Should we gather at the inaguration?
Gathering family-
On January 20, 2009 President Elect Barack Obama will be inaugurated in Washington DC. I have spoken to some of you and have suggested that we create a presence at the inauguration. Over the past year we have trained in Kingian nonviolence, its philosophy and it applications, we have created local campaigns that will call upon all levels of civic society to stop to violence and incarceration in our communities. The feedback I got about going to introduce our movement by thousands of gathering family members holding down a few blocks of the inauguration parade route was positive so i wanted to share the idea with all of you...
The election of Barack Obama opens us to a moment to introduce our movement to a new administration. We represent tens of thousand of the most affected, people caught up in the tragedy of violence and incarceration. We also represent thousands of success stories of personal and community transformation. Our collective experience and work together has created a tomorrow pregnant with promise. It is critical that we recognize this moment and that all of us hold the pen of history. The question we must ask ourselves is, as history is being written will we ensure that our liberation is a part of it?
I am reminded of a story Mr. B often tells about A Phillip Randolph and President Roosevelt. After meeting with A. Phillip Randolph about the abuse facing the Pullman porters, President Roosevelt said that he did not agree with the plight of the Pullman porters, and that he not only had the power to stop the injustice, he was also inclined to do so. And Roosevelt asked A. Phillip Randolph to do one thing..."Go out and make me do it." It is a directive that we must once again adopt. Any change we want to see, any change that we are fighting for, we will have to "make him do it." We can do so by continuing to engage our community in our struggle and we must support one another across the country in our local campaigns.
We share a commitment in building a movement that recognizes and integrates our diverse cultures and communities. We must continue building our national family that prays for each others success and understands Dr. Kings prophetic words, "Either we go up together or we go down together, let us develop this kind of dangerous unselfishness."
Does Jan. 20, 2009 offer an opportunity for us to "Gather" on Pennsylvania Avenue? An intergenerational Gathering representing our tribes and regions at the Inauguration of the next President of the United States. To share this moment together and to show, in great numbers, that we plan on contributing to this critical chapter in history?
Our contribution will be one of struggle and transformation. We define our agenda of hope, an agenda of hope that our country will start building more schools than prisons, hope that 3rd grade reading levels of our young people would be used to ascertain how better to teach them, not to project the growth in the prison population.
We will scribe stories of leaders like Bo Taylor, who we lost too soon, but who in his short life saved hundreds of young people from the terror of gangs and incarceration. Stories of communities like Columbus, taking over empty lots and growing food to feed their families. Stories of hundreds of young people in Chicago introducing direct action into their on going campaigns to raise the level of civic tension to push towards success. We will keep the memories of our fallen comrades alive like, Raymond Cervantes who was stabbed to death in northern California 2 days after completing his certification in the 2 day nonviolence core.
We will close our chapter with dawn...the sun rising over our communities warming the skin of children freed. Shinning light on America's declared promise for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
So do we "Gather" at the inauguration? Do we stand by the thousands showing our commitment to holding our new president accountable. We all will have to contribute to raising resources, your willingness to be there must be intrinsically bound to your willingness to help raise money to get there. Please respond to this discussion and let me know what you think.
On January 20, 2009 President Elect Barack Obama will be inaugurated in Washington DC. I have spoken to some of you and have suggested that we create a presence at the inauguration. Over the past year we have trained in Kingian nonviolence, its philosophy and it applications, we have created local campaigns that will call upon all levels of civic society to stop to violence and incarceration in our communities. The feedback I got about going to introduce our movement by thousands of gathering family members holding down a few blocks of the inauguration parade route was positive so i wanted to share the idea with all of you...
The election of Barack Obama opens us to a moment to introduce our movement to a new administration. We represent tens of thousand of the most affected, people caught up in the tragedy of violence and incarceration. We also represent thousands of success stories of personal and community transformation. Our collective experience and work together has created a tomorrow pregnant with promise. It is critical that we recognize this moment and that all of us hold the pen of history. The question we must ask ourselves is, as history is being written will we ensure that our liberation is a part of it?
I am reminded of a story Mr. B often tells about A Phillip Randolph and President Roosevelt. After meeting with A. Phillip Randolph about the abuse facing the Pullman porters, President Roosevelt said that he did not agree with the plight of the Pullman porters, and that he not only had the power to stop the injustice, he was also inclined to do so. And Roosevelt asked A. Phillip Randolph to do one thing..."Go out and make me do it." It is a directive that we must once again adopt. Any change we want to see, any change that we are fighting for, we will have to "make him do it." We can do so by continuing to engage our community in our struggle and we must support one another across the country in our local campaigns.
We share a commitment in building a movement that recognizes and integrates our diverse cultures and communities. We must continue building our national family that prays for each others success and understands Dr. Kings prophetic words, "Either we go up together or we go down together, let us develop this kind of dangerous unselfishness."
Does Jan. 20, 2009 offer an opportunity for us to "Gather" on Pennsylvania Avenue? An intergenerational Gathering representing our tribes and regions at the Inauguration of the next President of the United States. To share this moment together and to show, in great numbers, that we plan on contributing to this critical chapter in history?
Our contribution will be one of struggle and transformation. We define our agenda of hope, an agenda of hope that our country will start building more schools than prisons, hope that 3rd grade reading levels of our young people would be used to ascertain how better to teach them, not to project the growth in the prison population.
We will scribe stories of leaders like Bo Taylor, who we lost too soon, but who in his short life saved hundreds of young people from the terror of gangs and incarceration. Stories of communities like Columbus, taking over empty lots and growing food to feed their families. Stories of hundreds of young people in Chicago introducing direct action into their on going campaigns to raise the level of civic tension to push towards success. We will keep the memories of our fallen comrades alive like, Raymond Cervantes who was stabbed to death in northern California 2 days after completing his certification in the 2 day nonviolence core.
We will close our chapter with dawn...the sun rising over our communities warming the skin of children freed. Shinning light on America's declared promise for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
So do we "Gather" at the inauguration? Do we stand by the thousands showing our commitment to holding our new president accountable. We all will have to contribute to raising resources, your willingness to be there must be intrinsically bound to your willingness to help raise money to get there. Please respond to this discussion and let me know what you think.
Tags: 2009, gather, gathering, inagauration, the
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Beef on -
Yes! We will gather at the inauguration. Barak's entry into the White House is just the beginning. I will encourage all those in my field, whom comprise mostly of Black men above the ages of 25, to gather in Washington DC on January 20th, 2009 not only as a show of support but to make a statement that the Black man has arrived and will take his place at this momentous event.
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Permalink Reply by J. Michael Carr on -
Malia,
I think this is a great idea with tremendous impact if executed properly. My questions are related to objectives and fund-raising. 1). What will be our objective besides visibility? Will we be approaching the president with an agenda eventually? The size of our group shouldn't matter, but our requests should be clear and readily communicated even at the inauguration. 2). I am willing to raise funds for myself and others to go. However, I have had experience with raising funds for trips around advocacy, and it's not easy. When I went to Jena most donors thought I should protest on my own dime not theirs. The business of fund-raising for a 501(c) 3 nonprofit is tricky especially when it comes to political support. Do you have a strategy for members of the Gathering to raise funds without it impacting their C 3 status.
That said, I say we go for it. I'm down. Let me know who in Chicago Fathers for the Future can work with to get a group of us to DC.
Thanks,
J. Michael
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Permalink Reply by Malia Lazu on -
Id like this be organized and raise money locally. I do not see us having an objective nationally besides being present. Thousand of young people together, maybe with shirts. In true Gathering style organizations could bring information and their wares to sell to the crowds.
Regarding legal, now that Mr. Obama is no longer campaigning it does not fall under campaigning, this is an nonpartisan civic educational trip.
I want to take this opportunity to go deeper with your first question: The Gathering supports the work going on locally, our agenda is the agenda of our regions and sites. We are not a national lobbying group and if we would request anything (Although the inauguration is not the place to do it) It would be combining all of the local agendas we are working on. We must continue to struggle to answer the question that you laid out... what do we want of the president? I am not suggesting that we answer this question and then go to washington for the inauguration. I am suggesting that we let the US know that we will be answering this question and when we do... we will be back to DC to let him know.
The vision to put more it more plain is this... imagine the gathering convention participants each bringing a friend to DC to let the country know that our young people are ready willing and able to participate in their own liberation. I think it would create an energy that is critical for 21st century.
Also J. Michael- I would love for you and others to read Gibrans Blog. it talks in greater detail about emergent structures that are self organized. It is what we hope The Gathering becomes.
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Permalink Reply by George Galvis on -
I agree - I've been thinking about the A Phillip Randolph story that Mr. B shared with us recently too. Obama has consistently positioned himself in the center and is waiting for us to push to move that center...Lets go for it. Are there resources we can pull on to help mobilize our folks to D.C.
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Permalink Reply by Carmen Perez on -
Family, I am ready! I just want to share with you the excitement and hope this election has not only brought us but our future leaders and I definitely ready to advocate for what is right. I was conducting basketball practice around 9:05 p.m. PST, with 32 girls present during the time it was determined that Obama was the winning candidate. As we were getting ready to finish up our conditioning, all our cell phones began going off. Word spread that Senator Barack Obama would be our next President. The girls along with the coaches began running around the gym jumping and screaming with excitement, "Yes we can, Si se puede." Making it impossible for us to continue our practice, we ended early so that the girls could share this moment with their families. Although, they are not of age to vote, they relied on us to advocate for their futures and felt reassured that the sky is not the limit.
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Permalink Reply by Kendra Britto on -
Carmen that story is beautiful. It absolutley spells out to us how much we need to continue to strive and fight for a brighter future for our youth. Their lives are not in vain and we need to make sure that their full potencial and opportunities come to pass.
Malia, Excellent idea this is what social change is all about. There is power in numbers and unity and as we all stand together, no form of oppression can break us down but only make us stronger!!!
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Permalink Reply by Valerie Bonner on -
Yes, we should gather in "DC to support Obama.
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Permalink Reply by Christina "Krea" Gomez on -
I would LIKE to go but also feel like we should also think carefully about our scarce resources. Going to DC and sitting on Pennsylvania avenue unbenounced to some, is very expensive on inauguration day ($500-1815). I also have reservations about small grassroots organizations spending their hard earned contributions that they do miracles with on a day to day basis to service their people, get spent on a 2-3 day fan fair with nothing to show for it other than to say "I was there", which is great if you take a personal stance but could be controversial if you do it with the peoples money.
The Gathering is strong with brilliant minds and is ready with intellectual peace warriors ready to do what makes sense for this movement. I believe we need to gather- but gather to create an agenda for peace and for incarcerated youth and communities of color that can be handed to our beloved President Elect to be followed up with. We can even discuss strategically what that follow up can look like and who can be our allies amongst those who will sit close to Obama when he is in office.
This change we talk of is the ability to be supported in our movements by a man who understands the plight of the organizer. This, in my opinion is not a long shot, and will have a greater impact that just showing up.
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Permalink Reply by Kazu on -
Issues like Israel, the environment, and immigration were placed on the back burner during this election cycle, but there are definitely issues that Obama has not taken a progressive stance on, and it is therefor critical for us to continue to pressure him when we need to, and support him when he comes out with an agenda that represents our vision.
I think it would be great for The Gathering to have a presence at his inauguration, to celebrate his victory and to show him and the country that we understand his call for us to continue to be present, to remain active.
At the same time, I think Krea has a valid point. It could be a powerful symbolic moment (it will be regardless of whether or not we are there). This being an inauguration, it is not a strategic time for us to be making specific demands or requests, so I think we need to weigh the qualitative/symbolic/personal benefits with the possible costs. But if folks can hustle up some dollars from friends, families, local businesses, etc., then I think we should do it. Let's just not dry up the funds that we have to do the actual work.
PS: It's official, I've added "Obama" to my spell check.
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Permalink Reply by Albert Willis on -
My short answer: yes, there should be a gathering at the inauguration. When the president-elect said “this is our moment; this is our time”, he was talking to people like us.
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Permalink Reply by yung barack on -
yes we should gather at the inaguration, and even try to stnd as close to his car as possible, being like extra security.. This is going to be the biggest moment in history, and this is the time, and place for us to gather, and show the nation, not only can we come together as a people nonviolently, and we can lead the country.. So yes we should see the first black president get inaugurated, this is a relief as well as elevation for our people, during this pre mature recession were going through.. Lets gather and stand united for justice,freedom, and social and economical equality...
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Permalink Reply by Benetta M. Standly on -
HI, Malia:
Yes, we need to impact/infilitrate the President-Elect's agenda before he takes the oath. He has already mentioned "our failing schools" in numerous speeches throughout the campaign. Let's position ourselves as a resource for his admisntration -- we provide data, knowledge, organizers and success stories on the gorud of innovative ways of keeping children out of the school to prison pipeline. Secondly, this is a massive opportunity to build awareness about the criminalization of youth in the country. This is an awesome venue for public education.
Note: I moved and my email address has changed --bstandly@aclufl.org
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The Gathering’s Mission
The mission of The Gathering is to build an Intergenerational, movement, rooted in history, cultures and non-violent direct action to heal communities, build collective strength and generate an environment of hope and opportunity.
Civil rights and social justice organizations have come to understand that collective action on a national basis is required to stop child incarceration and challenge the immoral process which perpetuates an unjust justice system. These groups are working under extremely difficult circumstances and many of them with little or no resources. The Gathering is a national movement that creates a coordinated space to 1) fortify relationships between regional groups, 2) support local endeavors and 3) enhance the ongoing organizing of non-violent direct action training. Central to its mission is strengthening our moral environment.
- “a project of tides center” -
"The Gathering" is a project of Tides Center 501c3
Civil rights and social justice organizations have come to understand that collective action on a national basis is required to stop child incarceration and challenge the immoral process which perpetuates an unjust justice system. These groups are working under extremely difficult circumstances and many of them with little or no resources. The Gathering is a national movement that creates a coordinated space to 1) fortify relationships between regional groups, 2) support local endeavors and 3) enhance the ongoing organizing of non-violent direct action training. Central to its mission is strengthening our moral environment.
- “a project of tides center” -
"The Gathering" is a project of Tides Center 501c3
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