Press Conference on the steps of City Hall Thursday, October 27, 1:00 p.m. to announce Rosa Parks Anniversary National Day of Absence
The Rosa Parks Anniversary Nationwide Day of Absence Against Poverty Racism & War Coalition 39 W. 14TH St., Suite 206 NY NY 10011 PH 212 633-6646 FAX 212 633-2889 http://www.troopsoutnow.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Larry Holmes, Dustin Langley 917-293-1138
Press Conference on the steps of City Hall Thursday, October 27, 1:00 p.m. to announce
Rosa Parks Anniversary National Day of Absence
On Thursday, October 27, at 1:00 p.m., NY City Council Member Charles Barron will join with other elected officials, students, educators, trade unionists, peace activists, clergy, and civil rights movement veterans in support of the Rosa Parks Anniversary Nationwide Day of Absence Against Poverty Racism and War.
Barron will announce that he is introducing a Resolution into the City Council, to declare December 1st, Rosa Parks Commemoration Day “ in New York City. Similar resolutions are being introduced in to city councils across the country including Montgomery Alabama, Atlanta Georgia, Detroit, and Boston consistent with a congressional resolution introduced by the Hon. John Conyers and passed by the House on Sept.17.
Organizers will call upon the people of New York City to participate in the Rosa Parks Anniversary Day of Absence Against Racism Poverty and War. The resolution that Council Member Barron is introducing will encourage businesses and schools to close on December 1 or to allow employees and students to either take the day off or leave early in order to be able to participate in commemoration and protest events scheduled in the New York area during normal business hours.
In New York City, the day will be marked with a march and rally on Broadway and Wall St. where civil rights leaders, including members of the King family and veterans of the Montgomery boycott will speak.
Larry Holmes, an organizer with the Nationwide Day of Absence, said, “When Rosa Parks was arrested 50 years ago for refusing to give her seat to a white man on a public bus, she helped to spark the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the opening of the modern civil rights movement. It was the boycott against racist segregation that introduced to the world Martin Luther King Jr. who rose to become the boycott’s principal leader and spokesperson.”
“The government’s response to the Katrina Hurricane disaster, along with the war in Iraq and the growing numbers of people without healthcare, employment and educational opportunities, and housing are a poignant reminder that the movement to end poverty racism and war is as urgent now as it was 50 years ago,” Holmes said. “We have an opportunity to turn one of the most important civil rights anniversaries into a powerful reaffirmation of our commitment to fight for racial equality, social justice and peace, the lofty goals that Dr. King devoted his short brilliant life to and ultimately sacrificed it for.”