WHEREAS:

The Million Man March was a holy day of atonement and reconciliation for and by black men in the United States of America who did march in Washington, D.C. on Monday, October 16, 1995 to convey to the world a vastly different picture of the black male, and to publicly proclaim to the global community that the black man is prepared and moving forward to unify our families and build our communities; and

WHEREAS:

Massive numbers of black men from around the African Diaspora (United States, the African continent, the Caribbean, Korea, South America, and England, etc.) attended the march in excess of a million marchers; and

WHEREAS:

The Million Man March was supported by mothers, daughters, fathers and sons who could not physically attend, however, conducted fund raisers, conferences, rallies, demonstration prayer vigils in their hometowns around the world; and

WHEREAS:

The Million Man March encouraged black men in the U.S. to take a greater responsibility and play a greater role in caring for and uplifting the status of the black family; and

WHEREAS:

The Million Man March called for at least one million black men to pledge their commitment as sustainers and providers for the black family and community; and

WHEREAS:

The march recognized the needs and rights of black workers, in organized labor as well as unorganized labor; and

WHEREAS:

March leaders urged black men to accept the responsibility of oneself to become internalized to: say no to drugs, take care of one's children, help to improve one's community, adopt a child who needs to be cared for work to end self-destruction and black on black crime; and

WHEREAS:

The participants in the Million Man March exhibited camaraderie, respectfulness, atonement, unity and a sense of peace and brotherhood that permeated the crowd; and

WHEREAS:

The Million Man March represented overwhelming support for statehood for the citizens of the District of Columbia and the right for self determination by all Americans; and

WHEREAS:

October 16, 1995, will be forever remembered as the day African- American men from around the world came together in Washington, D.C., in numbers that exceeded one million strong, to proclaim their right to do for self, family, community, and race; and develop economics necessary to make ourselves, families, communities, and race strong, independent and free from control and domination by others that do not have our economic interest at heart; and

WHEREAS:

The Million Man March stimulated good will, hope and a sense of unity among the African American men, elderly, poor, and children and it also developed a sense of importance to one's self, one's family, to one's community, and to one's ethnic connection. Therefore it became important that October 16th be commemorated and be in the minds and hearts of all people that seek freedom and justice for all mankind.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That this AFSCME International convention goes on record as supporting the above principles of the Million Man March and the concept of empowerment in the African-American community.

SUBMITTED BY:

Charles Hicks, President and Delegate
Local 1808, Council 20
Washington, D.C.