Los Angeles and New York City Councils Pass Rosa Parks Anti-War, Social Justice Resolutions
Dec. 1, 2005 Anniversary Actions on Wall Street and Los Angeles Federal Building!!
Where: Downtown Federal Building - 300 N. Los Angeles St.
When: Thursday, Dec. 1, 12 noon
Contact: John Parker (323) 936-7266 - office, (323) 899-2003 - cellToday, November 30, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously declared December 1, 2005 Rosa Parks Action Day on the eve of the December 1 noon time rally at the downtown Federal Building. The anti-war, social justice resolution was introduced by John Parker, West Coast Coordinator of the International Action Center. In Council chambers, Parker called for freeing Stanley "Tookie" Williams from California death row and self determination for Katrina survivors. In addition, the New York City Council today passed a resolution calling on schools and workplaces to either close or allow workers or students to participate in the National Day of Absence Against Poverty, Racism and War.
Los Angeles workers and community representatives will gather at the Downtown Federal Building, 300 N. Los Angeles St. at noon on Dec. 1, 2005.
The local event is co-sponsored by Robert Turner, International Teamsters Representative, Teamsters Black Caucus; Rabbi Steven Jacobs, Temple Koltikvah; Kelly Hayes-Raitt, Social justice/anti-war activist, State Assembly Candidate; John Parker, International Action Center; Chito Quijano, BAYAN USA; and Laurence Reyes, Puerto Rican Alliance.
Organizers are calling on all working people, students and unemployed to skip school and work and join the rally and march at the federal building - and, thus, help rekindle the spark created by Rosa Parks. A spark that built a movement to end Katrina-like injustice and make the demand that U.S. troops be brought home IMMEDIATELY.
Tell LA City Council - 'Honor Rosa Parks'!
6 Major Cities Passed City Council Resolutions Honoring Rosa Parks' ...
National Day of Absence Against Racism, Poverty and War
Demand City Council & Mayor Make Every Dec. 1 A Day in Los Angeles to Honor Rosa Parks
Rally Thursday, Dec. 1st, 2005, 12 Noon at Downtown Federal Building in Los Angeles
Rosa Parks http://www.iacenterla.org
The City Council of Los Angeles has received a resolution that was passed in Cleveland, Baltimore, Boston, Oakland, Detroit and New York City. Those Councils recognized the absolute necessity of having a day to commemorate the woman most noted for providing a spark for the Civil Rights movement. And, that movement helped bring to life the anti-Vietnam war struggle here.
We all know the catastrophic direction set by our government and hastened by the Bush Administration. This is the direction of war, racism and poverty underlined by the crisis in New Orleans and the remaining Gulf states, which is so closely linked to the Iraq war.
Rosa Parks fought to change the government's direction away from racism and war. She and the women around her helped create a great movement that needs to be sparked once again. Having a day to commemorate this great symbol of resistance and strength with the demand that working people and students be allowed to participate during school and business hours is a most necessary part of building a strong, united, anti-racist, multi-national movement here in Los Angeles against war, poverty and racism.
Please join the campaign to force the LA City Council to introduce and pass the resolution honoring Rosa Parks before December 1st. We will be holding a rally and possible march to City Hall on that day.
To contact the City Council and urge them to vote on Tuesday or Wednesday to pass this resolution (below). Please call:
City Council Members:
Tom LaBonge: (213) 473-7004
Dennis Zine: (213) 473-7003
Wendy Greuel: (213) 473-7002
Ed Reyes Contact: (213) 473-7001
Tony Cardenas: (213) 473-7006
Alex Padilla: (213) 473-7007
Bernard Parks: 213-473-7008 (Phone)
Herb Wesson: (213)-473-7010
Jack Weiss: (213) 473-7005
Jan Perry: (213)-473-7009
Janice Hahn: (213)-473-7015
Eric Garcetti (213)-473-7013Tell them: "No business as usual" - We need a strong, united movement.
Dear Council member,
Please consider introducing and passing the following resolution in honor of the Late Civil Rights pioneer, Mrs. Rosa Parks. December 1st, marks the 50th anniversary of her arrest for refusing to give her seat to a white passenger during the dehumanizing segregation policies of the Jim Crow south.
We call on you to join with the City Councils of Oakland, Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit and New York, who, in unity with the African American, Latino, Haitian, African, Asian, Native American and other communities, have passed a resolution that "encourages all businesses in their respective cities, both public and private to either close on Dec 1, 2005 or allow the many workers and students in the city who will want to attend the Rosa Parks commemoration events taking place during normal business hours, to take the day off, or leave work and school early with impunity."
Truly Mrs. Parks in her uncompromising stand for human dignity and justice has inspired all citizens and opened a new era of progress and civil responsibility in this country and throughout the world. It is because of her courage and the symbol she represents in defying the worst in American history, we implore you to declare on December 1, 2005 the closing of all municipal departments and schools in honor of Rosa Parks Human Right Day.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Steven Jacobs - Temple Koltikvah, Los Angeles
John Parker - Los Angeles, International Action Center
Rev. Meri Ka Rah Byrd, KRST Unity Center for African Spirituality, Los
Angeles
Charles Barron, NYC Council
Chuck Turner, Boston City Council
Minister Don Muhammad, Nation of Islam Mosque No. 11
Chris Silvera, President Teamsters National Black Caucus
Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry, House of the Lords Church
The Rosa Parks Anniversary National Day of Absence Against Poverty,
Racism and War was initiated by over 1000 groups and leaders including:
Million Worker March Movement
Troops Out Now Coalition
Saladin Muhammed, Black Workers for Justice
Chris Silver, Pres. Teamsters National Black Caucus
Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice
Brenda Stokely, former Pres. AFSCME 1707 co-convenor NYCLAW
Baltimore NAACP
Ramsey Clark
Rev. Herbert Daughtery, House of the Lords Church
Rev. Dr. Kwame O. Abayomi
Trent Willis, Pres. ILWU Lo. 10
Charles Barron, NYC Council
Guyanese-American Workers United
Chuck Turner, Boston City Council
Minister Don Muhammad, NOI Mosque No 11
Harlem Tenants Council
Consuela Lee, Montgomery Bus Boycott Participant & Jazz Musician &
Composer
East Bay Homeless Union, Oakland
Artists & Activists United for Peace
Louisiana Peace Action Community
So. Jersey Coalition for Peace & Justice
NE Ohio Antiwar Coalition
NY Committee to Free the Cuban 5
United American Indians of New England
Queers for Peace & Justice
FIST
Steven Funk, GI resister
Elena Everett, Chair NC Green Party
Steve Gillis, Pres., USWA Lo. 8751 Boston School Bus Drivers
Father Luis Barrios
MLK Jr. Bolivarian Circle
Mumia Abu Jamal
Abayomi Azikiwe, Editor Pan-African News Wire
Al-Awda
Orlean Area Coalition for Peace & Justice
So.Mississippi United for Peace
BAYAN
Virginia Anti-War Network
Episcopal Peace Fellowship
Puerto Rican Alliance of Los Angeles
Fanmi Lavalas
Asia Pacific Action
Haiti Support Network
High County Peace & Justice
Minneapolis Anti-war Committee
Arab American Civic Organization
New College Alliance for Peace
Eugene Craig, Steward SEIU Lo. 715 San Jose
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