25-City Rally
Press Releases
National Action Network (NAN), Along With Labor & Civil Rights Leaders To Attack Joblessness & Voter ID Laws That Are Threatening People’s Voter Rights Across the Country on December 9th in 25-City Rally For Jobs & Justice
—New York City, NY, Philadelphia, PA, Cleveland, Ohio, Indianapolis, IN, Columbus, Ohio, Akron, Ohio, Detroit, MI, Newark, NJ, Atlanta, GA, Chicago, IL, and Houston, TX, among cities holding rallies
December 7, 2011 (New York, NY) —Rev. Al Sharpton and National Action Network (NAN), along with AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) and partners in labor, civil rights, and clergy from across the country, will hold a rally in over 25-cities on December 9th to bring attention to the growing economic disparity in these cities, lack of employment, and equality issues surrounding our current economic state. The 25-city rallies will call attention to key issues that have not yet been remedied such as the disproportionate layoffs of Blacks, Latinos, and other minority groups, and the growing wealth gap.The rallies will be held in cities that are most impacted by joblessness and attacks on workers’ rights.
In recent years, too many American families have lost economic ground. Over the decade, ending in 2009, median family income fell by $3,800. And the gap between the wealthiest Americans and those with the least is growing every day, making it tougher to enter into the middle class. With African American unemployment at an unacceptable 15%, this is a clear sign that we need action-inaction is not an option. Black layoffs have only skyrocketed as the public sector – heavily comprised of a Black workforce – continues to slash jobs. And as a result, not only has Black wealth diminished, but so too has the existence of much of this nation’s Black middle class itself. Black, White or Brown – that is a startling reality that should have all of us deeply concerned.
According to a study released earlier this year by the Center for Labor Research and Education at the University of California, Blacks were 30% more likely than other workers to be employed in the public sector. And while the private sector has added 1.6 million jobs as reported in a recent New York Times piece, public employment has seen massive layoffs across the board. Whether its teachers, firefighters, police officers, or any other form of municipal work, the public sector has been under attack from Wisconsin to NJ and everywhere in between. From losing their bargaining rights to bearing the brunt of city and state budget cuts, public service employees are watching their entire life savings disappear. And because about 1 in 5 Blacks work in civil service, we are disproportionately suffering yet again during these tough times.
In the U.S. postal service alone, about 25% of employees are Black. It is precisely because of work in this industry and in other government entities that we were finally able to climb the economic and societal ladder, and eventually begin to achieve the proverbial American dream of home ownership. An entire Black middle class emerged via civil service jobs, and we are now tragically close to witnessing the greatest stumbling block to progress that will literally set us back decades. But we can – and we must – do something to halt this injustice that so clearly threatens our immediate future.
CITIES:
- New York City, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Indianapolis, IN
- Milwaukee, WI
- Atlanta, GA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Las Vegas, NV
- Akron, Ohio
- Memphis, TN
- Montgomery, AL
- Shreveport, LA
- Baltimore, MD
- Detroit, MI
- Boston, MA
- New Haven, CT
- Columbus, MO
- Newark, NJ
- Columbus, Ohio
For more information and locations and times in each city please visit:
www.facebook.com/nationalactionnetwork
Follow us on Twitter @NationalAction
Call our national headquarters at 877-626-4651
Official Locations (To Be Further Updated):
AKRON, OH (Bobbi Simpson; [email protected]; 330-475-9670)
First Grace United Church of Christ
350 S. Portage Path
Akron, OH
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Fred Wright, Akron Urban League
Councilman at Large Mike Williams
Mayor’s Office (Waiting on call back)
President of City Council Marco Sommerville State Rep Zack Milkovich Mark S. Hampton, President CEO Rebranding Black America Greg Coleridge, Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Myron Brown, MIT International
ATLANTA, GA (Troya Sampson; [email protected]; 678-773-4751)
Providence Missionary Baptist Church
2295 Benjamin E. Mays Dr SW
Atlanta, GA 30311
Skype Ready
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:
Senator Vincent Fort, State Senate District 39 Gregg Fann, Exec Director Local 3, AFSCME (American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees) Nancy Flake-Johnson, CEO Atlanta Urban League Joe Beasley, Exec Director of Rainbow Push Coalition Helen Butler, GCPA (Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda) Able Mable Thomas, Former Georgia House Rep, Civil/Human/Political Rights Activist Ron Allen, Occupy Atlanta Organizer Deborah Scott, Exec Director Georgia STAND-UP (Strategic Alliance for New Direction & Unified Policies) Derrick Bozman, News -Talk 1380 WAOK Radio, To Much Truth (Broadcasting live from 4:00pm.-7:00pm) Mike Render aka Killer Mike, Youth
BOSTON, MA (Dr. BJ Smith; [email protected]; 617-298-6080)
St. John Missionary Baptist Church
230 Warren St.
Roxbury, Mass 02119
Pastor: Rev. Gregory S. Fernandes; contact 617-347-9965
Church phone # 617-427-5205
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:
Councilman Charles Yancey
Dr. B.J. Smith, President of Boston Chapter NAN Min. Jerry Michel, Vice President of Boston NAN Min. Baker-Bey, St. Johns Baptist Church Rufus Faulks, NAN
CHARLOTTE, NC (Mavette Parker; [email protected]; 803-707-4810)
University of North Carolina Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte, N.C. 28223
CHICAGO, IL (Maureen Forte; [email protected]; 708-653-6545)
Greater Mt Vernon Baptist Church
Rev Charles Rogers, Pastor
8700 South Laflin
Chicago, IL
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
State Representative La Shawn K. Ford from 8th District in Chicago Alderman JoAnn Thompson, 16th Ward Christopher Cooper, Attorney, Civil Rights & Employee Rights Mark Allen, Executive for Black Wall Street Marshall Thompson , Leader of the Chi Lites ~ Entertainer Syl Johnson, Blues and soul singer and record producer, Writer, Guitarist, Harmonica Expert)
CLEVELAND, OH (Rev. Caviness; [email protected]; 216-374-0913; Marcia McCoy; [email protected])
*Location for Rev. Al Sharpton’s PoliticsNation Show on MSNBC
Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church
1161 East 105th Street
Rev. Dr. E. Theophilus Caviness Way
Cleveland, Ohio 44108.
SPEAKERS
Marcia Fundge, Congresswoman 11th District (TBD Wednesday) Sandra Williams, President, Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Al Mixon, Teamsters Local 407 Secretary Treasurer & International V.P.
Gary Johnson, Amalgamated Transit Union, International V.P.
Meryl Johnson, Cleveland Teachers Union
Harriet Applegate, Secretary Treasurer AFL-CIO Judge Patricia Ann Blackmon, 8th Appellate Court of Appeals Arlene Anderson, Minority Business Solutions
COLUMBUS, MS (Sharon Lewis; [email protected]; 662-574-1109)
Propst Park
Highway 182/ Main Street
Columbus, MS
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:
An official from the local Union L248
A representative from the NAACP
Pastor Brock
Jeff Smith, District 4 supervisor
DETROIT, MI (Oliver Wilson; [email protected]; 313-303-3068)
Historic King Solomon Baptist Church
6100 14th Street
Detroit, MI
7:00pm
Contact: Tony Wilson, 313-598-1093
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:
John Conyers, U.S. Congressman
Hansen Clark, U.S. Congressman
Bill Ross, President of Booker T. Washington Black Businessmen Association Detroit Michigan Jim Reed, Community Activist Richard Fournier, Former Congressional Candidate and potential Senatorial Candidate for 2014 Ed Wilson, CEO Home Health Care James Williams, Chief Steward AFSCME local 207 Sandy Lemelle, NALC Branch # 1 President
GREATER BALTIMORE (Sen. Larry Young, Board Chairman; [email protected]; 410-907-0364)
AFSCME District Council 67
1410 Bush Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Legislative Representative Mr. Jeffrey Johnson Senator Larry Young, Chairman of Greater Baltimore NAN Dr. Marvin Cheatham, President, Greater Baltimore Chapter of the NAN.
Marietta English, President AFT Maryland Glenard S. Middleton, Sr., Executive Director, AFSCME Council 67 Rev. Dr. Jamal H. Bryant Pastor, The Empowerment Temple A.M.E. Church
HOUSTON, TX (Central Location); Rev. Robert Gilmore; [email protected]; 281-546-8168 cell; 713-741-6642
St. John’s Downtown UMC
Rev. Rudy Rasmus, Sr. Pastor, 713-659-3237
2019 Crawford St.
Houston, Tx. 77002
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Caroll Robinson, Houston Community College Board Larry Green, Houston City Council Marilyn Harris, Veterans Womens Center, Vernus Swisher, CEO, Career and Recovery, Inc.
Professor Jacqueline K- Davis Gilmore, Joplan Communications, Womens Issues Rev. Elmo Johnson, Up-Lift Fourth Ward Development Rev. Rudy Rasmus, Pastor of St. John, CEO , Bread of Life Program, Congresswoman Shelia Jackson, Lee Jolanda Jones, Houston City Council At Large
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (Melissa Borom; [email protected]; 219-488-6013)
*Location for Rev. Al Sharpton’s PoliticsNation Show on MSNBC
Messiah Missionary Baptist Church
5640 East 38th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46218
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Dr. Stephen J. Clay, State chair and Senior Pastor at Messiah Missionary Baptist Church
Crystal Ratcliff, NAACP president
Stephen Quick, President AFSCME Indianapolis, IN Danny Sexton, President AFSCME Richmond, IN
LAS VEGAS, NV (Gene Collins; [email protected]; 702-455-1220)
Dr. William U. Pearson Community Center
1625 West Carey
North Las Vegas, NV 89032
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:
Steven Horsford, Nevada State Senator Majority Leader Kelvin Atkinson, State Assemblyman District 17 Dina Neal- State, Assembly District 7 Eugene Collins, National Action Network State Chairman Frank Hawkins, NAACP President Pastor Bill McDonnell, Ebenezer Church of God in Christ Senior Pastor Dr. Ralph E. Williamson, First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAMEC), Katherine Duncan, President of Ward 5 Green Chambers of Commerce Lalo Macias, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, AFSCME
MEMPHIS, TN (Greg Grant; [email protected]; 901-859-6668 or 901-527-2797)
AFSCME Headquarters
485 Beale Street
Memphis, TN 38103
5:00pm {central time}
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
City Councilman Joe Brown
City Councilman Janis Fullove
Gregory Grant, President Memphis National Action Network Chad Johnson, Executive Director, AFSCME, Local 1733 Michael Williams, Memphis Police Association Rev. Dwight Montgomery, Pres. SCLC
MILWAUKEE, WI (Shanquil Merriwether; [email protected]; 414-465-2620 or 520-870-8404)
*Location for Rev. Al Sharpton’s PoliticsNation Show on MSNBC
2011 AFSCME District Council 48
3427 W. St. Paul Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53208
Phone: (414) 344-6868
SPEAKERS
Eyon Bibble , Milwaukee County Supervisor Rev. Willie Brisco, MICAH President Khalil Coleman, Occupy The Hood MKE Ruben Hopkins, Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce Chairman Muhibb Dyer, Flood The Hood With Dreams, Founder Adolph Allen, NAN Milwaukee Chapter Treasurer/Family Of Giants School Of The Rich, Inc. President Shanquil Merriwether, NAN Milwaukee Chapter President Shontina Gladney, Pinnacle Motivations International, President Kwabena Nixon, Milwaukee Urban Entertainment Alliance Vice President
MONTGOMERY, AL (Rev. Earl Wagner; [email protected]; 334-322-8837)
Maggie Street Missionary Baptist Church
642 Maggie Street
Montgomery, Alabama
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Mario Williams, ESQ of Williams Onionen, LLC, Atlanta, GA.
Rev. Kenneth Glasgow, National President of TOPS Rev. Earl Wagner, Regional Director of TOPS (The Ordinary People Society)
NEW HAVEN, CT (Jessica Carl; [email protected]; 203-623-4045).
Community Baptist Church
143 Shelton Avenue
New Haven, CT
Point of Contact: Jessica Carl
Church number is 203-562-3907
NEW YORK, NY (William Griffin; [email protected]; 914-497-8056; Dominique Sharpton: [email protected]; 917-585-9119)
*Location for Rev. Al Sharpton’s PoliticsNation Show on MSNBC
The State Office Bldg
125th & 7th (Adam Clayton Powell)
New York, NY
SPEAKERS
Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman of the Board Tamika Mallory, Executive Director Assemblyman Keith Wright George Gresham will send local rep to speak for 1199 Senator Bill Perkins Inez Dickens Reverend Michael Walrond, First Corinthian Baptist Church Kevin Powell Gregory Floyd, Teamsters Robert Jackson Victoria Pannell, NAN Youth Director Ludwig Gaines, Planned Parenthood Terry O’Neil, National Organization of Women Mark Thompson, Radio Personality Lee Saunders Hazel Dukes, NAACP (must speak early) John Liu (Per Theresa Timmons) Michael Mulgrew will send UFT rep to speak Brendan Griffith, Chief of staff at the Central Labor Council John Boyd, Black Farmers
NEWARK, NJ (Rev. Dr. David Jefferson; [email protected]; 973-923-7670)
15 James Street
Newark., NJ 07102 – WISOMMM Center.
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:
Donald Payne , Congressman
Ron Rice , Councilman Newark
Mildred Crump , Councilwoman
James Mtume , KISS-FM
Gerald Lewis ,Captain NJ State Police
James Harris, NJ NAACP
Minister Lawrence Hamm . People Org For Progress Rev Joe Cater
PHILADELPHIA, PA (Greg Brinkley; brinkg43@hotmail; 267-349-5976; Paula Peebles; [email protected]; 215-765-6181)
*Location for Rev. Al Sharpton’s PoliticsNation Show on MSNBC
Union Offices of Afscme Council District 33
30th and Walnut Street
Philadelphia PA.
12:00 pm – 2:00pm
SKYPE capability
Parking facility
SPEAKERS
Congressman, Bob Brady
Congressman, Chaka Fattah
Gregory Brinkley, President, Philadelphia President of National Action Network Paula Peebles, Chairperson, Philadelphia National Action Network Herman Pete Matthews, President, District Council 33 Henry Nicholas, District 1199C AFSCME Samuel Staten Jr, Laborers Local 332 Terrance Meacham, Philadelphia Unemployment Project Jerry Mondesire, President, Philadelphia NAACP Liz Macaroy, Philadelphia Council AFLCIO
SHREVEPORT, LA (Dr. Artis Cash, Sr.; [email protected]; 318-797-3124)
Clarion Hotel
West 70th St.
Shreveport, LA
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
State Senator Greg Tarver
State Representative Roy Burell
Commissioner Joyce Bowman
Rev. Theron Jackson
Rev. Artis Cash