Attorney Benjamin Crump said he still can't describe the sound of hopelessness he heard on the other end of the phone when Tracy Martin told him that his unarmed, 17-year-old son, Trayvon, had been shot in the chest by a neighborhood watch official.
Crump was the keynote speaker Friday night at the Aiken NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet.
The banquet is the Aiken chapter's biggest fundraiser of the year and the money raised is used to fund educational programs, NAACP learning seminars and several other opportunities.
Despite the good cause, the mood Friday was somber and heartfelt as Crump spoke about Travyon and the more recent string of killings of unarmed black males by white cops.
One of the latest incidents was South Carolina's own Walter Scott, a 50-year-old man who was shot in the back multiple times earlier this month by North Charleston officer, Michael T. Slager.
Crump said he's thankful that the incident was caught on video, instead of having to rely on the word of the police.
"We get the same narrative every time - that police felt threatened and had to use their gun to defend themselves," Crump said. "I'm so thankful we have the truth in this tragedy."
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, the platinum sponsor of the event, joined several other organizations and public officials in selling out the banquet which was held at USC Aiken.
Fred Dohse, vice president of the organization, said that years ago, he would've said the racial and social advancement he's seen in the country since his younger days are signs of progress.
Friday night, Dohse looked out at the hundreds in attendance and said he can no longer make that statement.
"It is our duty to ensure that everyone has the ability and opportunity to achieve greatness. And organizations like the NAACP are essential for us to deliver this message to future generations," said Dohse.
Crump also represented the family of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old black man, who was also unarmed when he was fatally shot by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer.
The attorney said the time has come for people of all races to stand against the injustices across the nation.
He went on to quote the late, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who said: "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
"When I think about all of these issues around America ... I wonder where are the people who have been blessed with the most? Where's the outcry?"
Crump's message was met with several rounds of applause from the audience, including City Councilwoman Gail Diggs.
The well-known Aiken leader said she was excited to have Crump in Aiken and to see young, black males in attendance at the banquet.
"It's awesome to see what he has to say," Diggs said. "Our young people are truly our future and I think it's important to know what's going on so they can react to it in a positive way."
Philip Howell, president of Aiken NAACP, said he first met Crump in July during a "Stand Your Ground" seminar in Las Vegas.
Howell said the attorney was extremely approachable, making it easy to ask if he would come to Aiken to speak.
"We just support a quality, human life for everybody. Mr. Crump and this community sees that and we're glad they always come out to support us," Howell said.
Derrek Asberry is the SRS beat reporter for the Aiken Standard and has been with the paper since June 2013. He is originally from Vidalia, Ga., and a graduate of Georgia Southern University. Follow him on Twitter @DerrekAsberry.