Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who was the Green Party presidential candidate in 2008, is shown here speaking at the Critical Resistance conference in Oakland, CA. Prof. Soffiyah Elijah on left. (WW Photo).
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2009
Contact:
Chioma Oruh 202.320.5542 info@blackisbackcoalition.org
Rosa Clemente 646.721.7441 knowthyself@mac.com
Jared Ball 202.997.0267 freemixradio@voxunion.com
The Black Is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations
Rally/March November 7, 2009 Washington, D.C./Malcolm X Park 10a-6pm
Washington, D.C. – A newly-formed Black coalition has announced a rally and march on the White House to take place November 7, 2009 beginning in Washington, D.C.’s historic Malcolm X Park. The rally and march are to protest the expanding U.S. wars and other policy initiatives that unfairly target the well-being of the world's peoples and the entire African diaspora. Known as the Black is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations, the coalition was decided upon on September 12, 2009 during a meeting in Washington, D.C. of more than fifteen activists from various Black organizations and institutions.
The rally and march intend to draw upon the support for a coalition comprised of many of the leading anti-imperialist organizations, journalists, activists, artists and scholars of the African diaspora and means to state clearly its intention to return this broad community to a tradition of progressive leadership or, as their call states, "a return of the Black world to politics despite the age of Obama." Comprised of some of the African world's most seasoned veterans of political struggle, consisting of members of the African People's Socialist Party, the NAACP, the Green Party, Black Agenda Report and many other grassroots organizations and efforts, this coalition is perfectly situated to do just that.
"Many well-meaning people in this country and around the world are afraid to take more progressive political positions for fear of being seen as anti-Black," the coalition contends. "We need to remind people of the absolute lack of 'progress' since new faces assumed leadership of this nation. Many o f the leading concerns of Black people, Latinos and working people in this country remain insufficiently addressed. Black and Brown people continue to suffer the brunt of un/under-employment and predatory loan scandal crises. Military spending under Obama has increased as have the warfare this nation continues to export to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Venezuela and Colombia. Mass incarceration, police brutality and political imprisonment remain rampant and the most negatively impacted by the levee breech in post-Katrina New Orleans continue to be without homes, jobs or health care assistance. And to that point, these are precisely the communities who nationally will be the most negatively effected by yet another myth of health care 'reform.'"
The political paralysis now being experienced by all left-of-Obama political efforts themselves suffer from a lack of Black-led anti-imperial movements. Black Is Back is not simply a slogan for the African diaspora but for all progressive struggles which have historically always benefited from such coalition. On November 7, 2009 all are welcome to participate in a rally and march which will include many coalition partners in song, dance and political solidarity announcing the return to leadership of the world's most reliably anti-war and pro-social justice communities. As the coalition says, "To free our people’s hopes and dreams from oblivion, we need a coalition dedicated to the proposition th at Black is Back.”
A summary of coalition partners includes:
Omali Yeshitela, African Peoples Socialist Party (APSP)
Dorothy Lewis, NCOBRA
Cynthia McKinney, Green Party
Ayesha Fleary, APSP
Chimurenga Waller, APSP
Stic Man, Dead Prez
M-1, Dead Prez
Ousainou Mbenga, APSP
Abdul Alim Musa, Masjid al-Islam
Ona Zena Yeshitela, APSP
Omawale Kefing, Burning Spear
Curtis Gatewood, NAACP
Raheal Rayza, University of Toronto
Norman Richmond, Toronto
Luwezi Kinshasa, APSP
Chakanda Gondwe, APSP
Pam Africa, Free Mumia Campaign
Brother Riley, Uhuru Radio
Rich Piedrahita, APSP
Jared Ball, VoxUnion Media
Chioma Oruh, APSP
Sister Olevette
Rosa Clemente, Green Party
Glen Ford, Black Agenda Report.
Efia Nwangaza, Malcolm X Center for Self-Determination
Kali Akuno of MXGM
Omowale Adewale of G.A.M.E
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