The Legendary Fannie Lou Hamer will be commemorated on October 2, 2004 in Ruleville, Mississippi. THE ROAR FOUNDATION, INC. will have its 5th Annual Fannie Lou Hamer Celebration at The Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden starting at 11:00 AM. During this year's celebration, Ruleville City Officials will join ROAR in a Ground Breaking Ceremony ($100,000 Grant approved) at The Hamer Gardens.
Mrs. Victoria Jackson Gray Adams (close friend of Hamer and Annie Devine) will be honored for her work along with Mrs. Devine and Hamer. Joining Mrs. Adams for this occasion will be her son, Dr. Rev. Cecil Gray, Minister Barbara Devine Russell (Anna Devine's daughter) and Vergie Hamer Faulkner (Fannie Lou's daughter) along with some of the other victims who were beaten in the infamous Winona (MS) Jail House Beating with Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer.
We will also celebrate the 40th Anniversary of The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP). Mrs. Adams was a founding member of the MFDP. Mr. Lawrence Guyot was Chairman of MFDP. Guyot, June E. Johnson, Annelle Ponder, Euvester Simpson and James West are some of the others who were beaten in jail with Fannie Lou Hamer. The actions taken after the MFDP 1964 challenge led to major changes in the National Democratic Party. Some of the delegates from the MFDP will join us.
We are inviting every one to come out and help us "Lift Up The Legacy" of Fannie Lou Hamer from her close friends and supporters such as Harry Bellfonte, Rev. Andrew Young (Eulogized Hamer) and Owen Brooks to those yet to discover her and all others in between. Seku "Chico" Neblitt will play a traditional African Drum Roll Call.
Hence, ROAR, Amzie Moore Estate and Freedom Tour 2004/Cleveland are sponsoring Cleveland's 4th Annual Amzie Moore/Fannie Lou Hamer Day at Amzie Moore Park just 10 miles West of Ruleville starting at 2:00 PM. We will unveil a "Granite Sign".
Moreover, Repaying Our Ancestors Respectfully (ROAR) newest initiative is the Amzie Moore/Fannie Lou Hamer National Heritage Consortium located at 1101 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in Cleveland, Mississippi via our newest partnership with United Family Life Center/United Baptist Church. Through our partnership with Delta State University, we will feature Dr. Maya Angelou as a continuation of our "Hamer Celebration" on Sunday, December 5, 2004. We are seeking ideas and suggestions for our Cultural Arts Programs and Community Related Public Policy Forums. Additionally, we are asking anyone who lived or worked in Mississippi in the 1960's with either Fannie Lou Hamer or Amzie Moore to contact us. WE WANT TO KNOW YOUR STORY!!!
Amzie Moore and Fannie Lou Hamer were two Trailblazers who were involved in many issues from Voter Registration to Human Rights to Socioeconomic Development. Fannie Lou Hamer was best known for her compelling testimonial in 1964 before the National Democratic Credentials Committee about how she and others were beaten in jail for trying to register to vote. Amzie recruited the likes of Bob Moses, Hollins Watkins, Fannie Lou Hamer and many others to assist him in his plight to get Blacks registered among other things.
Please, join us as we continue to "Lift The Legacy" of these two late great Civil Rights Warriors.
We will have events at Amzie Moore Park throughout the evening. Vending Booths are available. There will be live performances, food, games, prizes, voter registration and much more.
A special invitation goes out to all SNCCers to join us at the Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden on behalf of Ella Baker. It was Ella Baker's SNCC who is responsible for Fannie Lou Hamer getting involved in the movement. Amzie Moore invited them to come.
COME ON HOME, Y'ALL!
Contact:
Patricia M. Thompson
THE ROAR FOUNDATION, INC.
Phone: (662) 843-5870 or (662) 846-6814
Fax: (662) 843-6863
Email: theroarfoundation@yahoo.com
Web Address: www.fannielouhamer.org
Copyright © 2004
Last Modified: September 2, 2004.
Webspinner: webmaster@crmvet.org
(Labor donated)