POSTED BY: THEMUSLIMSTREET
Art Mobley-Contributing Journalist
The Darfur 23 (A group of Black American Educators, Journalist and Business people who travel to Darfur, in response to the crisis in Sudan in 2007), are co-organizing a “Day of Solidarity” in response to the Libyan Slave Auctions, to devise a plan of action to put a stop to the outrage. The Solidarity Day Coalition consists of organizations already operating in the locale, including STANDWITHCONGO, AFASA (African Association of Arizona), Darfur 23, SOSO ADAE, L3C, and the Phoenix Local Organizing Committee for Justice or Else. Organizers and supporters will rally at the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, 1700 W. Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85007 on Saturday, December 30th, from 11am to 4pm.
The vision for a “Day of Solidarity is certainly not new.” It was nearly a century ago that the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey proclaimed that Africa belongs to Africans, at home and abroad, and the very first letter in the acronym U.N.I.A. provides the formula for accomplishing that vision. Unity is the key. This is the spirit fueling the cooperation of those from the African mainland who have relocated to Arizona… with those snatched away centuries ago. Africa has never needed the assistance of the Black diaspora more, and her children have never needed unity more than we do now.
A shared vision of a truly independent Africa will manifest when we rebuild the connections that were severed so long ago, dissolving the sense of detachment from the continent that prevents us from seeing ourselves as a very real part of the solution. While many alarming conditions among the fractured communities of Black people are deserving of our focus, the agonizing horror of slave auctions is certainly a priority. A “Day of Solidarity” will enable us to re-connect right where we are, to educate the local community on this issue and many others, and to become involved in the development of American policy toward Africa going forward. A “Day of Solidarity” will add our collective voice to the dialogue, as opposed to leaving policy in the hands of those who created the carnage that’s raging in Libya now.
The Solidarity Day Coalition is proclaiming that we are united with our family in the diaspora in both word and deed. We are laying a foundation upon which we can move as one community on all the issues we face, at home… and abroad. For updates or more information on the “Day of Solidarity”, please visit the website, thephoenixloc.org, or Facebook page: The Phoenix Local Organizing Committee for Justice or Else. Emails will be received by coalition organizer, Tremikus Muhammad.
Art Mobley is a Journalist and a Co-Convener of The Darfur 23
