Caribbean Life, June 19-25, 2020 5
By Nelson A. King
Brooklyn Democratic County
Leader Rodneyse Bichotte on Monday
released a list of endorsed candidates
in federal, state and city elections,
urging all Democrats to vote absentee
early or at their polling place on
Primary Day, June 23.
Bichotte, who represents the 42nd
Assembly District in Brooklyn, wants
Democrats to have “progressive control
of legislative bodies in the Democratic
State Committee, as well as on
the judicial bench, and to make sure
those who serve in City Hall, Albany
and Washington will deliver social
justice.
“At a time when we face the triple
threat of the COVID-19 pandemic,
the urgent need to reform and
reinvent police practices that have
afflicted minority communities and
an economic recession, it is essential
we elect progressive Democrats to
enhance social justice,” said Bichotte,
whose disctict includes Flatbush and
Midwood.
In addition to incumbents, Bichotte
endorsed three women running for
open seats: Assemblywoman Tremaine
Wright to move up to the state
Senate, Stefani Zinerman for Wright’s
Assembly seat and Darma Diaz for the
City Council’s 37th District.
Newcomers Bichotte is supporting
include Jesse Pierce for District Leader
in the 52nd District, and Arleny
Alvarado-McCalla for District Leader
in the 54th District.
The women, who are from the
LGBT and Latina communities,
respectively, are part of a diverse slate
of candidates endorsed by the Kings
County Chair.
Another newcomer Bichotte is
endorsing, Robert Berrios, is running
for District Leader in the 51st
District.
By Vinette K. Pryce
Educators and historians will have to
rethink their purpose when the president
of the United States admits to being
clueless about the June 19 observance of
Juneteenth in 47 of 50 states which for a
segment of the population has been a two
and half plus century-old tradition commemorating
the granting of independence
from slavery.
It is no secret and in contrast, assumingly
President Donald Trump must
know the Columbus Day date in October
when most of the country celebrate the
achievements of another sector of the
populous.
Certainly parades, school closings,
landmark structures, statues, street markers,
bargain sales and loads of reminders
usher the public holiday named for an
accused Indian pillager whose legacy is
now being refuted to being a façade.
Perhaps the leader of the country
should not be blamed for being clueless
about the Juneteenth anniversary.
Neither should members of the Republican
Party — many of whom collaborated
to hold a celebratory rally on the very
day an oppressed group recall as one that
promised liberation.
The fault lies with educators and historians
who failed to teach and preserve the
details and intricacies of minorities who
undeniably were the pillars that lifted up
this democracy.
The ignorance of leadership glows
even brighter when one of the two primary
political parties agree that Tulsa,
Oklahoma could be the ideal site to rally
white supremacy when there in 1921,
almost 100 years ago, because Black
capitalism thrived over white prosperity,
the Black Wall Street in the location was
burned to the ground.
Thirty-five blocks went up in flames,
300 people died as whites burned and
looted without reprisal.
That on the anniversary of Juneteenth,
the nation’s leader and his leadership
chose to cheer greatness of the nation —
shames the nation and reveals the blight
ignorance foments.
Undoubtedly on Nov. 5, following the
Nov. 3 election of the leader of the “free
world” fans of Guy Fawkes will commemorate
the date in 1605 when bonfires
blazed an indelible reminder noted in
English history books.
But that’s British history and perhaps
an important notation for American students
to retain.
ONE MILLION TO RALLY ON
JUNETEENTH
Tiffany Rea-Fisher, a dancer / choreographer
and artistic director of Elisa
Monte Dance company will use her platform
to mobilize one million Juneteenth
celebrants on Friday. Slated to kick-off
at noon, a Juneteenth march has been
organized to spotlight the injustices of
police brutality and other societal issues
overlooked by government.
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated
commemoration of the ending of
slavery in the US.
In celebration of Juneteenth and in
continuing protest of police brutality and
systematic racism spurred by the death
of George Floyd and many others before
him, Rea-Fisher is using her platform
as an artist and community organizer
to ask dancers and those in the dance
community to join her in this march and
other events to further the discussion
of race.
Other companies joining the gathering
include: The International of Dance,
Dance NYC and Dance.
Marchers should assemble at Chambers
and Canal and Park Row and Broadway.
A virtual gathering commences on
Juneteenth at 8 pm on YouTube, Facebook
Live and Instagram to feature a
one woman play titled “The Fannie Lou
Hamer Story.”
When Civil Rights activist Fannie Lou
Hamer said she was sick and tired of
being sick and tired” she articulated the
sentiments of Black Americans exhausted
from consistent discrimination and
prejudice.
Enraged by exclusion from a political
party procedure because she was Black,
the Mississippi southerner made the
statement on Aug. 22, 1964 at the Democratic
National Convention in Atlantic
City.
Her words reverberated across America
and still denotes the pain of a “sick and
tired” people.
On Juneteenth Day, June 19, a onewoman
play written and performed by
Mzuri Moyo Aimbaye, will echo the pain
and passion that is now being broadcast
daily since the brutal murder of George
Floyd.
The independence day live stream
is directed by Byron C. Saunders and
premieres an online presentation spotlighting
the trailblazing heroine whose
lamentations about discrimination best
describe the repetitive incidents of police
brutality, recurring cases of racial discrimination,
exploitative practices and a
myriad of unjust acts of inequality.
For more info. Check www.newheritagetheater.
org
Another Juneteenth commemorative
event will find Bishop William Barber,
chairman of the Poor People’s campaign
leading a Digital Virtual Gathering to
Washington on June 20.
Organizers would like thousands to
join at the virtual portal to discuss issues
of social concern related to hunger in
America, deficiencies in housing and
education as well as current turbulence
throughout the nation regarding police
brutality.
Log on at www.june20.org.
Mzuri Moyo Aimbaye.
Outgoing Brooklyn Democratic
Party boss Frank Seddio pins his
successor Assemblywoman Rodneyse
Bichotte. Hassan Bakriddin
Juneteenth – Independence
for a nation at a crossroad
Brooklyn Dem
leader releases
list of endorsed
candidates
/www.newherit-agetheater.org
/www.newherit-agetheater.org
/www.newherit-agetheater.org
/www.june20.org
/www.june20.org