Latest News and Comment from Education

Thursday, October 27, 2011

OCCUPY WALL ST AND ALLIES RALLY & MARCH UNITED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS | OccupyWallSt.org #ows

OCCUPY WALL ST AND ALLIES RALLY & MARCH UNITED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS | OccupyWallSt.org:

OCCUPY WALL ST AND ALLIES RALLY & MARCH UNITED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Saturday, October 29th
City Hall Park, New York City
Rally: 12:00pm Noon
March to Liberty Square: 2:00pm

Sunday, October 30th
Screenings of SING YOUR OWN SONG and discussion with Harry Belafonte
Three screenings: 3PM - 5:30PM; 6:30PM - 9PM; 10PM - 12AM

In a demonstration of the broadening base of the Occupy Wall Street / 99% movement, a rally will be held this coming Saturday, October 29 at City Hall Park in New York City, co-sponsored by the Coalition Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI), the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), the National Action Network (NAN) and the NY State and NYC City Chapters of the NAACP.

Speakers at the Rally already include Terrence Melvin of CBTU, Sonia Ivany of LCLAA, Pres. Sid Ryan of Ontario Federation of Labor, Anthony Harmon of APRI, Chris Provost - Chair of Univ Student Senate, CUNY, members of Transit Workers Union Local 100 and SEIU Local 1199.

Earlier this week the NAACP put out a statement in support of the Occupy Wall Street / 99% movement:

“For over 102 years the NAACP has supported, and continues to support, policies which create, preserve and expand living wage jobs, increase economic opportunity and protect the desire of every American to build and retain wealth and equity,” said Ben Jealous, NAACP President and CEO. President Jealous went on to say that the largely peaceful protests are true to “the non-violent traditions and philosophies upon which the NAACP is based and has operated under for our entire existence.”

At 2:00pm, the entire rally will march to Liberty Square in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement and the shared ideals of equality for all, individual dignity, economic and social justice, and the right to peacefully demand change of a broken system.

"This will be a significant and inspirational day for Occupy Wall Street and the movement as whole. The 99% is made up of all us. We are united behind the fundamental ideals of equality, and economic and social justice. Our country isn't broke, it is broken. United, we cannot fail to bring the change so urgently needed,” said Kanene Holder, a Harlem-based educator and volunteer with Occupy Wall Street.

The next day (Sunday, Oct. 30), Occupy Wall Street and SEIU Local 1199 will co-host a Civil Rights Event with Harry Belafonte.

Occupy Wall Street and SEIU Local 1199 will co-host the showing of a new documentary SING YOUR OWN SONG, directed by Susanne Rostock for HBO, about Harry Belafonte's civil rights career followed by discussions with Mr. Belafonte. The event will be held at the Borough of Manhattan Community College 950 seat theater on West and Canal.

Most people know the lasting legacy of Harry Belafonte, Jr, the entertainer. This film unearths his significant contribution to and his leadership in the Civil Rights movement in America and to social justice globally. Mr. Belafonte was a confidante of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., bailing King out of the Birmingham City Jail and raising thousands of dollars to release other Civil Rights protesters. He financed the Freedom Rides, and supported and helped to organize the March on Washington, DC in 1963. He also helped organize the "We Are the World" effort, is one of the leading prison reform advocates, as well as a vocal thought leader and advocate in dozens of other civil rights causes.

Belafonte on Occupy Wall Street: Through its choice of non-violence “this movement is instantly struck with a sense of great genius,” Belafonte boldly pronounced, noting core strengths and values, and courage, as attributes of the movement’s identity. “It has attracted the rest of us to become greatly involved in any way that we can serve it.”