PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT PERSON: Patricia M. Thompson
ROAR Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 1884
Cleveland, MS 38732
(662) 641-0758
roar@fannielouhamer.info
www.fannielouhamer.info
THE ROAR FOUNDATION LAUNCHES protest against City of Cleveland, Cleveland-Bolivar County Chambers of Commerce and Mr. Jimmy Williams (Owner of The Country Platter) for collaboration to under-mind ROAR and steal African American History: African American Community encouraged to take a dose of "Hush-Mouth"
Effective immediate, THE ROAR FOUNDATION has launched a protest against The City of Cleveland, Cleveland-Bolivar County Chambers of Commerce and Mr. Jimmy Williams (Owner of Country Platter) for collaborating to under-mind ROAR'S efforts for a Civil Rights Museum.
Mr. Jimmy Williams, recently, joined the team who plans to purchase the house of Mr. Amzie Moore where many meetings took place in the 1960's during the Civil Rights Movement. When we petitioned the City to name Amzie Moore Park in 2001, Mr. Williams, loudly, protested against it and called Mayor Martin King's office stating all the reasons why the park should not be named after Amzie.
Moreover, when ROAR reached a partnership agreement with United Family Life Center to house the Amzie Moore/Fannie Lou Hamer National Heritage Center & Civil Rights Museum, Mr. Williams stated that "Nothing wasn't going to change at the Life Center unless he says so. He began making massive plans to destroy the partnership and three months later it was realized that a new location and partnership was needed.
We then began negotiating with the owner of Amzie's house as we decided to operate the Amzie Moore Heritage Center from there and the Fannie Lou Hamer National Civil Rights Museum in Ruleville, MS. Of course, Mr. Williams decided to join forces to purchase the house behind our back. Why are they interested in doing the same type of project in Amzie's house that was opposed at The Life Center?
What is it that the City of Cleveland wants to do with Amzie Moore's house? What are the plans of the Chambers of Commerce with Amzie's house? Jimmy Williams and a "selected panel" hand-picked by the Chamber of Commerce is not a fair representation of the African- American Community. Mr. Jimmy Williams, has no respect for and even less knowledge of the significance of the sacrifices of Amzie Moore and others and represents less than 10% of the views shared within the African American community.
Moreover, In March of 2005, ROAR asked the City of Cleveland to make a donation toward the purchase of the granite sign for Amzie Moore Park. The City of Cleveland s "official position" when asked to make a contribution toward the $7000 1500-pound granite sign was "that project is better served if funded by the community and private donations", however, Amzie Moore's house is private property.
Neither the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chambers of Commerce nor City of Cleveland have made donations on our sign for Amzie Moore Park which is one of the most visited parks in Bolivar County. Yet, they claim to want Amzie's house as part of their Civil Rights Trail to promote Tourism.
Additionally, we are protesting the theft of our "Oral History" (a project by Cheryl Line: Chambers of Commerce) to be archived at Delta State University. If our history is given away now, what will we have for our museum? Consequently, ROAR is requesting African-Americans with Civil Rights history, specifically, from the Mississippi Delta to take a dose of HUSH-MOUTH. Meeting after meeting, the statement is made "there is no hidden agenda", thus, I must agree! It is, blatantly, clear that exploitation for financial gain is the order of the day.
Hence, we are asking Cleveland citizens to call your City Alderman at (662) 846-1471 and tell them where you would like to see your tax dollars spent: Amzie Moore Park (City Park) or Amzie Moore's House (private property) working against ROAR and Amzie Moore Estate.
Meanwhile, ROAR'S 5th Annual Amzie Moore/Fannie Lou Hamer Day at Amzie Moore Park in Cleveland, MS is Saturday, October 1, 2005 starting at 2:00 PM.
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CONTACT PERSON: Patricia M. Thompson
ROAR Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 1884
Cleveland, MS 38732
(662) 641-0758
roar@fannielouhamer.info
www.fannielouhamer.info
Copyright © 2005
Last Modified: May 3, 2005.
Webspinner: webmaster@crmvet.org
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