Freedom Party Submits 43,500 Signatures

On Monday, August 16, the Freedom Party Express delivered 43,500 signatures to the Board of Elections in Albany. Freedom Party candidate for Lieutenant Governor Eva Doyle was there waiting for Gubernatorial candidate Charles Barron. Together, they submitted their petitions at 4:50PM.

Standing proudly behind three tall stacks of petitions, Charles Barron said, “Today, we are here to say that the people of New York State have spoken. They said it loudly through this petitioning process that [gathered] over 43,500 signatures. The only gubernatorial candidate, the only attorney general candidate, the only lieutenant candidate that took our case to the people is the Freedom Party. The all-white state slate of the Democratic Party is unacceptable. We are not choosing between Democrats and Republicans. We are choosing Freedom today!”

Freedom Party Submits 43,500 Signatures
On Monday, August 16, the Freedom Party Express delivered 43,500 signatures to the Board of Elections in Albany. Freedom Party candidate for Lieutenant Governor Eva Doyle was there waiting for Gubernatorial candidate Charles Barron. Together, they submitted their petitions at 4:50PM.Standing proudly behind three tall stacks of petitions, Charles Barron said, “Today, we are here to say that the people of New York State have spoken. They said it loudly through this petitioning process that [gathered] over 43,500 signatures. The only gubernatorial candidate, the only attorney general candidate, the only lieutenant candidate that took our case to the people is the Freedom Party. The all-white state slate of the Democratic Party is unacceptable. We are not choosing between Democrats and Republicans. We are choosing Freedom today!”Barron declared, “This is a movement that is unbought and unbossed, and un-controlled by the white male corporate interests in this state. We are saying to this state, no longer are we going to allow the Democrats to take the Black vote for granted, the Republicans to ignore us, or the white progressives on the Left to use us. We are here to say that the Freedom Party represents dignity. The Freedom Party represents self-respect. The Freedom Party represents self-determination. The Freedom Party is the people’s party.  We are going to control the institutions that control our lives.” Speaking of race, Barron said, “No longer will we let this state be quiet on race. Race matters. Racism permeates every institution in this state. We are going to let it be known, loud and clear, we are sick and tired, like Fannie Lou Hamer said. We are sick and tired of being sick and tired of racism. You can’t get rid of racism pretending it doesn’t exist. There is no post-racial society. Racism impacts every individual as well as every institution. You have to be a race-conscious state, a gender-conscious state, a class-conscious state. We have to get rid of the three evils -racism, classism and sexism – in delivering goods and services to the people of this state.” ”The people that you see behind us, they said we didn’t have any support. They said we weren’t going to make the ballot. They said that we couldn’t get the petitions. They thought we wouldn’t be able to get the signatures. Not only did we get nearly three times the amount, they thought we were not going to be sophisticated enough to get 100 signatures in 15 different congressional districts,” said Barron. “Well, we got at least 20-30 signatures in all 29 districts. And we got over 100 signatures in 23 congressional districts in this state. Tell Cuomo to match that. Tell Lazio to match that. And in 15 congressional districts, we got over 300 signatures.”Barron described how the Freedom Party was born with limited resources. “They said we didn’t have the money to put a campaign together. They said we didn’t have enough money. Let me tell you something. Money doesn’t vote. People vote. We have the greatest resource a campaign could have – people. Not one of these persons behind us – over 200 in the streets – not one of them would accept a penny,” Barron said. “They did it for Harriet Tubman. Fannie Lou Hamer. Malcolm X. Martin Luther King. Dr. Khalid Muhammad. Sonny Carson. Richie Perez.  Don Pedro Abisos Compos. Lolita Labron. John Henrik Clarke. We did it for all our ancestors that came before us. We did it for all that spilled blood so that we could be here today. If there is anybody you don’t like, like the Black Panther Party and all the political prisoners – we did it for them, too.” Speaking about young people, Barron said, “We did it for our young people trying to get jobs. We talk a lot about our young people wearing their pants under their behinds. That is an embarrassing thing, and we do tell them to pull up their pants. But what about all of those young people who have their pants up? What about all of those young people who have degrees and can’t get a job? What about young people who are in church? What about young people who are in organizations trying to make a change, like the Malcolm X Grassroots Organization? We can talk about the negative, and we have to deal with that, too many of our young people are dying and killing each other. But there are a lot of young people doing the right thing. This society is not giving them their due.  Take care of them and the pants will come up because they know that is the route to go.”     Barron said the Freedom Party’s openness can improve NYS. “On this day, on behalf of our slate, this party is a Black and Latino-led party that is open to everyone. When we take care of  Blacks and Latinos, the state will be better off. Giving us living-wage jobs, you can keep your welfare. If you give us youth centers and workforce development programs in our community, you can keep your prisons. Build some more schools,” he said. “The Freedom Party is a party for all the people of this state. It will be absolutely led by Blacks and Latinos. I speak today for our lieutenant governor, Eva Doyle, from Buffalo. Sister Eva Doyle and the Buffalo community brought in over three thousand signatures. I speak today for our attorney general candidate Ramon Jimenez. His organization brought in over two thousand signatures. We are the most diverse party in the state. We are here to stay.”"Let the debates begin! I can’t wait,” Barron declared. “Tell Cuomo I am looking for him. Tell Lazio he better get out of the way. And if they try to say we are some fringe organization, and we can’t be in the debates, we are going to break the door down.”Barron thanked Attorney-at-War Alton Maddox, United African Movement, December 12 Movement, CEMOTAP, Operation Power, and 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care who helped this latest incarnation of the Freedom Party get off the ground. Barron said, “We have to mention the Freedom Party under Alton Maddox years ago, that laid the groundwork for us to be successful today. I want to introduce a young lady who worked very hard with Jitu Weusi and myself. We started the Unity Party in 1998. We got over 20 thousand signatures, got on the ballot and Mary France Daniels was the candidate for governor . She received over 10,000 votes. We are building on the work of Mary France Daniels.” Freedom Party Co-chair Viola Plummer spoke in a loud, crisp voice: “We are absolutely determined to make the Freedom Party a party of the people of this state. It needs to be crystal clear that the Freedom Party will not be bought. Neither will we be intimidated by those of you and them who say we don’t have any money. In capitalism, there are two poles: one is capital, meaning money; and the other is labor, meaning people. They can never match us in the labor.”Freedom Party Co-chair Jitu Weusi said, “I want to tell the 43,000 people who signed these petitions, I want to thank them for signing the petitions of the Freedom Party. I want to tell them that they cannot lose track of us. This is just the beginning. They have to stay with us – whether we go to court, whether we are on the media, whether we are in the debates. They have to stay with us. And they have to insist  that we get a hearing. They have to make their voices heard. That is their job as a result of signing these petitions. If everybody sent a $5 bill to the Freedom Party, 456 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn 11216… If we got 43,000 $5 bills, we will take care of business.”Asked if his Democratic registration would impede his run on the Freedom Party line, Barron said, “We are all registered Democrats right now. We are telling the people of New York, you can keep your Democratic Party registration. We want all those who support us and vote for us, whether you are a Democrat, Independent. In the November election, it doesn’t matter. I am still a registered Democrat. We reserve the right of self-determination. To determine our strategy. The Working Families Party doesn’t have everybody as WFP registrants. They have Democrats supporting them. We are telling our people if you want to do the September primary and November, keep your Democratic Party registration. Support the Freedom Party in November.”Regarding challenges Barron said, “Bring it. We dare them to challenge us. Why would you want to challenge 43,000 signatures? We are going to say to the people of this state, anybody that challenges these petitions obviously wants to keep the state all white.” Freedom Party campaign manager and radio talk show host Bob Law said, “We made magic happen with your commitment. We couldn’t pay for this talent and energy anyway. This is how movements build; fundamental change occurs. Just filing those signatures is a significant victory. It says to the power brokers in this state, that there is already a new political force that they will have to contend with.” Ramon Jimenez, Freedom Party candidate for attorney general said, “I think 43,000 signatures is an incredible historical accomplishment. It is a statement. A lot of people in NYS have said we want the Freedom Party on the [ballot] line. I am very excited and happy with that number.”

African Drums to Roll Like Thunder In Brooklyn

To describe the emotions stirred by music is a task which goes beyond words. To put the magic of drum music into words is an even more daunting task. Drums of Thunder is a unique musical experience which, for the first time in New York City, puts the spotlight on the African drum in an all-day festival. The event- though a celebration of the wonders of African-influenced drumming- is also a unique competition. It is designed to give an opportunity to drummers from across the Diaspora to showcase their musicianship and artistry.
On Saturday, August 21, the sound of the drums will roll like thunder when the event kicks off at the Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn. A production of the Brotherhood of Man Youth Connection and C.A.R.E (Concerned Americans For Racial Equality). Drums of Thunder has attracted audiences from Boston to Washington who are expected to come by the busloads to support their favorite drummers. In Drums of Thunder, master drummers and drum ensembles from across the Diaspora will compete for cash prizes and a challenge trophy making this the veritable “World Cup” of drumming.
The daylong competition will feature ensembles from Trinidad & Tobago, Ghana, Haiti, Guyana and the United States. Ensembles will be required to play a piece of choice which incorporates the beats of three nations. Participants will be judged by a panel of expert drummers who also reflect an eclectic Diasporan mix.
The event is the brainchild of Rev. Andy Edwards, who is the leader of the Brotherhood of Man Spiritual Baptist/Orisha Church. “This idea was born out of a desire to replicate the Emancipation celebration which takes place annually in Trinidad & Tobago,” says Rev. Andy. “Though we hope to one day have a full-scale festival like in Trinidad & Tobago, we felt that African drumming – which is the cornerstone of that celebration- was the most transportable segment and hence Drums of Thunder was born. “I believe that it is incumbent upon us as Caribbean  people living in the United States to engage in a meaningful celebration of the abolition of chattel slavery in the region,” he adds.
As part of the celebration, there will be lectures on the history of the African drum, drum-making workshops and demonstrations, poetry and dance workshops. Audience members will not be left out of the winnings as there will be opportunities to win a free djembe, among other giveaways.
In addition to the ensembles competition, there will be a category for individual male and female drummers. Prizes will be awarded to the three top place finishers in the ensemble category and the best overall drummer in the male and female individual categories.
A special prize will also be awarded for the best percussion section in the competition and the oldest and youngest drummers.
The celebration kicks off at 1:00 p.m. with a libation and a street drum call. Competition begins at 3:00 p.m. For tickets and information call 917-512-9778 or 718-623-8514.

AT HOME Summer: From Brooklyn to Bali …Part One

It was Taaeba Fattah’s account of her March trip to Bali with her mother, Nadia, and friends Sheila Szklanny and Leslie Wilks that turned us on to Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love bestseller that’s enjoying a new surge of interest due to the Columbia Pictures film of the same title starring Julia Roberts and premiering Friday (13). 
Images of the Fattahs and friends grace these pages, and the personal experience they told us about their visit impressed us.
Yesterday, I plodded through Gilbert’s (partially funded) year-long sojourn to three countries in search of mind, heart and body (not necessarily in that order) refreshment.  She finds nourishment eating through Italy and praying through India, but she really scores in Bali, as much for finding a love-mate as for reconnecting with a soul mate, the elderly healer and reader Ketut Liyer.
Unlike the miles of women across the world who have begun to retrace Ms. Gilbert’s footsteps in hopes of finding self and an orgasmic happy ending, Taaeba, an equal opportunity employment specialist; Nadia, an arts consultant, and educators Sheila and Leslie are inveterate travelers; for them, the happy ending is the travel: they’re not getting away from something or in a state of seeking something – although they love to shop.  
“I love learning about other cultures, enjoying changing landscapes,” says Nadia.   Which is exactly what they were doing when the Fattah ladies first met Sheila and Leslie several years ago on an Egypt-bound cruise ship.   It turned out that Sheila and the Fattahs live within blocks of each other in Brooklyn, the place they call comfort zone.  It’s been “Have Passports, Will Travel Together” ever since.  (Leslie lives in North Carolina.)
Since then, the Friends have racked up a combined hundreds of thousands of miles on train, bus and plane, traveling roundtrip to Morocco, Tunisia, Costa Rica, Rome, Florence, the Phillipines and Hong Kong.  Last year, they all visited Senegal – just after Taaeba and Nadia returned from Cartagena.
Next year, Nadia is pitching for a group trip to Bahia, where she’s visited at least five times. “It’s multisensual, great people, good food, nice breezes, wonderful to wake up to.”   A graduate of Pratt Institute, Nadia reveals she has traveled since her early teens.  She now visits galleries in different countries and is a collector of fabrics from different locales.
The ladies arrived in Bali, March 28,and  stayed 8 glorious days, before departing for Taiwan.
When the ladies arrived, they wanted to go into the villages – away from the tourists – where the people live, the food is homecooked and the culture is active and real. Taaeba told Our Time Press that when she and the ladies are traveling with a tour group, they always separate themselves, create their own itinerary and go off on their own personal tour for a different experience.  The results: they wind up seeing more places, having more exciting adventures and meeting different people, unfettered and unencumbered.  In Bali, they were part of a group of more than 100 people – but not for long.
The tour guide happened to mention that Julia Roberts had just filmed Eat Pray Love days before, and there was a medicine man she met in Ubud. It dawned on the women they could obtain their own personal readings from Bali healer Ketut Liyer, central to Gilbert’s true-life story. They hired a livery and without any prearrangements or an appointment to meet with Ketut, they set out for his residence, determined to get their readings. 
Once they arrived, an hospitable and gracious Ketut made himself available. Yet, at the time, no one could foresee that Ketut would receive a special reading, too.  From Taaeba.
“It was meant to be – the trip to Bali and the visit to Ketut,” said Taaeba, adding,”My grandmother loved ladybugs and a very rare deep-orange colored one, positioned itself outside the rear window of the cab, passenger side,where my mother (Nadia) sat, and accompanied us all the way from the hotel to Ketut’s abode. We saw it as a lucky charm; my grandmother was with us.
“We entered Ketut’s sanctuary through an ornate brick gate, and walked past structures, statues and an altar, then through a mini-botanic garden of lush plants and trees,” recalled Nadia. “At first we did not see him.  He was sitting on the porch partially obscured by the sweep of tree fronds on the porch of his villa.  He sat to the left, and smiled as though he knew us.
“Since there were two or three others ahead of us, we wandered around, and saw all the spaces in his house. There were exotic birds and monkeys throughout his compound.”
After the reading, Ketut asked Taaeba, through his broken English, if she could read passages from Gilbert’s book in which his name appeared.  He explained that Eat Pray Love had not been translated to Balinese, so he hadn’t read the book.  So she opened it to a page that featured him prominently, and began reading to him.  She says he looked shocked – pleasantly so. “I spoke slowly and noticed that he smiled broadly whenever I mentioned his name.  It was quite an engaging moment.”
Taaeba asked if he would sign her paperback book.  “I thought it would be fascinating to have his autograph on one of the pages that fascinated him. He signed his name on Chapter 75 in the book, which begins “So this is how it comes to pass” — where Gilbert starts her Bali journey in earnest. 
“He did not have a concept of ‘giving an autograph.’  It appeared he had no idea just how immensely famous he is, although he says business has picked up since the filming.”
Just before Taaeba commenced to read passages, she beckoned to her mother to take still pictures. Nadia actually videotaped it.  In a future issue, Nadia’s images of the Bali landscape and the Liyers’ home will be featured along with Taaeba’s recommendations as to where one can go in Brooklyn for a gloriously inexpensive and rich Bali experience. 
Taaeba sees Gilbert’s book as having relevance to everyone.   And, like Gilbert, she assesses that home ultimately is something carried inside of us.  “I saw real beauty in the people there. They fascinated us, and they were fascinated by us.  They are used to seeing the stereotypes presented by television and videos. We did not fit those images.
“And there was something else.  My perception of poverty has changed because of this trip.  What is poor? And who is really poor?  I know there are some who are suffering, although we did not see this in Bali. 
“On the whole, these people are very rich – in their culture and in their values.  All of the children smiled regardless of their situation.  They are not a material people; there’s no real technology.  Everything is natural. They go to markets for their food.  They daily eat fresh fruit and vegetables.  Nothing canned or frozen. They are wealthy, no one starves.
“Something happens when we tourists arrive with our ‘culture.’  We create a want for things the host country or village does not need.  Sometimes . not all the time . with tourism comes greed, violence, transfer of diseases, illnesses.  Sometimes, we disrupt perfectly natural cultural foundations.
“In some ways, Bali is ahead of us.  Soon the world will go back to basics – which is where Bali is, right now. For the short time I was there I see Bali offers us a way of ordering our lives.  We certainly can learn something from the people there, the least of which is how to make sense of where we are in the world.
“Ketut, they say, is between 90 and 100.  He is ageless, and he has such a beautiful handwriting. He is not weak.  He is a thinker.  He has good humor. We learned so much from him, and I do believe he learned from us, too.”

For Quincy Senior Residence, a Day of Family, Friends, Young People and Heart

There’s a lot of heart in what goes on at the Quincy Senior Residence at 625 Quincy Street in Brooklyn.  Just ask Tyrease Slaughter, age 7, who performed last Saturday before some 250 people at the Center’s annual Family and Friends Day fest.
The food delighted.  The bright orange QSR tee-shirts and caps impressed.  The presentations and gifts were generous. But there was something extra special about this year’s event, exquisitely organized and hosted by Phyllis Hurd, executive director of the of the five-year-old residence and Rhonda A. Lewis, CEO of QSR’s umbrella Bridge Street Development Corporation (BSDC).
“You can jump, you can say you’re in God’s Army, you can say, ‘Look at what I do,’ but it doesn’t mean a thing if your heart’s not in it,” sang out young Slaughter, a student of Excellence Charter School and grandson of Bedford Stuyvesant pioneer community advocate Ulysses Slaughter.
Each year, the Family and Friends event gets larger and includes something more than the year before.  This year, Hurd presented star vocalist Linda Miller, performing a range of music. Hurd also showcased young emerging dancers and vocalists, drawing particular attention to the talents and gifts of young men in our community.
Ms. Miller, a former prodigy, now distinguished vocalst, who  performed songs from her  CD, “Rough Side of the Mountain,” was very generous in her salute to the young emerging stars.  She told us, “It was something to witness disciplined young men performing, showing their work and praising the Lord.”
She praised the intergenerational aspect of the “reunion” event.  Too often, if it’s a senior affair, the young people are left out, she told us.  And if it is youth-focused, the seniors rarely get to witness their artistry.
As part of her mission to put heart into each event, director Hurd starts her event planning months in advance and builds on the successes of previous events.  That effort is beyond her job description and  day-to-day tasks.  But it does not matter; Hurd sees her assignment as a kind of ministry; it’s something she wants to do.  “What’s important  is to see the seniors dancing, laughing, singing and knowing they are valued,” she told us.
“This year, I felt the best way to glorify and praise them was to reveal to them  the results of their hard work; they needed to see young men being positive, giving and doing good,” she told us. “Too often, they are afraid and intimidated by what they see and hear.  Today, they were allowed to see the other side, the success stories and that their work was not in vain.”
And there was a benefit to the young people. “They were cheered by their elders, and complimented,” observed Ms. Hurd.  “So they felt valued.  And because they feel valued, they will value others.”
Both Ms. Hurd and Ms. Lewis, who grew up with their families in Brooklyn, share the philosophy that seniors are the “jewels of the community” and they approach their respective positions, organically and holistically, with an informed and wizened spirit derived from the teachings and examples of the elders who guided them. 
The ingredient of “heart” has a lot to do with the level of “compassionate energy,” noted Ms. Lewis, who hired Ms. Hurd, a former corporate finance analyst, as a temp a few short years ago and watched her grow to her current status as a professional community organizer (and somewhat of a celebrity in the community because of her reputation for proficiency). 
Sometimes, their demands for efficiency and strategic planning may not be understood immediately, but nonetheless, Ms. Hurd and Ms. Lewis’ respective sets of eyes are always on the prize. And the results are always spectacular … as for the Quincy Street Residence’s Family & Friends Reunion Day.
Other talents showcased at the event were the lively QSR Choir and a vocal duet  by Jason Slaughter, age 11, singing “Lately” and his brother Tyrease. 
Just as entertaining was the presence of the indefatigable Ophelia Perry of Church Women United, and Alma Carroll and Vernell Albury, among so many other pioneers. In addition, State Sen.Velmanette Montgomery sent a special message through her omnipresent community affairs representative, Joan Eastmond.
“Residences should be more than places to be; they should be sanctuaries where people can live and age gracefully, and enjoy themselves,” said Ms. Hurd. 
 Ms. Lewis revealed to Our Time Press that BSDC is about to embark on another ground-breaking move for the community: the construction of the 23-unit Noel Pointer residence on now-vacant land on Lafayette Avenue.  This effort– at which Ms. Hurd will undoubtedly play a major role in event planning — is on the heels of the success of the emergence of BSDC’s new Joshua Court residence at 300 Putnam Avenue – the first multifamily building in Bedford Stuyvesant to be outfitted with solar panels.  We expect Ms. Lewis will see that young violinists and other musicians from the Noel Pointer School of Music will perform. (Details for this real estate initiative will be announced shortly.) To reach Quincy Street Senior Residence, call (718) 443-6329.    To reach BSDC, call (718) 399-0146.

Work of Jeffries, Schneiderman Ends Prison-Based Gerrymandering

- Senate Majority Passes Historic Bill -
The New York legislative session that just concluded was historic for the African-American community, it was the culmination of a political infrastructure that began forming two decades ago and is at last bearing fruit.  Issues of importance to the African-American community that have been routinely put aside and ignored over the years, were enthusiastically dealt with by legislators elected to address these same concerns a generation ago but who now had power in both houses in Albany and in David Paterson, a governor who shared their frustration and goals.

Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries

The latest accomplishment is the legislation ending the practice of inmate-based gerrymandering in New York State and ensuring that incarcerated persons will be counted as residents of their home communities when state and local legislative districts are redrawn in New York next year. 
Sponsored by Eric Schneiderman in the Senate and Hakeem Jeffries in the Assembly, the new law is particularly meaningful for Kings County.  In an interview with Our Time Press right after the Senate had passed its bill, Assemblyman Jeffries said that Kings County is the largest county in the state with respect to the percentage of individuals who are incarcerated in New York.  “We send more individuals into the prison system than any county in New York,” resulting in having the political representation in Kings County being “far less than it otherwise should be.” 

State Senator Eric Schneiderman

Jeffries says that as a result of ending the practice of inmate-based gerrymandering in New York State, there will be increased representation in Brooklyn that would translate into additional political power and resources for the community.  He bases this on the combination of an expected increase in the population in Brooklyn, as well as the ability to now count incarcerated individuals as residents of their home communities in Kings County.   With this in place, “There is a likelihood that we may secure additional representation in either the Assembly or the Senate.”
What has happened in the past is that because of inmate-based gerrymandering, representation has gone to the rural communities where the prisons are located, giving them a disproportionate share of political power, relative to their actual population.
It is widely known that there are seven upstate Senate districts that would not meet the population requirements, if not for the incarcerated population individuals counted as residents of the district.  “The practice is unfair, undemocratic and undermines the fundamental principle of one person one vote.”
Making a Difference
This is just the latest in a series of bills that impact urban areas including reforming the Rocekfeller Drug Laws, ending the Stop-and-Frisk electronic database (but not the technique), reforming the juvenile justice system to provide alternatives to incarceration and holistic help for young people rather than prison care and rent-to-own legislation giving consumers protection from price gouging.   
 “We were sent to Albany to make a difference and given the change of power in the Senate with John Sampson at the helm and with other members like Velmanette Montgomery and Eric Adams in the majority, the Assembly now has a partner in dealing with issues that benefit communities of color.” 
The assemblyman says it also points to the significance of having someone like David Paterson in office, “who is sensitive to the concerns of African-American and Latino communities” and is willing to sign legislation that used to be ignored. 
“The other piece of legislation that Our Time Press has covered in a very comprehensive fashion is the MWBE strengthening that we were able to accomplish in the Assembly and the Senate and that Governor Paterson signed into law a few weeks ago.    So it’s been an extremely productive legislative session.  There is a lot of talk about what does not happen in Albany, and not enough of what does happen, particularly by African-American legislators trying to address issues of concern to the communities we represent.”
Looking forward to the next session, Assemblyman Jeffries is hopeful that the governor will take a look at the housing reform legislation that has passed in the Assembly and is working its way through the Senate to deal with the gentrification of communities of color, primarily in central Brooklyn and in Harlem. “The governor has indicated to us that he recognizes there is a need to reform the rent regulation laws and attempt to bring some balance between the relationship of landlords and tenants.” 
Jeffries noted that the housing market over the last decade has spiraled out of control and as a result landlords and developers have engaged in systematic harassment and abuse of rent-stabilized tenants, many of whom are people of color, in order to force them out of their apartments as part of the gentrification process. He says there is a series of rent regulation bills that have already passed the Assembly and “if passed and signed into law by Governor Paterson, will go a long way to dealing with the intense gentrification our communities have been dealing with.”
The assemblyman said that many of his fellow lawmakers saw a parallel between counting incarcerated individuals in the counties where the prisons are located and what  took place prior to the Civil War when African-American slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person for purposes of artificially increasing power the rural South. “The South then went to congress with increased representation based on American slaves not voting and participating in the political process and used that increased political representation to undermine the very interests of those same African-Americans.” 
He says that this is what has been taking place in New York State “where rural upstate communities have artificially enhanced their political power largely on the backs of African-American and Latino incarcerated individuals only to then go to the state legislature and fight against the very criminal justice reforms that would benefit the African-American and Latino communities that are disproportionately represented in the correctional system.”
Speaking of the reform of the Rockefeller Drug Laws, Jeffries said there was no justification for maintaining the “antiquated and draconian” laws and sentencing non-violent drug abusers to lengthy prison sentences “other than maintaining a prison industrial complex that enhanced the power of certain communities” that were dependent on the maintenance of a “vibrant” prison system. Reforms such as the Rockefeller Drug Laws took so long to enact because “until we took control of the Senate, individuals in rural upstate communities were committed to a system of maintaining the prison industrial complex with its school-to-prison pipeline. We have set out to break the back of the prison industrial complex. Whatever the morality of the individuals who have fought to maintain the prison industrial complex over the last several decades, they have succumbed to the countervailing force, from people of all colors in New York State, concluding that the right thing to do was to create a fairer, more equitable and more just correctional system.” 
Asked if there are other vestiges of slavery still in public policy, Jeffries responded: “I’ve often said that Jim Crow may be dead but his nieces and nephews are alive and well.  Slavery may have died with the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil War, but there are certainly vestiges of slavery that subjugate African-American communities by a loss of political power and the diminution of their ability to succeed economically.” 
If electing Barack Obama president was a marker for the advances gained in the Civil Rights Movement, then the New York state legislative session that just concluded demonstrates what was envisioned by the Black Power Movement in the seventies, the wielding of political power to authoritively advance the issues of a previously subjugated people.

Thanks to Village Keepers, A Handball Court, A Garden and A Park Will Grow on Ellery Street

What started out as a nightmare for Ellery Street residents near Charlie’s Park, turned out to be a change for the better.
On July 21st, kids rushed to Charlie’s Park excited for another play day when their excitement turned into anger and confusion. They were shocked to see their handball buried under a blanket of dirt.
Members of the Raise the Roof Farm organization had dumped the soil and begun planting healthy food to benefit the community. For their initiative, Raise the Roof in partnership with the Brooklyn Charter School, planned to create a model farm program to – as they say — help children get involved in community and after-school activities in North Brooklyn.
It was a good mission, but the only problem was nobody told the community who lives there.  After an impromptu meeting hosted by Henry Butler, President, Community Board 3, and called by the Ellery Street residents, New York City Parks & Recreation Assistant Commissioner/Senior Counselor Jack T. Linn agreed to have the soil removed from the handball court. Linn was the person who originally gave the group permission to create the garden at Charlie’s playground. He is taking full responsibility for what appears to be a misunderstanding and also is taking the proper steps in having the garden relocated to another area in the park.
“He’s going out of his way to correct the situation,” said Butler.
Yet neighbors say that since July 19th, they have only removed half of their materials and have continued to water their plants. Not showing any signs of removing their materials completely.
“They have great ideas,” said resident Raphael Dominguez. The problem is not creating the garden.  Neighbors are in disbelief that people would even consider taking any part of Charlie’s Park without communicating with them or getting the proper permits. 
“There’s nothing left in the area right now for young people and families,” said Gershwin Ledain. “Charlie’s Place playground, which is just cement and rocks, is the only location in the area where kids can play without having to worry about getting hit by a car.”
Another issue that neighbors are concerned with is the parking lot that was built on half of the playground by the school next door.  Although Charlie’s playground is considered a city park, the school sent their janitors to draw parking lines on the field and since then have continued using it for parking.
Dominguez explained that this parking lot is used by other locations such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses church around the block and city employees from local hospitals. The parking lot, which contains abandoned cars, has become a threat to the health of children. Before kids were able to play football and other sports, now they enjoy using the resources around them to create new “games” such as throwing rocks at each other.
Commissioner Linn researched the park and found that the school has no authority over it anymore. No department of Education vehicles parked illegally there are being ticketed.  Once the summer session of the school is over on August 13, no one will be allowed to park there.   The principal is grateful to have adequate time to inform teachers returning to the school in September that Charlie’s Park is closed to vehicles.
Once the parking lot is cleared the farm will be built on one side of the park and the community will be involved in the process of creating the farm.  Also, the handball court is being restored.
Butler says that budgets for 2011 have been completed.   Rehabilitation of Charlie’s Park will be at the top of Community Board 3’s agenda for 2012 budget requests. With this budget, improvements will be made to the park and the community will be able to get involved in the remodeling of the park.
“It will take at least two-three years before a shovel is placed into the ground to make Charlie’s Park the park it should be,” said Butler, acknowledging that much has to be done before the park is transformed into the North Brooklyn neighborhood kids deserve.

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Community Greets Freedom Party Slate

Once again, several hundred community members flocked to the Siloam Presbyterian Church. This time the occasion was the presentation of the complete Freedom Party Slate. Eva M. Doyle, candidate for Lieutenant Governor, came from Buffalo. Attorney General candidate Ramon Jimenez journeyed from the South Bronx.
Freedom Party Gubernatorial candidate Charles Barron was greeted with enthusiastic applause when he said, “Freedom Party! Freedom Party! I want you to meet together for the very first time Charles Barron for Governor, Lieutenant Governor candidate of our party Eva M. Doyle, and candidate for Attorney General Ramon Jimenez. I am so excited.”
Barron made this declaration: “I want to say to all gathered, we are going to get these signatures. We are going to get on the ballot. We are going to get more than 50,000 votes after we get on the ballot. And when we do, we are going to rock this state like it has never been rocked before. This will be the first time in the history of this state that we have a Black and Latino, Latino and Black-led party.  We welcome all to join our party. As you see in this room today, we have white supporters, and we thank you for your support.”
“It is time for this state to have a party of Black and Latino people unbought, unbossed and uncontrolled by the corporate interests in this state,” said Barron. “This is a party that is going to say no to war. The Freedom Party is saying no to balancing the budget on the backs of poor and working-class families in this state.”
Describing the current economic climate in New York State, Barron said, “Wall Street made $61 billion dollar profit last year, while everybody else was broke, in the middle of a economic crises. Tax the rich. What about a personal income tax surcharge: Those who make $500,000/ year – 1.5%;  one million a year/ 3.5%; five million a year/ 4.5%; those making ten million or more a year/ 5.5%. There are over 26 million people in NYS, only 63,000 people make that kind of money. If you tax them, you can get anywhere from $8-12 billion a year and the budget will be balanced.  How about a stock transfer tax – 10-15 cents on those stocks that are being transferred every year? You can get over $2 billion every year on a stock transfer tax. We will have a surplus.”
Barron outlined several other issues the Freedom Party will address. “We are the only party, the only team that is going to raise the question of police brutality and terror in our neighborhoods,” he said. “Not only stop-and-frisk, but also the abusive use of deadly force. They need to put down the guns and pick up some humanity and stop killing our people for no justifiable reason. We are going to be the only party that says to this nation that you have to rebuild and return our people to New Orleans. We are going to be the only party that says keep your welfare, keep your affirmative action, give us our reparations. It is a debt owed. We are going to be the only party that says the Black Panther Party, the Black Liberation Party members – those who are languishing in prison because of their political beliefs, their political actions – did their time.  Free our political prisoners.”
Barron closed his remarks by saying, “We are going to be the only party that says to this nation we are no longer going to sit back and allow you to put a racist state structure in NYS. That cannot happen. Fannie Lou Hamer got sick and tired of being sick and tired. She formed the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party for the same reason that we are starting the Freedom Party. Fannie Lou Hamer has to be smiling upon us. For you Fannie Lou Hamer, we say Freedom Party!”
In his introduction of the Freedom Party candidate for Lt. Gov., Barron said, “Mrs. Eva M. Doyle is an Afrocentric educator for 30 years. She has written several books. She writes for the Buffalo Criterion. Chrystal Peebles-Stokes, one of the legislators in Buffalo, said that when she heard that we had Mrs. Doyle with us, we got the most honorable, highly respected from Buffalo.”
Mrs. Doyle said, “I bring you greetings from a great number of hardworking people in Buffalo. We are excited about the Freedom Party. I brought with me today 300 signatures. As I speak now, brothers and sisters are on the battlefield in Buffalo collecting even more signatures.”
“I am doing double duty here,” said Doyle. “I am recording this for my newspaper column ‘Eye on History’, for the Criterion Newspaper, the oldest Black newspaper in western New York. I have been writing the column Eye on History for almost 32 straight years without stop. I describe it as the only weekly column on Black history in Western NY. I have taught as a teacher in the Buffalo public schools for 30 years. I believe in teaching Black history, not just in February but all year long.”
“As I was flying into NY, I thought about the Statue of Liberty. I told my students that the original Statue of Liberty was that of a Black woman,” Mrs. Doyle said. “The tablet she holds in her hand is a symbol of the Abolitionist Movement. I have written 11 books. When I finish this book on the Black Statue of Liberty, it will be my 12th book. I tell my students that Black history is all around us, even on the dollar bill.”
Eva Doyle told the crowd how she came to be on the ticket. “When I was asked to become candidate for Lt. Gov. under the Freedom Party, I must tell you I did not immediately say yes. As a matter of fact, I said no. I can’t do this,” she said. “But then something started to happen. People in Buffalo started to call me. Erie County legislator Billie Jean Grant said, ‘Please give this a little more thought.’ Attorney Alton Maddox called me just about every day. He is the most persuasive attorney I have ever met. Mr. Ted Perkins is the host of a radio show in Buffalo called Perkins Corner. I was listening to his show, relaxing. Alton Maddox was on the show and asked ‘Who do you think would be a good candidate for lt. gov.?’ Mr. Perkins said, ‘Well, what about Eva Doyle?’ I almost fell out of my chair.”
Mrs. Doyle gave two reasons why she accepted. She said she is participating “in the memory and spirit of the great Fannie Lou Hamer.” Mrs. Doyle spoke of her husband. “I lost my husband last March 2009. Brother Romeo Muhammad. We were married 44 years. If Brother Romeo was here, he would be in this room. He would be behind me 150%. Brother Romeo was a member of the Nation of Islam for 42 straight years. Now I am a member of the church – First Shiloh Baptist Church in Buffalo, New York.  A lot of people have asked me ‘How did you get along with Brother Romeo, a member of the Nation of Islam, and you are a member of the church?’ My husband always believed no matter what religion you were in, what faith you had, we are all Black people.  We are in the same struggle. I know Brother Romeo is smiling down on us. I know Brother Romeo would give me his blessings. He would have beat me to New York City. He would have paved the way, shaking everybody’s hand.”
Barron fought back tears while introducing Freedom Party candidate Ramon Jimenez. “When we think of Ramon, we think of Richie Perez,” Barron said. “Richie Perez was my friend. Whenever we wanted to bring the African-American and Latino community together, we called Richie Perez. I know he is smiling on us now, watching Ramon carry that mantle of making sure Blacks and Latinos stick together. Ramon comes in the spirit of Richie Perez.
Ramon Jimenez: “It is good to be back home. I was a Brooklynite until I was 8 years old. In the Bronx, we have a lot of struggles taking place. We have the Yankee Stadium struggle, where $1.5 billion was spent to build a mega-palace in the poorest congressional district in the United States.  They promised jobs. Let me tell you how many community people got a job in the demolition of Yankee Stadium. One.”
“The Freedom Party is about a movement. We are the mere instruments of that movement,” Jimenez said. “I have organized the South Bronx for many years. When I organized tenants, they are Black and Latino. When I organize parents, they are Black and Latino. When I work with the Woodlawn workers, they are Black and Latino. On the streets, at the base, Black and Latino unity is there every day.”
According to Jimenez, “Historically, some of the greatest movements took place in NY – City College, the movement for Black and Puerto Rican Studies, the Jesse Jackson campaign, saving Hostos Community College. Sometimes we don’t understand unity politics. The rich understand unity politics. The landlords, when they have to come together, come together. When the developers have to come together, come together over their common interests. We let little things divide us. This is the time. We got the biggest slap in the face with what the Democratic Party did. It is not just the Democratic Party. I used to work for the Workers’ Compensation Board as a judge. I used to be the head judge. In the 1980′s when I was a judge, there were 5 or 6 Black and Latino commissioners. Today, there is one Black commissioner. In the 1980′s when I was a judge, there were 15 Black and Latino judges at Worker’s Comp. Today, there is one.  It’s not just the Democratic Party. It is all over.  In a city that is 35% white, 70% of Bloomberg’s managers are white and Blacks and Latinos are being locked out.”
“It is a great honor to be invited to be a part of this ticket. We need a Freedom Party,” Jimenez said. “If we don’t have a Freedom Party, who is going to raise the issue of Wall Street being taxed? Do you think Andrew Cuomo or Rick Lazio is going to raise it? Who is going to raise the issue of gentrification? In an article the other day, Cuomo was investigating housing discrimination. I thought to myself, ‘You are late. It is the end of your term, and you just discovered discrimination in housing?’ In the South Bronx, we have tenant groups, antiviolence groups. The Freedom Party is the only one to talk about their issues. We have a chance to make history. I don’t want to rise from my people; I want to rise with my people! Freedom Party!”
Several whites were in attendance, including two ladies from the Million Worker March Movement. One said, “New York has been a place of Democratic seats having a lot of power. Republicans obviously don’t offer any alternative. Neither party is representing working-class people. In fact, they have taken a very strong pro-Wall Street stance. The laws that exist in the state of New York, like the Taylor Law that prohibits the public sector from striking, has taken the teeth right out of the labor movement. I think that this kind of party is a development that is giving grounds for more progressive politics, for more participation of the average person, who are not represented locally, not represented in Congress. Our tax dollars are used, but we don’t get the benefit.  Workers are not being represented.  We are asked to work, pay the taxes, bear the brunt of all the crises capitalists have thrust upon us. And we don’t get the benefits of it. I think this party will provide a potential platform for people to become politically active, put their demands forward, fight for them and force concessions.”
Kevin Powell, Democratic candidate for congress in the 10th Congressional District in Brooklyn. “I am a Democrat, but I came to listen and show support for Charles Barron and the folks here because they supported my campaign. I support third, fourth, fifth parties in this country. We need more than one or two parties. I definitely support that. I just want to listen. That is why I am here – to listen.”

A Year Later — Family and Friends Remember Shem Walker During Emotional Candlelight Vigil

Shavon Walker, Daughter
One year ago today, the person who I saw as my hero, my Savior, other than Jesus Christ, was killed right here.   Only my family can feel the pain that we feel every day walking back and forth.  From a place that was supposed to  be a sanctuary.  But it’s not the same.  The person who took my father’s life is still living his life day-to-day.  Going home to his family.  Smiling and laughing.  And he doesn’t feel the pain that we feel on a daily basis. 
The sentimental things, the laughter.  The jokiness.  Just the kind person that he was, we no longer have.  Is it fair?  I think not.
Do we need justice? Absolutely.  Will this justice system fail us?  We shall see.  It is up to us as a community to rise above this and take a stand that this will not happen to anyone again. 
I’m making a plea right now, to those in the neighborhood.  This step needs to be precious.   To hang out on the step, which is the reason why my father got into a scuffle, is wrong.  I’m just asking that there should be no trespassing, period.  That’s a plea, a personal plea from me.  I come here, I pass here so many times, and when I pass here and I see people standing here and I say “It’s happening again.”
If my dad was here he would tell you to come off the stairs.  Why is it still happening?  A life was taken from us and we’re still having the same perpetuating behavior.
Today, I’m making a plea to the community: We must all stick together and take a lesson from what happened here at 370 Lafayette Avenue, July 11th, last year. 
My father is gone from us, but he is still not forgotten.  We have two lovely new additions to our family and we’re blessed.  God took one away from us but he brought us back two. We’re living through them, thank you.

Mrs. Walker, Mother
“I was Shem’s mother.  Last year on the 11th, a Saturday evening, Shem went to the fast-food store and he bought me some food.  He came in and give me the food, but something wasn’t right.  So I said, ‘Shem, I can’t eat this food, you take it.’  He emptied my bowl into his plate and went into the kitchen and ate.  When he finished he went outside and he had a piece of cake.   He put the piece in my mouth and he said, ‘Mommy, I’m going to get a smoke.’
“The next time I saw my son there he is in a casket. Died.  What for?  They say he went to the store and he came back and he sees somebody sitting on the steps.  Don’t mind how abrupt he said to the man, ‘Get off!’ or ‘Move!’  How come my son ends up dead?  You mean to tell me two trained police, one on this step and one on the next step.  They couldn’t subdue one innocent, unarmed man without using gun force?  I don’t think this is it.  I just don’t think that is right.  So all I’m asking for now is for justice.  The man who killed my son, and it was like he killed me.  My sight has gone since then.  All I’m asking for now is justice for my son.  Justice for Shem.”

Reverend Michael Bacchus, Full Gospel Assembly
What I know of Shem, he’d come from Pennsylvania on weekends, get his mother on Sunday mornings and bring her to church. He’d bring his car up on the sidewalk, take his mom out of the car and put her in the wheelchair, get her into the church, get on the elevator, bring her up into the sanctuary and she sits right in the back.  When church is finished, Shem comes back again, gets his mom in the reverse order and brings his mother home.  I don’t know all the other pieces, but I can say I saw that this was a son who was very loving, very caring and very dutiful for his mom. And I believe that’s a golden heart that he took the time to be there for his mother, in the house of the Lord, week after week.  I want to honor the family, especially the young man who is currently bringing his grandmother, Sunday after Sunday, he brings her to church.  That’s the same thing that Shem was doing.  

Councilwoman Letitia
The Walker family is pursuing a civil action, but the District Attorney should at least reach out to the family and explain where things are at this time.  Whether or not there is an active investigation. Or whether it’s closed, and if closed, why?  I think they are owed that reason and that explanation.  A year without justice for Shem Walker is really unfortunate.  And without any interaction with the District Attorney’s office, I just believe this family deserves better.
If you’re selling drugs, you are the enemy.  You’re tearing our community apart.  Families have been torn apart by drugs.  It’s because individuals sold drugs on this corner and at that corner at Classon Avenue, Shem is not here.  We want a community where our mothers and grandmothers are safe and where children can play without worrying about drug dealers.  Let this message be the message we take away from the life of Shem Walker.  That’s the message here today. Justice for this family, but also at the same time (community), we have got to stand up and do the right thing. 

Lydia Phillips, Aunt
It’s been one year now since that cop shot my nephew on these same steps.  They said they were undercover. The guy was sitting on the steps and my nephew told him no loitering here and told him to get up.  His partner came up the steps and told my nephew he couldn’t tell the guy who was sitting on the steps to move. My nephew told him there was no loitering and he took his gun out and shot my nephew twice in the chest and in the forehead.  This is a family building.  My niece came out.  And if someone comes out and says this is my brother, they still took him to the hospital as a John Doe.
Since then, there has been nothing.  The case has not gone to a grand jury or anything like that.  One year.  Nothing has happened.  All they’re saying is that they’re investigating.

Parks Commish Jack Linn Halts Soil Dump In Charlie’s Place Court as Area Residents Play Hardball Against Unsanctioned “Green” Effort

“You’re telling me, someone came to our community, took a pile of dirt, didn’t bother to come to us, and just dumped it on a playground’s handball court?” that was the question local architect Michael McCaw raised at a meeting called by CB3 chair Henry Butler, yesterday at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration community room. “Are they crazy?”
The site is the handball court at Charlie’s Place playground on Hopkins Avenue, between Tompkins and Throop. The player is a wealthy funding organization that has a long history of good works in and intentions for the area, the Parks Department and the Department of Education.
There’s CB3 and very vocal residents of the North Brooklyn neighborhood, occupants of houses and apartments near and around the park. The CBO and the enclave were left out of the picture. One day, the handball court was there, as it always has been since the playground’s naming, in 1957, after Charles Lubin, founder of Sara Lee company. The next day the handball court was under ground, beneath a generous attempt to create a small farm or garden in the space.
This green initiative elicited big groans that increased in intensity yesterday when the residents – mostly strong, focused and able young men – and CB3 officers met with Parks Assistant Commissioner/Senior Counselor Jack T. Linn and a Mr. Hunte, representing the greening agency “to design a plan relative to the community’s needs.”
“Not enough,” said a community member buoyed by CB3 member Beatrice P. Jones’ remarks. She said, to applause: “We’re not opposed to gardens. We love gardens. We love fruit, vegetables and flowers.
“But the community will not allow a garden to be established in that handball court. So I think we need to take our shovels and remove it. I need manure for my garden, anyway. Somebody in your agency . maybe not you, but someone, made a big mistake. Our young people are here trying to resolve this. Give them back their handball court. If you don’t have the manpower, we will get it.”
Butler, staunch community advocate, stated that the Community Board should have been approached about the project or plans for potential projects before they even come into the neighborhood. “Not informed of what already has been done.”
And although a few residents were willing to compromise on a half court; half garden arrangement, most everyone came to the conclusion – with Butler and Linn in agreement -the process had to start all over and done the correct way.
So, Next steps: The community has called for a tour of Charlie’s Place, Wednesday, July 7 at 6pm to find a more appropriate site for the garden, other than on the 50-plus year old handball court.
Meanwhile, Linn stated that in the interests of the community, “Mr. Hunte will stop work; a decision will be made on where he should move the work; and on how it will be moved.” With the involvement of the Board and the community at every decision-making level.
CB3′s Parks, Arts & culture chair Marion Little assured residents the park is being is placed at the top of the Board’s priority list, and he will be working with Mr. Butler to have some Board meetings in the North Bedford Stuyvesant area. He said, “That the handball court, used daily, is shut down at the start of summer.. now that’s a big problem.”
Manager Charlene Phillips, CB3 District Manager, closed with a reminder to everyone in the room: “Anyone who pays taxes should be kept informed of what’s going on where they pay taxes, and they should have a say in where those taxes go. You have rights, you need to exercise them.”
Ultimately, “it’s about respect,” said both Nilo Jordan and Rafael Dominguez who frequent the park, and exercise there.
Jordan, Dominguez and Anthony Mercado strongly urge the public to come out and see community empowerment in action and to wrap their thoughts around, yet, another Charlie’s Place pressing situation they’re tackling: the parking lot and people who should not be parking there- mostly teachers and hospital personnel. Stay tuned.

Our Time Press will follow this story. – BGreen

FREEDOM PARTY IGNITES MOVEMENT

African-American Issues Brings Together Hundreds at Convention

Freedom Party Hosts First Statewide Convention
Several hundred from around the state packed the historic Siloam Presbyterian Church to ratify Council member Charles Barron as the Freedom Party’s candidate for governor. Barron named Eva Doyle as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Mrs. Doyle is a longtime activist, educator, columnist, book author and host of her own radio show called “Eye On History” that airs weekly on station WUFO in Buffalo, NY.
Barron appeared before the enthusiastic crowd wearing a black T-shirt emblazened with “Freedom Party” in bold white lettering and the party’s symbol, chains divided with the word “unchained.”
Freedom Party gubernatorial candidate Charles Barron’s address:
“We have to keep this momentum going. They are hoping we have a one-day event. That we will get all excited and then come tomorrow, it will have been just a good event. What they bet is that we won’t get the signatures. They know we are going to get the votes. They are betting we won’t get the signatures. Everything now is about those signatures. Getting on the ballot. We know that if we come with 40-50,000 signatures, they know we are going to get on that ballot, because there will be 15,000 good ones. And when we get on the ballot, we are going to rock this state. We’ve got to get on the ballot. We are going to be working on a platform. We are going to be working on a strategy. After we get the party, a structure. But right now, it’s money and signatures. That’s the bottom line – money and signatures. That is going to be the challenge for us. We know we can get 15,000 signatures. But what they want us to get is 100 from 15 different congressional districts. Thirteen are downstate. We are going to do that. No doubt.
Let me tell you why we are doing this. This is the perfect time for us to do it. This is the time for us to strike like we have never struck before. There comes a moment in history that you just can’t miss. They have the nerve to go to Rye, NY have their meeting – the State Democratic Party, with all of these Black leaders in the State Democratic Party. (Barron then described this year’s Democratic slate.) This was a political blackout. So since they don’t want you in, let’s step out. Do our thing. Let’s form an independent black-led party. Somebody said to me is this party only for black people? No. It’s going to be black-led, but anybody can join us. We welcome anybody but we are leading this. We said, you don’t want us, fine. Let’s do our own party. This is shaking them up.
The last time we did this, brother Jitu and I, we got Mary France Daniels, Ron Daniels wife on the ballot. She got on the ballot and got 10,000 votes. We got 20,000 signatures from 15 different congressional districts. This time, we are going to get on the ballot and get 50,000 votes and be an independent black-led party. The first one in the history of this state.
We have to do this for Fannie Lou Hamer. In 1963, she was beaten to a pulp trying to get a party, trying to get respect. They beat her badly in jail. Because the same structure in Mississippi – all white slate – is identical to the NYS structure. Identical to Mississippi in 1964. Fannie Lou Hamer fought and she got her Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. She said she got sick and tired of being sick and tired. She took over the convention and the whole nation had to listen to Fannie Lou Hamer. Fannie Lou Hamer, to your spirit, we are continuing the fight. If she could do it in Mississippi in 1964, we can do it in NY.
We need a Freedom Party. We are sick of the two corporate-run parties. Corporations run this state. Who ever pays you, that’s the one who you dance to their tune. The Freedom Party is going to be free from corporations. It will be the people’s party. We will finance us so that we can be free. There is no two-party system there is one party – Republocrats. It doesn’t matter who gets in.
Mario Cuomo, Andrew’s daddy, built more prisons in NYS than any other governor in the history of this state. This is a man who took your vote for granted. Then put all your children in prison.
We are saying today that the Freedom Party, when we come together, and they try to balance a budget, we are not going to let them spend it on Yankee Stadium and Steinbrenner. We are not going to let them spend the money on the Mets and the Nets arena, and then shut down day care centers and senior citizen centers. Don’t want to build any youth centers. Shutting our schools down. Having the nerve to have the homeless pay rent. How do you take MetroCards from our children and they have to demonstrate just to have you give them back? That kind of nonsense in this state must stop. The Freedom Party is going to put an end to that kind of madness.
The Freedom Party is going to talk about political prisoners. Nobody else will. There are brothers and sisters languishing in the state jails. They did their time. They gave them 25 to life, well they did 25 years. 25 good years in prison. Let them out. Let out freedom fighters out of prison. If it wasn’t for the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army and all of those groups that fought for liberation, we wouldn’t be in this church talking about Freedom Party today.
The Freedom Party is going to fight for our reparations. They paid the Jews. They paid the Japanese. Pay the Africans for your colonization of Africa. Pay the Africans for what you did to us in the Caribbean. Pay the Africans for what you did to us right here in America. America violated us, and reparations is a debt owed for service provided. You can’t work us for free, then tell us that happened a long time ago. We are going to put a commission together in this state, we are going to study the impact of slavery on our communities economically. Pay us our reparations. Then you can keep your welfare. We built this nation. 246 years of slavery, 100 years of Jim Crow and racism and you talk about you don’t owe us nothing. You benefitted off the wealth of our labor. It is time for us to be paid. The Freedom Party will raise these types of issues. It can happen. All things are possible.
It is time for us to stand up like men and women, like John White stood up for his family. Stand up for your family. Get your spine straight. Don’t be afraid. I don’t care about you threatening to take my life. You didn’t give me life and you never can take my life. There is a greater source, a greater power in charge of that. Take my freedom and put me in jail. Bring it. Freedom is a mental thing. I will never be in jail no matter how many bars are in front of me, because my mind will not allow me to be imprisoned. Take my material wealth. I could care less. Keep your little material wealth. I am not interested.
Here we have a $63 billion budget. The City Council passes the budget. We can tell this city that this is how we want the money spent because we are the new majority. Stand up and say the money is going to be spent in the ‘hood for our people because we said so and we have the power to do that. I am sick and tired of giving people power who won’t us it. Adam Clayton Powell said ‘Use what’s in your hand.’ You are going to have power in your hand and give it back to the power structure that is oppressing you. That is insane.
The Freedom Party is going to be talking about Black consciousness on behalf of Steve Biko and the Black consciousness movement. Blackness is definitely not a skin complexion. Pigmentation. It is not whether you have coarse hair or thick lips or African features. Blackness is a state of mind. Blackness is a commitment to Black people. Blackness is a commitment to our children. Blackness is being a man. That is what we need – men and women who are not afraid to be black. It is an agenda. It is about who we are in our community.
When we put the Freedom Party together, anybody who is not serious about our people, don’t mess with us. Because we are not playing.
We are going to rock this state. This state is going to be put on notice that from here on, the 2 million Black people in NYC, and the millions across the state now have a Freedom Party that is going to free us from all of those things that we were fearful of. Now it is coming to fruition. Freedom Party!!!”
We have to do this for Shirley Chisholm. Rosa Parks. Assata Shakur. We have to do this for all those who spilled blood before we got here. Let’s do this. Freedom Party!!!
By unanimous acclimation, Charles Barron was declared the Freedom Party’s candidate for governor.
The temporary headquarters of the Freedom Party is located at Sistas’Place on the corner of Nostrand and Jefferson Avenues. More pictures on page 12.

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