By Aaron Allen
The Seattle Medium
On, Tuesday leaders of the community gathered at Mt. Zion Baptist Church to inform the community of the upcoming local celebration of the 55thanniversary of the 1963 March On Washington.
On August 28th, 2018 citizens of Seattle will march along Union Street to Mt. Zion in celebration of the historic moment when thousands descended upon the nation’s capital where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King gave his iconic “I Have A Dream” speech.
According to organizers, the program will consist of addressing several issues that affect African Americans and other people of color in our community like I-200, the NFL Player’s Associations economic disparity, immigration and the incarceration of children – “Classes Not Cages”.
Guest speakers such as Councilmember Bruce Harrell, newly appointed Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best, Eddie Rye, NFL great Nesby Glasgow and a host of others as well as poetry and song will be a part of the festivities. Church Bells Toll For Change will call out educational, economic and civil rights lost by people of color and women in regards to the infamous passage of I-200.
“We are here for jobs and freedom and social justice,” states Hayward Evans, coordinator of the event. “In this day and age of I-200 we as a community have lost over three billion dollars in business. What we have now is I-1000 an initiative to overturn 1-200. We are also here to support NFL Players Association and economic fairness.”
The NFL Players Association is putting forth a proposal that will force each NFL team to invest ten percent of revenue into Black owned banks in communities throughout the country.
“The first thing we want to do is honor Dr. Martin Luther King and everything he’s done. However, we are here also because of the economic apartheid issues that are going on or pertain to the NFL,” said former NFL player John Anderson.
“We are looking at the global perspective as far as putting money in our banks, I think that would give a bigger punch and help the broader community verses helping a guy here, a family here, help everyone and I believe we do have the clout and diplomacy to go about this,” Anderson continued.
Former state representative Jesse Wineberry believes now is the time for the community to take action in the name of Dr. King to address so many issues that have gone neglected for too long.
“In regards to I-1000 we are exemplifying Dr King’s spirit, Dr. King’s strategies and Dr. King’s actions,” said Wineberry. By taking action on issues that are important to us,” said Wineberry.
“Actions where it concerns the children of refugees who are in cages and in some cases psychologically mistreated, we’re taking action,” continued Wineberry. “Action when it comes to the NFL Association, when it comes to economic parity. And finally, action here in Washington state we are taking actions on 1-200.”
The march and program will also feature the official the name change of MLK Jr. Park in Seattle. Seattle City Council has proclaimed that the MLK Jr. Park will be renamed the MLK Jr. Civil Rights Memorial Park to induct and honor deceased local, national and international civil rights leaders including Seattle’s own Dr. Samuel Barry McKinney.
The community is invited to join leaders from our community next Tues., Aug. 28 in commemorating our Civil Rights leaders and bettering our community in our efforts to fighting social, civil, economic and educational injustices.
