Links to support the major Monument for DuSable, GoFundme https://gf.me/u/x99m75, and to sign the Petition http://chng.it/DLhPnQDfnv,
(Chicago, July 1, 2020):
Some fifty organizations, primarily of the African Diaspora, headed by Martin’s International Foundation President. Ephraim Martin will rally and march downtown Chicago this Saturday, July 4th starting at 12: 00 PM noon. The peaceful rally will reveal the road to end Systemic Racism, and call for city holiday, street and major monument for Chicago’s Founding Father, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, a Black Caribbean man from the country of Haiti.
Protesters will assemble, at the bust of DuSable at 401 North Michigan Avenue near Tribune Plaza. Marchers will walk seven blocks South on Michigan Avenue to Monroe Street, then one block East of Monroe to Columbus Drive at Grant Park. Protesters will hear from speakers, including elected representatives, addressing DuSable, Systemic Racism and Police Abuse. All participants/protesters are required to wear masks and practice social distancing protocols.
Among the associated organizations are DuSable Heritage Association, WVON 1690 AM Radio, Star Planet TV, The Caribbean Association of Midwest America, African Global Chamber of Commerce, The State of the African Diaspora, ChiCaribbean United, Haitian American Museum of Chicago (HAMOC), Team Jamaica, Chicago Join Hands/Taesue Entertainment, and others as shown on the attached/below.
Martin’s International and the other organizations will publicly propose the renaming of Lake Shore Drive or Columbus Drive to “DuSable Drive” during a July 4th Independence rally in the honor of the city’s first permanent resident and settler, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, a Black man from Haiti who founded Chicago in 1779. Both the Lake Shore Drive and Columbus Drive run north-south through the territory where DuSable first arrived and set-up a prosperous fur trading post and farm, which was later to become Chicago. However, all Chicagoans would be most happy if the full stretch of Lake Shore Drive from 5700 N. Hollywood to Marquette Drive and Jeffery Drive to the south would be named DuSable Drive.
(Watch promo videos for this Sat. July 4th https://youtu.be/rTNbEUledTk and https://youtu.be/bokq7XcycIE.)
Although it is well known that DuSable, a Black man from Haiti was the first settler to discover and set up a trading post in Chicago, by the virtue of his color and nationality, he has not been given full credit and recognition while at the same time a white man, John Kinzie, who ended up acquiring DuSable’s properties has been given more notoriety.
“There are massive monuments, major streets, holidays in honor of those who oppressed Blacks in America on display throughout the Chicagoland region. Meaningful public recognition for this outstanding Black man who established this great city must also be recognized without question!”
In early Chicago history, there have been some efforts to recognize DuSable. DuSable High School opened its doors in February of 1935. The late Mr. Leslie Benodin a Haitian businessman, who sponsored a three feet bust/statue, which was designed by Mr. Erik Blome an American-born designer. The Statue is located on Michigan Avenue Bridge, which we now call DuSable Bridge, where the protesters will gather before the march.
The event calls for Mayor Lightfoot and the entire city council to move swiftly, within the next three months to set aside a day in the year for a “city holiday” in observance of DuSable, and to rename Lake Shore Drive or Columbus Drive which runs through the land discovered by DuSable as the Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Drive.
Organizers also want the mayor and city council to support a 25 feet Monument of DuSable to be installed by 2021. Corporations will be able to support the project through sponsorships and donations.
Since 1982, using reggae music as an art form and a vehicle of expression of the voiceless peoples of the world, for an end to apartheid, the freedom of Nelson Mandela and for freedom and democracy in the world, to the fight to end systemic racism. The former photojournalist and activist, Ephraim Martin – Martin’s International Foundation has been working in the forefront of the movement for more than 38 years to bring forth meaningful and equitable change to the black and other minority communities.
Last year, July 4th weekend 2019 Ephraim Martin – Martin’s International President, dedicated the 27th annual African/Caribbean International Festival of Life (IFOL) in Chicago to mark the 400 years of Africans arrival in America during the year of 1619 and for recognition of Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable’s 274th birthday.
To support the major Monument for DuSable, please click this GoFundMe page https://gf.me/u/x99m75 , also sign the petition http://chng.it/DLhPnQDfnv to support the Holiday and Street for the Founding Father.
For more information to become a Monument and/or other sponsor, contact: Martin’s International Foundation at www.martinsinternational.com, email howaboutthatblog@gmail.com, or call 877/973-4423.
#martinsinternational, #duSableheritageAssociation, #dusableholiday, #dusablestatue, @duSablemonument, #howaboutthat.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on all social media.
For press inquiries contact Valerie Hill at (312) 513-4695 or Vhill17211@yahoo.com
—
Ephraim MartinPresident
Martin’s International
1325 South Wabash #307, Chicago, Il 60605
www.martinsinternational.com
www.facebook.com/festoflife, @IRAWMA
www.facebook.com/chicagomusicawards, @jsvfest
Phone 312/427-0266 Fax 312/427-0268
1 Comment
by Tanisha Williams
It was a great success! DuSable deserves a City Holiday, a Street, and, yes, a major Monument.
Comments are closed.