[WCAR] Report on Reparations Awareness Day (21 March) - New York City

[***Originally posted on the "un-discussion@icare.to" listserv, Mod.***]

REPARATIONS AWARENESS DAY

"The Council of the City of New York proclaims March 21, 2002 to be
"Reparations Awareness Day" in the City of New York and recognizes the
Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery as crimes against humanity.."
read the official City Council Proclamation signed by Councilmen Charles
Barron, Al Vann, Leroy Comrie and William Perkins. This March 21st,
which is recognized by the United Nations as the International Day
Against Racism, in memory of the those Africans killed in the 1966 South
African Sharpsville's Massacre, will be used going forward as a date to
also recognize the remedy to international racism against African people
- Reparations. Councilman Barron handed the Proclamation to Viola
Plummer, National Chairperson of the upcoming August 17th, Washington,
DC Millions for Reparations Rally at the Thursday evening Reparations
Awareness Day mass rally.

The rally united NYC Black leaders from across the political spectrum.
In attendance at the House of the Lord Church in Brooklyn, were NYS
Assemblyman Roger Green, NYC Councilmen Charles Barron and Bill Perkins,
human rights activist Viola Plummer of the December 12th Movement,
Elombe Brath of the Patrice Lumumba Coalition, Rosemary Mealy, Sam
Anderson of the Black Radical Congress, Minister Kevin Muhammed of the
Nation of Islam, Job Marshariki of Black Veterans for Social Justice,
Jim Haughton of Harlem Fight Back, Judicial Candidate Gerri Pickett of
the National Black United Front, Rev. Herbert Daughtry and Ron
Washington of the New Jersey Black Telephone Workers Union, among
others. All the speakers vowed to collectively work on mobilization for
the Millions for Reparations Rally and intensifying the fight for
reparations due to Africans in America.

Viola Plummer, the National Chairperson of the Millions for Reparations
Rally, opened with a historical outline of the work the December 12th
Movement has been doing in the international arena culminating with the
UN World Conference against Racism (WCAR) of 2001. For the past fifteen
years the December 12th have been continuing the work of Malcolm X in
the United Nations focusing on the issues of racism and human rights
violations perpetrated against Africans on the continent as well as the
Diaspora. Although the UN's bureaucratic culture has presented arduous
obstacles, their work has produced several victories such as the
establishment of a Special Rapporteur on Racism, Maurice Gele, and
subsequent investigations into institutionalized racism in the United
States in 1995, as well as being a principle proponent and organizer for
the United Nations World Conference Against Racism.

Plummer stated that the UN World Conference against Racism held in
Durban South Africa in September 2001, had produced a true Pan African
mandate on the issue of Reparations. She said "African leaders around
the world maintained a steeled unity in the face of rabid western
opposition, including the walk out of the US delegation, on the question
of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and colonialism as Crimes against
Humanity and Reparations". She reported that the August 17th Millions
for Reparations Rally was initiated by the Durban 400, a coalition of US
based organizations attending the WCAR.

State Assemblyman Roger Green reported on his Assembly Bill 9286 which
focuses on the debt owed by corporations, local governments, and estates
for the loss of African peoples' benefits and wages, loss and theft of
property, and emotional damage. Green cited NY Slave Codes and the
Gradual Manumissions act of 1867 (two years after the emancipation
proclamation) which implemented a government program to oversee the
placement of formerly enslaved children who had been abandoned by slave
owners. These children were placed on plantations for a minimum of 25
years for females and 28 years for males.

Senator Green highlighted the history of the NY Stock Exchange, which
was founded on the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and brokerage houses such
as the Harriman Brothers, Lehman Brothers, and Brown Brothers who made
their fortunes in these markets. Green said his African Reparations
bill has a good chance of passing based on a previous bill passed by the
senate and assembly on Jewish reparations. The Jewish reparations bill
was vetoed by Gov. Pataki due to international treaty violations.
Green's bill would not interfere with any such treaties.

City Councilman Charles Barron cheerfully told crowd of over 400 that
his City Council Queen Mother Moore Reparations Bill is now being
address in the committee headed by Councilman Perkins who was seated on
the front pew at what could be called the reparations unity rally.
Minister Kevin Muhammed of the Nation of Islam stated that the nation
was 100% in support of the organization, aims and purpose of the
Millions for Reparations Rally. Muhammed said "All of us are owed
reparations. NY will be the strongest contingent in Washington on
August 17th."

Reverend Herbert Daughtry proclaimed at the close of the rally, "I feel
it is a great moment in history. The time is right - we will win our
reparations!"



Millions for Reparations
New York City Organizing Committee
456 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11216
Phone (718) 398-1766 Fax (718) 623-1855
Email millions4reparations@hotmail.com
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