ARCHIVES OF LEAD STORIES
July 7, 2005
Organizers mobilize locals for Millions More Movement
Jeremy Schwab
Ten years ago, an estimated two million people,
primarily black men, marched to the National Mall in Washington,
D.C. to show solidarity and pledge to support their families and
communities.
The Million Man March brought together black men from all walks
of life to listen to ministers speak of love, responsibility and
hope. The event attracted significant media attention and inspired
subsequent “millions” marches, including the Million
Women March in 1997, Million Youth March in 1998 and Million Families
March in 2000.
This fall, the Nation of Islam, which led the organizing efforts
for the Million Man and Million Families marches, plans to take
a leading role alongside Christian and other groups in organizing
a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Million Man March.
The celebration will take the form of another gathering of millions
of blacks and others in Washington, D.C.
Boston-area organizers aim to send 100 buses to the event, dubbed
the Millions More Movement, from October 14 to the 16.
Like the marches that preceded it, the Millions More celebration
will be geared at motivating people to re-commit themselves to
God, family and the struggles that many African Americans face,
from fighting for better health care to improving schools.
The gathering will include speeches, music and other entertainment
on Saturday, followed by an inter-faith service on Sunday.
Organizers envision a movement that will go beyond simply a revival-type
event. They are calling for the creation of a national economic
development corporation to promote economic self-sufficiency and
cooperation. A proposed community development handbook would offer
advice on strengthening one’s family, gaining wealth, leading
a healthy life and improving educational achievement among children
and adults.
“The march is geared to creating a national agenda so all
of us can come home and make that agenda work for us at home,”
said local organizing committee co-Chairwoman Mukiya Baker-Gomez.
The agenda includes at least one stance that has been controversial
– a demand for economic reparations for slavery.
A pamphlet advertising the Millions More Movement also calls for
an end to police brutality, inadequate health care, substandard
education, racial profiling, excessive imprisonment and “the
biological and chemical warfare being perpetrated against our
people.”
Despite the emphasis on issues of particular concern to African
Americans, organizers and participants who gathered for an information
session at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center in Roxbury
last week were careful to note that the event is open to people
of all races.
“It is not about anything racially biased,” said Otis
Holloway, who plans to travel to Washington for the event. “It’s
about standing together as a community, men, women, elders, white,
black, Puerto Rican, Chinese.”
Nation of Islam Minister Don Muhammad of Muhammad’s Mosque
# 11 also emphasized the multi-racial theme and told the crowd
of over 50 that people of all religions are welcome as well.
“This is not a Muslim or Nation of Islam march,” he
told the overwhelmingly black crowd. “Sixty-eight percent
of those at the Million Man March were Baptist. This is about
the average American, black and white.”
Native Americans and other non-African Americans have traditionally
attended the “millions” marches.
Many of those at last week’s information session had gone
to the Million Man March or others of the marches. Some said they
planned to attend the Millions More celebration in order to be
a part of something positive and rejuvenating.
Roxbury native Joe Fonseca, 59, said he plans to attend in part
for the sense of empowerment he felt at the Million Man March.
“It’s good to see families of color come together,
especially men,” he said. “The [Million Man March]
was unbelievable. I’ve never seen so much love. I was on
a pink cloud for five days after.”
Others said they want to go in order to stand together and demand
social change.
“We want to say we want to control how our children are
taught, control health care,” said Millions More local organizer
Leah Randolph. “There should not be one person in the U.S.
who goes without housing.”
Still others said they wanted to be a part of history in the making.
Roxbury resident Warren Chase said he went to the Million Man
March to witness history, and he expects to go to D.C. in October.
“As a young person, I can remember the time Martin Luther
King spoke and as a youngster I was not there,” said Chase.
“I knew when [Nation of Islam leader Min. Louis] Farrakhan
spoke it was going to be history and I wanted to be a part of
that.”
Organizers urged attendees at the information session to spread
the word in their churches and among friends about the Millions
More event. Organizers have been meeting each week beginning in
May to strategize how to fill the goal of 100 buses.
Those interested in participating are urged to register for the
event, which costs $65 and less for seniors and the disabled.
Most people are expected to either stay in hotels or with relatives,
or come for just a day.
Organizations are invited to sponsor buses. Those interested in
helping organize the event can come to one of the weekly planning
meetings Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the John Shelburne Center
on Washington Street near the Malcolm X Park.
For further information, call 617-442-0488 or Brother Ralph at
617-966-0452.
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