Greetings All:
In a dramatic and historic move, organizers and supporters of the June 23rd Black Males Solidarity Day decided to take their message to heart and revise the route for the upcoming mobilization. In the long history of Freedom Corner, no demonstration has ever originated downtown and ended in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District Community. On Saturday, June 23rd, just that will happen. Organizers believe strongly that while public policy directions are of vital importance, the ultimate responsibility for addressing the challenges faced by the greater African American community must be shouldered by us. Our dramatic march from downtown Up to the Hill symbolically reflects the serious nature of the charge we have taken on. Residents of the Hill District are currently in the midst of a struggle to address a broad range of issues that will dramatically affect the community for decades. That struggle is representative of the many struggles being waged in neighborhoods throughout the area. Black men and boys from across the County will assemble downtown, and in a dramatic expression of solidarity with the Hill’s mostly African American residents, march to Freedom Corner at Center and Center and Crawford St.

Please pass this information along, and stay tuned for additional updates as the program takes place. Determined to do more than simply march, the BMSD organizers are working to develop a program to help ensure that the June 23rd mobilization helps to lay a foundation to strengthen and expand the work already being carried out in our neighborhoods across the county.

What You Can Do To Build the Mobilization
· Share the Call to Action attached here for details on the broad objectives of this mobilization. Details regarding the route will be revised shortly, but the thrust remains unchanged.
· Reply to this message by indicating your endorsement of the mobilization. Your name and/or organization will be listed in an upcoming published list of endorsers.
· Spread the word to your network encouraging them to do the same and to come out on the 23rd at 10:00 a.m. at the City County Building.
· If you belong to any organization that is addressing the broad range of issues outlined in our Call to Action, prepare a banner identifying your organization to march behind on June 23rd.

If you have already responded, thank you. Now, help to build support. The coordinating committee will be meeting throughout the coming weeks to refine the focus and program for this effort. If you are interested in being part of that effort, please let me know so that we get the information to you regarding meetings and/or assignments. We also want to do whatever we can to improve communication around this mobilization, so keep the discussions going, online and off.

First, we want to thank all the Brothers who have come forward to endorse this action. Throughout the past several weeks, we have been met with enthusiasm and growing interest in this action. Follow the link below and read Hop Kendrick’s column in this week’s New Pittsburgh Courier calling on brothers everywhere to come out next Saturday.

http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/articlelive/articles/37989/1/To-Tell-The-TruthSolidarity-among-Black-men/Page1.html

We had to cut off the list of endorsers for publication in this week’s New Pittsburgh Courier, but are continuing to collect names of brothers and organizations that would like to be noted as endorsing the mobilization. So, anyone who would like to add their name to the list below should contact us. The final list of endorsers will be available next Saturday at the mobilization. Meanwhile, you can help build the mobilization by doing the following:

· Share the Call to Action and personally recruit three brothers to attend next week with you.

· Encourage those who have not done so to sign on as endorsers.

· If you belong to any organization that is addressing the broad range of issues outlined in our Call to Action, prepare a banner identifying your organization to march behind on June 23rd.

Look for our full page ad this week in the New Pittsburgh Courier. With over 200 endorsers to date, we are encouraged by your response to The Call to Action. Together, we hope to spark the beginning of a recommitment to taking control and responsibility for our community. Through our personal commitments and the commitment of the organizations that work on our behalf, we can and must make a difference. Come stand with us on June 23rd.

We are appealing to all Black males, in western Pennsylvania, to gather in the spirit of the Million Man March, at the City-County Building on Grant Street, Saturday June 23rd at 10 AM sharp.

From that point we will march to Freedom Corner (Centre Ave and Crawford) for a rally at 11:30 AM.

Black Men Solidarity Day Mobilization Endorsements

(*Organizations listed for identification purposes only.)

Abdul “Dusty” Wali
Adam Golden
Ahmad Sandidge, Sandidge Photography Group
Al J. Smith, Jr.
Albert Currie, President, Black Men Rising
Alex Mathews, former President Pittsburgh School Board
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Alvin Felton
Anthony B. Mitchell, Ph.D.
Anthony Scott, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Arnold Perry, Silver Lake Community Improvement Association
Ashley G. Woodson, BROTHA ASH PRODUCTIONS
Bagumba Lowery, Harambee Ujima Black Arts Festival
Barry S. McCrary Ed.D, Maleness to Manhood
Bill Lawson
Bill Robinson, member Allegheny County Council
Billy Jackson, Community Media
Black Political Empowerment Project
Black Voices for Peace
Bob Jones, Garfield Youth Sports
Bomani Howze
Brandon Jennings, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
C. Richard Gillcrese, Nationtime Video
Calvin Williams
Carl Redwood, One Hill Community Benefits Agreement Coalition
Carlton Haywood, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Carlton Watson, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Chad Washington
Chris Howard, Healthy Black Family Project
Claude C. Council, Esq.
Clifford H. Simon, Wilkinsburg High School Athletic Department
Community Empowerment Association
Cornell Jones
DaMon R. Macklin, Former Candidate, City of Pittsburgh Controller
Daniel Lavelle, Lavelle Real Estate, Asst. Scout Master Troop 93
Darnell “Werm” Grisham, Werm’s Eye View Productions
David E. Reese, Wilkinsburg Baseball
Delbert E. Smith, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Dewayne Chandler
Dewitt Walton, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc, A. Phillip Randolph Institute
Don Brown
Don Patterson, Homewood Renaissance
Donald Jones
Douglas L. Ransaw, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Dr. James Stewart
Dr. Thomas B. Meade
E. Richard Phipps, Western Pa. Black Political Assembly
Elder Milton Raiford, Petra Ministries
Elijah Bilal Muhammad
Eric S. Smith, Former Candidate, Council District Nine
Evan Frazier, Hill House Association
Evans Moore, Jr.
Fred Crawford, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Fred Killings
Fred Logan
Garry Bankston
Gene Connor
George E. Fitch, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
George Edward Ware
George Welch
Greg Spencer, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Hassan Sharif, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Herman Jones, Ph.D., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Homewood Brushton Roundtable
Hon. Joseph Preston Jr.; Pa. House of Representatives
Iota Phi Foundation
Jack B Day
Jacky Allen
James A. Stewart III
James Clingman, Blackonomics
James Owens, VIP Entertainment
Jeff McKinney, President, Allegheny County Midget Football League
Jesse Jenkins, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Jibril Abdul-Hafeez, Mohammed’s Initiatives
Jim McDonald
John Ayers, President, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
John Black
John Brewer, author, “African Americans In Pittsburgh”, “Pittsburgh Jazz”
John Wallace, Jr.
Jonathan T. Backers, Alliance of Male Empowerment Networks
Jonathan Wayne Adams
K. Mensah Wali, Kente Arts Alliance
Kaka Bruce Barnes
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Keith Clark, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Keith Murphy, Bethany House and the Northview Heights/St. Clair Village Men
Kenneth Minefield, Basileus, Omega Psi Phi
Kerry Muckler, East Liberty Family Support Center
Kevin Amos
Khalid Raheem
Lamont Chatman
Larry Mitchell
Lee Hayes
Leonard Dunston, President Emeritus, National Association of Black Social Workers
Les Biglow, Wa-Waxx Productions
Louis Hop Kendrick, To Tell The Truth
Lutfee Abdul-Waalee
Luther J. Sewell, LJS Publishing
Majestic Lane
Major A. Mason III, Ph.D., Informason and Associates
Malik G. Bankston, The Kingsley Association
Marcus Duck
Mark Brentley, member Pittsburgh School Board
Mark C. Southers
Mark Green
Martin Andrews, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Martin Hampton, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Masjid Al Mumin
Maurice Redwood, Kingsley Youth Leadership Program
Menachem Y. Mackey
Michael Frazier, Carpenter, L.U. 142
Michael Harrel, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Michael Turner, One Hood
Mike White, Mike’s Lawn Care
Miles Adams Sr.
Millions More Movement
Minister Jasiri X, local representative of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan
Monte Stephens Sr., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Muhammad’s Mosque No. 22
Nate “Franchise” Brown
Nation of Gods and Earths
New Africa Students Research & Development Group
Odell Richardson
Olushegun Amen Ra
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Pan Hellenic Council of Pittsburgh, Inc
Paradise Gray, One Hood
Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network
Prentess Washington
Ralph Proctor, Introspec
Randall Taylor, member Pittsburgh School Board
Randy Brockington, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Rashid Sundiata
Rev Thomas Smith, Co-Convener, Western Pa Black Political Assembly
Rev. Eugene J. Blackwell, Bethesda Presbyterian Church
Rev. Hubert Hutcherson, Shiloh Community Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. John C Welch, VP Dean of Students Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, President, Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN)
Rev. Miles S. Adams Jr., Asst Pastor, Crossroads Church Staten Island NY
Rev. Vaughn Tarrant
Reverend Eugene Downing, Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church
Richard B. Edmunds, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Richard G. Portis
Richard Lewis
Richard M. Adams Sr.
Richard M. Carrington
Rick Adams, Institute of the Black World 21st Century
Rick Williams
Robert A. Edison, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Robert Benson, Homewood Church of God
Robert Poston, Advisor, Allegheny County Midget Football League
Roger Kingdom, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Roland Ford, Accelerators Running Club
Ron Daniels, Institute of the Black World 21st Century
Ron Hunt, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Ron O. Jones, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Ron Scott, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Sage Berlin, Mogul Mind LLC/Berlin International
Sala Udin, former City Councilman
Samuel Thompson Jr.
Sean Mitchell
Sharif Zyhier
Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
Spergeon Carswell
T. Rashad Byrdsong
Teamneva.com
The National Council for Urban Peace and Justice
Thom Sumpter, member Pittsburgh School Board
Tim Stevens
Tino Swope, Pittsburgh Gentleman MC
Tom Lindsay
Turhan Shabazz, Poet
Uhuru Hotep, Ph.D., Kwame Ture Leadership Institute
Universal Street Academy Community Development Association
Voices Against Violence
Wilbert A. Young, former Mayor Wilkinsburg Pa.
William Baker, Baker’s Dairy
Windgap-Chartiers Athletic Association
Yusef Ali, President, Muslim Council of Pittsburgh, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Black Male Solidarity Day (BMSD): Calling All Black Males in the Pittsburgh, PA area.

Saturday June 23, 2007 10 AM at The City/County Building

THE SITUATION

Black males are under attack from all quarters in this society.

“At the end of 2001, 16.5 percent of the Black male population had been to prison compared to 7.7% of Hispanic and 2.7% of white men.” State of Black America- National Urban League New Pittsburgh Courier- April18-24, 2007

“Black males between 15 and 34 are nine times more likely to be killed by firearms and nearly eight times as likely to suffer from AIDS. State of Black America- National Urban League report 2007

“There were 95 homicides total in 2006—75 took the lives of Black people, 70 of those were Black men” Under Attack by Us! New Pittsburgh Courier- April 4-10, 2007

The unemployment for black men was 9.5 percent, compared to 4 percent for white men,” “Black men earned less than 75 percent of what white men did $34,443 vs. $46,807.” State of Black America- National Urban League report 2007

“Black males 14 to 24 years old: were implicated in a quarter of the nation's homicides and accounted for 15 percent of the homicide victims in 2002, although they were just 1.2 percent of the population.” Bureau of Justice Statistics-

“All of us must commit to be more than spectators to the political and social upheavals taking place around us. Thought-provoking voices must challenge the policies and practices of the old, tired stewards.” Editorial New Pittsburgh Courier May 2-6, 2007

THE CALL

It is time for all Black men to “man up” and move collectively to confront the ills that plague our families and communities. It is time for all Black men to embrace the ‘Brother to Brother Movement’ (B2BM) for mental liberation, self-determination and building a collective consensus. This is the purpose of the call for a Black Male Solidarity Day (BMSD)

We are appealing to all Black males, in western Pennsylvania, to gather in the spirit of the Million Man March,

at the City-County Building on Grant Street (downtown Pittsburgh) on Saturday June 23rd at 10 AM sharp. From that point we will march to Freedom Corner, (Centre and Crawford, above the Civic Arena - Hill District) for a rally at 11:30 AM. The general goals of the Black Male Solidarity Day are;

1. Peace in the ‘Hood- Stop the Violence! 2. Unity and solidarity among Black men to bring about positive change. 3. Take a stand and use the power of unity to address the issues facing our communities. 4. Complete economic and social development of our communities. The assembled men will be challenged to become part of the Brother to Brother (B2BM) Movement to join existing organizations or start organizations that will address how to counteract destructive behavior, strengthen Black male networks, increase public and neighborhood safety, build Black institutions, promote Black self development and investment, inter denominational religious collaboration and demand independent Black political leadership.

Specifically the men who gather June 23rd will be challenged to stand-up!

Participants in the BMSD will be given very specific practical ideas that Black men can individually and collectively do to improve the quality of life for their families and communities. These action items will form the nuclei of a Black Agenda for the Spiritual, Political, Social and Economic development of our people.

Central to the Black Male Day of Solidarity is the revival of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Poor Peoples’ Campaign that called for a Marshal Plan like "economic bill of rights, an anti-poverty package that included a commitment to full employment, a guaranteed annual income measure, increased construction of low-income housing, quality education for all Americans, decent medical and dental plans and abolition of discrimination against any group in the criminal justice system.”

The BMSD Black Agenda will form the basis for a collective assault on destructive Black male behavior and the public and private sectors that have failed to address the critical and very real needs of Black males and the entire Black community.

In August the Brother to Brother Movement (B2BM) will join with the entire Black family to have a mass Black Family gathering in August. At the gathering in August the B2BM will report on its progress to date and invite the entire community to join in a united movement for positive change.

Contact 412.371.3689 or brother2brother@yahoo.com if you or your organizations wish to join the Movement! Participating organizations are encouraged to bring their organizational banner and march as a delegation.

VISIT BROTHER TO BROTHER @ www.myspace.com/brother2brotherpgh