|
“Each and every person has to make a choice between whether he or she wants to discuss history or make history.”
Rev. Al Sharpton—President and Founder of the National Action Network
The history of the National Action Network is the history of the civil rights movement in urban America. The National Action Network has confronted head on the “Jim Crow” polices of America’s criminal justice system and lead the movement to expose the evils of racial profiling and police brutality.
The National Action Network (“NAN”) was founded in New York City in 1991 by the Rev. Al Sharpton and a group of activists that were committed to the principles of non-violent direct action and civil disobedience that was a direct outgrowth of the movement that was built and lead by the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Rev. Sharpton has served as the organization’s president since its founding. NAN has had two very distinguished Chairman of the Board. Its first Chairman was Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, who was the founding Pastor of Canaan Baptist Church in Harlem and had served as chief of staff to the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, New York is the organization’s second and current Chairman of its Board of Directors. The National Action Network is headquartered in New York City. It has chapters throughout the United States and maintains important regional offices in Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, GA; Detroit, MI.; Chicago, IL.; Dallas, TX.; Las Vegas, NV; and Los Angeles, CA.
Every Saturday morning since its founding the National Action Network holds its weekly live action rally and radio broadcast which has been critical to its development. The National Action Network was formally incorporated on April 4, 1994 as a not-for-profit 501 ( c) (4) organization. The date was important to the organization because it marked the anniversary each year of the assassination of Dr. King and the organizations efforts to be one of the Keepers of the Dream that Dr. King lived and died for. It dedicated itself to inquiring into political and civic abuses, to transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to promote a sense of civic responsibility among voters by instilling an interest in the necessity of exercising the voting privilege and to promote and protect the interests of the residents of the community of African-Americans in the United States.
NAN has worked to safeguard the rights guaranteed African-Americans by the constitution and civil rights laws of the United States through peaceful petition, assembly and non-violent protest when necessary. NAN has been vigilant and vigorous in fighting any discrimination based on the color of a person’s skin; has worked for the passage of laws ensuring equal treatment under the law of all persons and has particularly fought to instill in African-Americans and people of African descent a sense of pride and self-worth in order to achieve mutual respect, understanding and friendships and the complete liberation of African-Americans from all injustices visited upon them as such so that they may receive ultimate recognition as free and equal members of the human community.
These goals have lead NAN to maintain a strong issues platform with regard to Law Enforcement, Immigrant Rights, Election Reform, Education Reform, Prisoner’s Rights, Health and Disability Protections; Employment Rights; Business Development; Housing; Agencies for Child Development, Youth Issues; Homelessness and more recently a Decency Initiative. Membership in the National Action Network is opened to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, or national origin.
The National Action Network had its first national office in the heart of Black Brooklyn in New York City and held its weekly rallies at P.S. 175 in Harlem for the first four (4) years of its existence. In 1995 the national headquarters moved to 1941 Madison Avenue and 125th Street in the heart of Harlem in what would become world renown as the National Action Network’s “House of Justice”. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a mentor to Rev. Sharpton dubbed the Network’s new national headquarters as the “House of Justice,” during its official opening and dedication service. NAN operated from the Madison Avenue location until January 2003 when a mysterious fire destroyed its famed “House of Justice.” In December 2006, the new “House of Justice” national headquarters of the National Action Network opened up in central Harlem at Malcolm X Boulevard and 145th Street.
Since its founding, the National Action Network has led the efforts for justice for Carmel Cato, whose son Gavin was killed in a tragic car accident in Crown Heights, Brooklyn; James Byrd, a young black man from Jasper, Texas whose body was dragged by three white men behind a pick-up truck until his torso was ripped from the rest of his body; Abner Louima, who, in 1997, was tortured in the 70th Police Precinct in New York City; Amadou Diallo, who, in 1999, was killed by the New York City Police Street Crime Unit in a 40 shot barrage; Tahisa Miller, who was wrongfully gunned down by LAPD., and most recently Sean Bell, who was killed on his wedding day in a 50 shot attack by the New York City Police Department. NAN and Rev. Sharpton were in the forefront and a driving force in highlighting the great injustices occurring in Jena, Louisiana.
NAN through its Madison Avenue Initiative has been in the forefront in the battle for economic justice and equal access in business and professional opportunities; held a Hip-Hop summit which led to the founding of Russell Simmons’ Hip-Hop Action Network; was in the forefront of the battle to stop the US Naval Bombing exercises in Vieques, Puerto Rico, an action for which Rev. Sharpton spent 90 days in Federal Prison for his acts of civil disobedience; led delegations to Rwanda, Africa and the Sudan to engage the issues of slavery and genocide; and spearheaded the historic Redeem the Dream March against police brutality and racial profiling in honor of the 37th anniversary of the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C. and Dr King’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech.
“No Justice No Peace,” is its motto and its call to all who want to live in a more democratic and just society.
|
