Millions More Movement Announced in Washington
For the standing-room capacity audience that filled the grand ballroom of the National Press Club May 2 to attend the national kick off for the commemoration plans for the 10th anniversary of the Million Man March, the press conference delivered more than a message—it delivered the fulfillment of Black leaders standing together for the people despite the crafty calls for their division by those who prosper from disunity.
Washington (PRWEB) May 6, 2005 -- For the standing-room capacity audience
that filled the ballroom of the National Press Club May 2 to attend the kick off
for the commemoration for the 10th anniversary of the Million Man March, the
press conference delivered more than a message—it delivered the fulfillment of
Black leaders standing together for the people despite the crafty calls for
their division by those who prosper from our disunity. The press conference,
which was broadcasted live on C-SPAN, officially announced the evolution of the
historic 1995 Million Man March into a mass mobilization movement.
Even
up to that morning, several hours before the 10am meeting was to begin, opposing
forces to the rise of the Black community came forward on the front page of the
website of the ADL to issue a so-called “letter to the leaders” who support the
Millions More Movement, urging them to step away from the coalition.
However, this morning, our leaders listened to a different rhythm—one of
harmony and patience—to say that they are committed to mobilize our people to
maximize our power.
“God has called us to this moment. By whatever name
you call Him, we could not be in here together if He had not called us. He
called us to serve His purpose, not only to free our people from their
suffering,” Minister Farrakhan said in his remarks concluding the platform of
speakers. “We called it a Millions More Movement. We already had millions at the
Mall for the Million Man March. Our Sisters had millions in Philadelphia for the
Million Women March. Our youth organizers in New York and Atlanta had hundreds
of thousands for the Million Youth March and the Million Youth
Movement.
“Millions more,” he explained, “means that we are reaching for
the millions who carry the rich on their backs. Millions more means we intend to
create a tsunami, because the tsunami in Asia started at the bottom of the
ocean—and the rich live from the poor, but the poor have no
advocates.”
Joining with the international peacemaker on the Millions
More Movement platform were Rev. Willie Wilson, senior pastor of Union Temple
Baptist Church and national director for the Commemoration; Dr. Conrad Worrill
of the National Black United Front; Rev. Jesse Jackson of Rainbow/PUSH
Coalition; Dr. Dorothy Height of the National Council of Negro Women; Dr.
Maulana Karenga of US, founder of Kwanzaa; Councilmember Marion Barry, former
D.C. mayor and his wife, Cora Masters Barry; current D.C. mayor Anthony
Williams; Author/columnist Dr. Julianne Malveaux; Rev. Dr. Barbara Skinner of
the Skinner Leadership Institute; Rev. Al Sharpton, former Democratic
presidential candidate; Nation of Islam Chief of Staff Leonard Farrakhan;
Minister Benjamin Chavis Muhammad of the Hip Hop Action Network and former
national director of the Million Man March and the Million Family March; and
Fredricka Bey of Women in Support of the Million Man March.
Letters of
support were sent by three illustrious women, Coretta Scott King, Maya Angelou
and Bishop Vashti Mckenzie, the first female bishop in the AME Church.
Co-conveners of the Commemoration in the audience included Atty. Malik Zulu
Shabazz of the New Black Panther Party; Phile Chionesu of the Million Woman
March; Dr. Leonard Jeffries of City University in New York; Dr. Ron Daniels of
the Center for Constitutional Rights, Dr. Ron Walters and singer/songwriter
Erykah Badu, who was brought to the podium by Min. Ben to share a few words.
In his opening, Rev. Wilson heralded the moment launching the Millions
More Movement as monumental, unprecedented, historical, dynamic, powerful and
beautiful.
“Ten years ago, more than one million African American men
peacefully assembled on the national Mall to make an international statement of
atonement, reconciliation and responsibility,” Rev. Wilson recalled. “The
Million Man March not only served as an international wake-up call, it also
spawned the Million Woman, Million Family, Million Moms, Million Youth, Million
Workers and Million Reparations marches in an unprecedented succession of
grassroots calls for action.”
Although these marches were important,
historical footnotes, he noted, “the conditions affecting millions of poor and
distressed communities around the nation still have not improved and, in far too
many instances, people remain even worse off than they were
before.”
Marches are not movements, he continued. “What we need is a
movement,” he insisted. “We need an ongoing, sustained, consistent, concerted,
divinely inspired movement to uplift the poorest and the most downtrodden among
us.”
The Millions More Movement will come to D.C. Oct. 14-16. On Oct. 14,
a Day of Absence will be observed. All people who can are asked to not go to
work, school, businesses and sports and entertainment venues for this one day.
It should be a day to look inward and focus on the meaning of the Millions More
Movement and necessity of spiritual and ethical grounding in families,
communities and organizations.
A mass assembly at the National Mall will
be held on the following day, officially opening the Movement at 10am, with
pre-event activities as early as 6am. A diverse group of national and
international leaders will outline the significance and meaning of the Millions
More Movement and lay the foundation for individual and organizations activities
that will take the energy, spirit and intent of the day back to communities.
On Sunday, Oct. 16, services of worship throughout the city will be
observed, dedicated to spiritual renewal and revitalization.
“On behalf
of the residents of our city, I am honored to share in the spirit of the 10th
anniversary of the Million Man March,” shared Mayor Anthony Williams during the
press conference. As host mayor for the Commemoration, he said that he is
looking forward to the Millions More Movement in October, which he expects to be
“one of, if not the, largest event ever to take place” in the
city.
“Every issue that we talk about that African American men face,
African American women and children face as well,” Dr. Julianne Malveaux
stressed to the audience. “There is a war on Black people. You cannot fight a
war if you dismantle half of the army. So, the army is here, united, because
Minister Farrakhan had the vision,” she observed.
“We realize, again,
that we must come forward every day and declare our commitment to assume a new
and expanded responsibility to sustain a free and empowered community, a just
and good society and a good and sustainable world,” declared Dr. Maulana Karenga
in a poetic, powerful call for action.
Millions More Movement website: http://www.millionsmoremovement.com
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/5/prweb237020.htm