Legendary musician Lester Chambers was allegedly attacked on stage for dedicating a song to Trayvon Martin during the Russell City Hayward Blues Festival over the weekend.
Seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin was killed by George Zimmerman. Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder and plead not guilty, arguing that he shot Martin in self-defense. He was acquitted of all charges by a Florida jury on Saturday night.
After the 73-year-old singer dedicated the song “People Get Ready” to Trayvon Martin, a woman stormed the stage and attacked Chambers, pushing him down.
According to the Mercury News, both police and eyewitnesses identify the woman as 43-year-old Dinalynn Andrews Potter of Barstow.
Chambers’ son, Dylan Chambers, took to his Facebook page on Saturday to inform friends of the news:
Dylan Here…. Lester was just assaulted on stage at The Russell City Hayward Blues Festival by a crazed woman after dad dedicated ‘People Get Ready’ to Trayvon Martin. He is on the way to the hospital now.
Later in the day on Saturday Dylan posted a photo of his bruised father with the words: “DAD… A bruised rib muscle and nerve damage and he is sore all over…”
Chambers’ wife, Lola, told the Mercury News that her husband had said if Curtis Mayfield, the composer and original singer of the 1965 hit “People Get Ready,” were alive, he’d change the lyrics from “there’s a train a comin” to “there’s a change a comin,’ shortly before Andrews Potter jumped onto the stage.
Andrews Potter was arrested on suspicion of battery, cited and released by Hayward police.
Chambers is the former lead singer of the famed 1960s soul group the Chamber Brothers.
TheGrio reached out to Dylan Chambers and the Hayward police department and is awaiting comment.
Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.