Locals mobilize for Millions More Mvmt.

Yawu Miller

Ten years ago when Eric Mitchell attended the Million Man March he had one child born and another on the way. Next week when he attends the Millions More Movement, he will be bringing both children and his wife.

And, as co-chairman of the Boston mobilization for the movement, he will be bringing more than 500 other area residents on the 11 buses leaving from Boston.

Mitchell says the gathering, which takes place this Saturday in Washington, D.C., will give people who attended the 1995 Million Man March the opportunity to re-evaluate their work in their communities.

“After ten years, it’s a perfect tome to recommit to, re-evaluate and refine the strategies we were using in 1995,” he said. “I think we’re going to be energized by the community spirit. It will be powerful, inspiring and up-lifting.”

Organizers are planning to top the crowd estimated at one million that attended the 1995 march. Because this year’s march includes women, other people of color and even whites.

“This gathering will probably represent the broadest and most diverse coalition of African Americans and those of African decent throughout the diasporas since slavery,” said Rev. Willie Wilson, National executive director of the Millions More Movement at a press conference October 7 at the National Press Club.

“Many of the national, political, social, civic and religious organizations will be present to commit their support to the repair, reconstruction and rebuilding of our communities.”

The focus on repair, reconstruction and rebuilding may resonate with many African Americans in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, which devastated the African American community in Louisiana.

The Millions More Movement will kick off on Saturday with a memorial service for the victims of the hurricane. The daylong program will also include sections dealing with education, labor and family development.

The program will also include a youth component, an anti-war speak out led by Al Sharpton and a section on reparations. Featured speakers and performers include Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan, Harry Belafonte, Dick Gregory Cornell West and Erykah Badu.

While the conveners of the march plan to outline a policy agenda for the nation’s African Americans, Latinos, Asians and Native Americans, Mitchell says people in the community will also come away from the event with renewed hope.

“I think, from a local perspective, we’re going to be energized by the community spirit,” he said. “It will be an experience that will be powerful, motivating and uplifting. Whatever messages we get down there, we’re going to implement them up here.”

Buses from Boston will depart Friday night from Roxbury Community College. There will be a community send-off from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday night at RCC’s student center. Buses will depart Boston at midnight and return at 4 a.m. Sunday.

For more information on the local mobilization, call 617-442-0488.