Barack Obama travels to Harlem later today to ask for money from Democratic Party contributors. But another group of Americans will be there in protest. Harlem Fight Back Against War is organizing a demonstration against the war in Libya for today at 5 pm. Protesters will meet at Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard between 125th and 126th streets, and all comers are welcome.
A flyer advertising the protest declares:
Harlem Fightback Against War at Home & Abroad condemns racist right wing attacks against President Barack Obama, the first African American President of the US. However, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, we should judge a man by the content of his character instead of the color of his skin. We will hold President Obama’s administration accountable for its injustice, immoral and illegal actions at home and abroad. We will not join the silence of others in our Black communities.
The anti-war protest is being promoted at the AFL-CIO’s We Are One website, which puts the Libya war in economic perspective:
On March 29th Obama attends a $30,000 plate dinner in the gentrified up-scale Red Rooster. Harlem’s annual median income is $25,000 less than the $30,000 plate dinner for one night. Nearly 50% of Black men in NYC are jobless. A cruise missile cost $1 million each. 126 cruise missiles were fired on Libya the first day.
The organization holding this protest has it all wrong!! I have yet to hear them condemn a black man,Kaddafi, for brutalizing his own people (and word is its normally the darker skinned blacks that he targets) and being a dictator when the people there, black people, just want democracy! Sometimes war is necessary, not matter what color is involved, when there are people like Kaddafi in this world whose ego and greed wont allow him to be fair or even compromise. I applaud President Obama for his measured, well-thought out, mature approach to this situation as well as him standing with the people of Libya in this time of change. The black people involved in holding this demonstration should be proud of him also and realize the many benefits of him coming to Harlem and the detriment of their actions. His visit to Harlem will legitimize it as a place where people can hold this type of fundraisers without fear of violence and these protesters are just feeding into the old image of Harlem as a place of conflict and unrest. The protesters are not thinking of the people of Harlem, their economic interest or their sense of pride!!! The protesters should pick the right time and place for their battles if they disagree with our president but not at the expense of Harlem and its advancements! Furthermore, making the dinner affordable to the average person in Harlem would defeat the purpose of raising enough money to keep him in office so he can make a difference. The best way President Obama can help the 50% black men who are unemployed in NY is to make education affordable and accessible, which he has done by providing funds to the HBCU’s and community colleges (all of which mostly cater to minorities)and passing legislation that reforms the education system (race to the top, etc.)! He also passed legistation to extend unemployment benefits, help with COBRA premiums and provide healthcare for children during the economic crisis. I beg the people of “Harlem Fightback Against War At Home and Abroad” to look at the “big picture” and support our great, hardworking President!!!
Hey, Nanci,
Still thinking that “Black Libyans are being persecuted by Gaddafi thing”? Just got fooled again… Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya… what’s next? Uganda? Congo? Zimbabwe?
Or maybe you’ll be just peacefully be standing at Occupy Wall Street while a cop pepper sprays you… and some arrogant commentator who doesn’t even know you well enough to spell your name pronounces you “must have done something to deserve it… Fox said so…”
The only racist here are the ones that are trying to imply that any attack on Barack Obama is racially motivated. His actions are the focus of my disconnect with him, not his skin color. I wonder if they realize that without the “white vote” BO wouldn’t be where he is today. Although I would concede that that vote was racially motivated by many who wanted a Black man to become president. Unfortunately they picked the wrong Black man.
I would suggest to Nanci that the best way to help blacks is to stop advancing a mentality that celebrates being a victim. Many peoples in this word were subjugated and have risen from the ashes to succeed.
huffpo is covering this now! the harlem protest is big news even if the news will not cover it.