Hours after a public submit about former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and his spouse, Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax, drew important backlash on social media, Roland Martin revealed early Friday that he had deleted the submit.
“Final evening I obtained an e mail from Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc. management concerning my IG-Threads-Fb submit on the Justin Fairfax murder-suicide. It that stated that the Grand Grammateus was requesting “that I ask you to take away the reference and photos associated to Sigma Pi Phi in your submit” so as “to stick to the Boulé’s social media coverage on sharing member names and pictures of our society on social media,” Martin wrote.
He added, “I by no means wish to delete social posts, even when individuals disagree. Discourse is effective in any society. As a member, I’m doing it, nevertheless it actually just isn’t my want. I additionally made clear that I might publicly state the rationale for this. And I’ll make one factor clear: #RolandMartinUnfiltered and the Black Star Community is dedicated to masking this story and others, in addition to the impression on Black girls, Black males. And we’ll proceed to demand that brothers as people and the management of Black male organizations ought to take to fight home violence and confront psychological well being. We are able to’t tout “I’m my brother’s keeper” if we’re silent and complacent on these points.”
Martin held a panel dialogue on the psychological well being of Black males throughout his present on Thursday, after it was found that Fairfax, who unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Virginia in 2021, shot and killed Wanzer Fairfax earlier than turning the gun on himself.
The demise of Wanzer Fairfax and the style by which she died despatched shockwaves throughout the nation, including to a rising dialog about femicide in relation to latest headlines.
In his authentic submit, Martin mirrored on his shared fraternity historical past with Fairfax and revealed that Wanzer Fairfax had as soon as really helpful him to function the graduation speaker at Norfolk State College.
“Immediately’s #RolandMartinUnfiltered goes to be very tough,” he started. “I knew Justin and his spouse, Dr. Cerina Fairfax. I used to be merely surprised this morning when listening to the devastating information of the murder-suicide. Justin was my #APhiA @apa1906network brother and in the identical Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity chapter, Beta Nu. Final yr, Cerina texted me to inform me that she really helpful @norfolkstateuniversity have me as their graduation speaker, and was saddened after they picked another person. Cerina, a dentist by occupation, was an completed lady in her personal proper.”
He continued, “I used to be personally conscious of how devastated Justin was concerning the two sexual assault allegations made in opposition to him when he was 48 hours away from changing into governor of Virginia within the wake of the Gov. Ralph Northam blackface scandal. His political profession by no means recovered. We frequently texted, however didn’t within the final yr. I’m so saddened for his or her two youngsters. They’re now left and not using a mother and pa, and now have to hold the emotional toll of Justin’s actions. Home violence is actual. And so is psychological well being. I’ve booked two Black male psychological well being consultants to talk on this tonight. Please be in prayer for these children, Cerina’s household and Justin’s. This tragedy had altered the lives of many.”
