Con Funk Shun, Glen Jones, Phil Perry, Tony Terry, Michael Cooper, Keith Sweat, Guy, Bobby V, and Lenny Williams.
