Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 21 October 2010 — Page 33

The Muncie Times • October 21, 2010 • Page 33

News Briefs

continued from page 32 Freedom to Marry, the National Black Justice Coalition, the nation’s only African-American gay civil rights organization, said: “The ‘homosexuality is a choice’ rhetoric is also preached by A frican American ministers in their churches. Arguing that as a result gays are not entitled to certain rights and protections in the same way AfricanAmericans are, creates a wedge between AfricanAmerican and gay communities.” To some, it is a wedge unlikely to disappear. During a Freedom Weekend panel discussion earlier this year in Detroit, Anthony Samad, a scholar, social activist, and columnist, told supporters of gays and lesbians: “... What you ’ re asking African Americans to do is go against their belief system, which is the church. Most of them believe a marriage should be between a man and a woman. You’re asking them to choose between your cause and their church.” Thousands rally at D.C. rally calling for jobs, fixing ailing economy Hundreds of thousands of people from across the country converged upon Washington, D.C., to participate in a rally to let the U.S. Congress and the White House know that job creation and fixing the ailing economy should be

the number one priority. The One Nation Working Together rally at the Lincoln Memorial was designed to counter the tea party movement’s rally in Washington in August and to caution Americans that a Republican-controlled Congress would turn back the hands of time. Members from various progressive organizations and unions traveled by bus, train, airplane, and on foot to let national leaders in Washington know that political squabbling will do little to heal people's economic pain in the aftermath of one of the longest recessions since World War II. "I came here to support the cause of the march," Derrick Griffin, 43, said. "Our leaders here in D.C. should be about saving jobs and trying to put forth the change we voted for in 2008," the Fort Washington, Md., resident said. Event organizers estimated that 175,000 people gathered on a slightly breezy, but clear day to show a united front. They came from all walks of life and economic circumstances. Participants included the employed and unemployed, union workers and environmentalists, civil rights leaders and civic leaders, war veterans and peace activists, student leaders and those from the gay, lesbian, transgender community. Speakers at the event included the Rev. Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow/PUSH Colition,

National Urban League President Marc Morial, NAACP President Benjamin Jealous, the Rev. A1 Sharpton of the National Action Network, all of whom stressed the need for jobs and emphasized the urgency of the situation. The crowd congregated on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and fanned out onto the grounds of the Washington Monument. There were throngs of people on both sides of the Reflecting Pool, as well as those who hunkered down around the World War II Memorial. Political and civil rights organizations set up tables that displayed their wares and various organizations passed out literature. Throughout the four-hour event, organizations joined in by marching around the grounds for their respective causes while others listened to the speakers. Most of the marchers donned colored T-shirts that announced their cause or organization and sat together throughout the event. For example, members of the Communications Workers of America donned red Tshirts with white printed messages on the front and back of their shirts. The group congregated on the south side of the Reflecting Pool. The marchers may have been from different parts of the country, but the common thread among all who attended focused on their financial pain and the

lack of jobs. Jeffrey Dunkin, 53, traveled from New York City to tend the march and to show support for fellow New Yorkers who ar suffering in his home town. "I want to help people that have lost their jobs," said Dunkin, who lives in Brooklyn. "Things do not look good in New York City and I know a lot of unemployed people. I hope this march will help secure more jobs for the unemployed because things are not looking good." Deborah Maxwell, president of the New Hanover County, N.C. NAACP chapter, said she and about 20 others from her branch, primarily residents of Wilmington, traveled to Washington to call for more action from the federal government. "It is important that we fight for jobs, justice, and education and that is why we decided to come from Wilmington to [Washington, D.C.]," said Maxwell, 54, and a resident of Wilmington. "Some of us have come at a sacrifice because [we] are still dealing with issues regarding the recent floods. Still, others are in distress because of job loss," said Maxwell, adding two of her members recently lost their jobs working for the local government and their job prospects are grim despite Wilmington's strong tourism economy. Maxwell isn’t alone. Individuals from other states also feel the sting of

the recession. Harrisburg’s situation mirrors that of the District of Columbia in terms of firing teachers and school personnel. Harrisburg is the capital of the Keystone State and its 47,472 population is 54 percent Black. The Harrisburg school district consists of 8,401 students and approximately 1,200 faculty and staff. Trea Buck, a high school science teacher in Harrisburg, said that 57 teachers have been laid off since the 2010-2011 school year started. "I am here for my fallen brethren. Our school system has had to undergo a lot of cuts," said Buck, 39, and a resident of Harrisburg. "Teachers who were emergency certified were cut and many of us will have to be furloughed at some point. Plus, our school system administration was cut in half," he said. Buck joined a large group of National Education Association members at the Reflecting Pool during the rally. Buck said that she traveled to Washington to advocate not only for her fellow colleagues, but for the next generation. "What are we going to do for the children," she said, "How are these cuts going to support our future?" A weak economy and a struggling school system have plagued Detroit for years. Members of the Metro Detroit Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta traveled to the continued on page 34