Renowned poet, author and activist Sonia Sanchez, and former United Nations Weapons inspector, outspoken author and Bush administration critic Scott Ritter, will help headline the rostrum of speakers at this year's third annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice and Peace National Workshop and Rally sponsored by Black Voices for Peace (BVFP), the UDC Department of Criminal Justice, and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). The event's activities will be held on the National Martin Luther King Birthday Holiday, Monday, January 19 from 9:30 am until 6:30 pm at UDC located at Van Ness Street and Connecticut Ave. NW in Washington, DC.
The two noted personalities will join BVFP co-chair and founder Damu Smith, BVFP co-chair and Spirit of Truth Center founder Rev. Dr. Carolyn Boyd, and Rev. Graylin Hagler, a national BVFP spokesperson and senior pastor of Plymouth Congregational church in Washington, DC., who along with other speakers will also address the hundreds of attendees expected at the event. Last year nearly 3000 persons were in attendance from the District of Columbia and ten states.
The event will include workshops and a national rally. The AFTERNOON NATIONAL RALLY FEATURING SONIA SANCHEZ AND SCOTT RITTER AND INCLUDING A MUSICAL AND CULTURAL TRIBUTE FEATURING YOUTH AND ELDERS, will be held in the afternoon from 3:30 until 6:30 PM. in UDC's MAIN AUDITORIUM.
There will be an INTRODUCTORY SESSION from 9:30 until 10:15 am followed by TWO SET'S OF MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON Workshops to be held from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm and 1:15 until 3:15 pm. Workshop leaders, trainers and speakers from around the nation will be a part of this event. There will also be VOTER REGISTRATION and an INFORMATION MARKET PLACE featuring books and information on various issues. LOW COST LUNCH AND DINNER WILL BE AVAILABLE. ADMISSION IS FREE AND YOUTH AND CHILDREN SHOULD ATTEND.
Among the performers paying tribute to Dr. King's legacy of love, justice, peace and racial equality will be youth and elder spoken word, gospel, spiritual, positive message and hip hop artists. These include Image Band (formerly New Birth), the McHenry Elementary School Step Team and Rainbow Warriors Band and Show; from South Africa, Bokamosa; and Shambhala.
The National Rally, Workshops and Training's will focus on current issues facing neighborhoods, the nation, and the global community and how to apply King's organizing and philosophical legacy to address them. These include the Bush administration's war in and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan; U.S. policy in support of Israel's occupation of Palestine; the impact of U.S. foreign policy on peace and stability in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America; challenging racism and defending against the assault on civil liberties, civil rights and affirmative action; organizing for economic rights and essential human needs in the face of massive cut backs in social spending and the steep rise in military expenditures; organizing for media accountability; empowering youth for leadership and organizing in the face of violence and other challenges; organizing for positive messages and images in popular culture to advance love, unity, justice and peace; and organizing against police brutality and the prison industrial complex.
Beginning Wednesday, January 7 you may visit the BVFP website and receive updated information on speakers and workshops: www.bvfp.org.
CALL THE BVFP 24 HOUR HOTLINE AT 202-232-5690 FOR 90 SECOND PRERECORDED UPDATES.
IN WASHINGTON, DC LISTEN TO WPFW 89.3 FM AND WOL 1450 AM FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT AND OTHER UPCOMING MLK JR. OBSERVANCES THROUGHOUT THE NATION. WPFW IS ALSO BROADCAST AT WWW.BVFP.ORG (click on to "Listen to Broadcast")
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