Why not Peace talks? On October 21st, 2022 at about 3pm. I just heard the U.S. and Russia agreed to “keep the lines open”. They assured the world that they were not talking about peace or any serious subjects, but they are going to keep the lines open. I reckon some assurance that at least they're talking. I am reminded of something Prime Minister Winston Churchill said during the threat of the second World War. He said, “Jaw-jaw is better than war-war". The question I would ask is why not peace talks? Why not announce to the world that their respective governments and allies are having continuous peace talks. I wrote a few days ago, I along with others had strongly urged U.S. and NATO leaders and their allies to use all their influence to demand: A Ceasefire Negotiations Settlement that would be mutually beneficial to both combatants. Surely the peoples of the world will feel more comfortable knowing that the most powerful nations are working towards peace. President Zelensky has a different approach. He has said that, “there ought to be no talks with Russia”, as always in his remarks the catalog of Russian crimes trying to persuade the world or his allies that President Putin is a devil as is killing, bombing, destroying innocent civilians and their life sustaining infrastructure. Honesty compels me to confess after studying President Zelensky’s words, facial expressions, body language and granted it’s from a distance. I get the feeling that he wants war or some kind of victory and that he is prepared for war in which no one wins and the people will continue to bear this suffering. He constantly, with the American press and U.S. leaders help after painting these horrible images, then comes the beg. More money, more sophisticated weapons and his demands are being met. Russia responds militarily in some way and threatens to use nuclear weapons. As I reflected on the words of these officials and the war in Ukraine with no sign of peace or negotiations. I recall an article that was written by Michael von der Schulenberg touching on some of the various points I have been making in my articles. I admit that I have been influenced by his writings. I am going to take the liberty to quote excerpts from his article “For Peace and Ukraine, Europe must finally find its own voice”. He writes: The mood in Germany continues to be one of war, sanctions, arms deliveries, accusations of Russian war crimes and reports of Ukrainian victories. There seems to be no room for peace. Now, the media and parts of the political establishment are also promoting the view that this war against Russia can be won militarily – if the West only supplies Ukraine with heavy weapons. Under these circumstances, peace negotiations with Russia, or as we like to say pejoratively, with Putin, may not only appear morally reprehensible, but also unnecessary. For Europe, this would be a dangerous delusion. Europe, for its own interest, should strive for a negotiated peace settlement in the Ukraine war and not risk intensifying the war in the hope to gain a military victory over Russia. If Europe continues to supply large quantities of weapons, especially heavy weapons, without at the same time thinking about peace, it will increasingly end up carrying a share of the responsibility for the senseless destruction and continuing bloodshed Ukrainians are suffering. This war is taking place on European soil between two European states, and yet it is not Europe but the USA that is determining the Western approach to this war – and this even though the USA is more than 10,000 kilometers away from the war. This indicates that even 30 years after the end of the Cold War, Europe, and in particular the EU, has still not found its own voice. Europe appears only capable of finding a minimal consensus on sanctions and arms deliveries; reflections on how to achieve peace and what peace should look like are missing from official European statements. The USA has no major economic interests in Ukraine, nor is it directly threatened by political developments there. The overwhelming presence of the USA in this conflict and its enormous and highly risky military deployment can only be explained by the geopolitical goals of the USA. Having Ukraine as a NATO Member would decisively increase American influence in Eurasia, as Brzezinski once called it. For Europe, the situation is different. Ukraine is first and foremost a neighboring state and a valuable economic partner. It is also a bridge between Europe and the growing economies of Asia. While the American economy suffers little from the effects of sanctions, Europe is disproportionately more affected. Its attempt to completely decouple itself economically from Russia while the war in Ukraine is cutting Europe’s land bridge to Asia means Europe is cutting itself off from its eastern economic areas, its access to essential raw materials, and important markets in Asia. Through these actions, Europe is hence losing one of its great comparative advantages that result from its geographical position. Even more than during the Cold War, Europe’s economy would now have to orient itself almost exclusively towards the West. Since only a few countries worldwide support these sanctions, Europe is virtually committing some kind of political economic self-castration. The greatest danger, however, for Europe would come from a strategy aimed at achieving a military victory against Russia in Ukraine. Such a strategy could result in unpredictable reactions from Russia. For Russia, the Ukraine war has become a question of national survival, and we must assume that Russia will use everything it has to avoid leaving the battlefield as a loser. But how far would the nuclear power that is Russia go? Do we really want to test this? And, in the event of a looming Russian defeat, wouldn’t we have to be prepared for China’s involvement as a forced reaction to prevent what it may see as an USA encroachment? Suddenly, the Russia-Ukraine war could turn into a dangerous confrontation among three nuclear powers.” A victorious peace seems unlikely.... Stay tuned for the next article with more on Ukraine.

Remembering Al Vann Series Alas, Al Vann and I part company – for a while... In 1985, there was a mayoral race. At the time the respect for Assemblyman Al Vann had voted him the Chair of Coalition for a Just New York. It was a very, very impressive group. All of the black elected officials in the boroughs and the most prominent activists had voted for Al Vann as the leader. It was probably, at least from my recollection, that there had been such unity in the black community. There had always been tension between Harlem and Brooklyn. It was said that Harlem was the place of brains and Brooklyn was the borough of brawn. The elected officials in Harlem were seemingly, or styled themselves as more sophisticated than Brooklyn’s elected officials. Harlem was able to submerge their differences. Harlem played the history card to the maximum. Harlem, though much smaller than Brooklyn, even one section of Brooklyn, nevertheless was world known. Brooklyn had its heroes, its accomplishments, but they paled into insignificance when compared to Harlem plus Brooklyn’s political battles were public. So, there was a lack of unity. Brooklyn had more black people in Bed-stuy than in Harlem. In terms of getting goods and services for their people, Harlem was able to get much more than Brooklyn. Brooklyn can boast the largest concentration of black people and particularly diversity than any city in the world, except for maybe a few African countries or even South American. Finally in 1985, unity among leaders of African Ancestry had come at last and Al Vann without question was our leader. With the coming Mayoral race, our attention turned to electoral politics. We enjoined other issues, the City Schools Chancellor. We supported Dr. Thomas Minter for Chancellor, he lost. We would meet at the Union building in District #37. On a particular night as we met, we were told that there would be a special announcement. Then we assembled and the meeting started. It wasn't long before a bombshell was dropped. I don’t recall who announced it. It might have been Bill Lynch; he had been a key organizer in the group and for the group. His connection to the Union made him an influential player in our group. At any event the bombshell, we would support Herman Badillo for Mayor. Al Vann for Brooklyn Borough President and Vernon Mason who had become famous as the activist lawyer along with Alton Maddox. I remember whispering among our Brooklyn contingent, who were always supportive of Al Vann. Charles Barron, Al Green, Jitu Weusi, neither one of us were told of the political plan that was now expressed. Then, one of our members, out of the blue, Herman Danny Farrell stepped forward and indicated that he planned to run for the mayoral seat. Well, an Ephesian uproar spread through the Union Hall. Herman Farrell was accused of blocking Badillo because Badillo had not supported Percy Sutton in his mayoral race in 1977. However, Herman Farrell said that he made up his mind to run. Eventually he and others who supported him had been accused of being anti-Latino. The group was asked to vote. I was asked to say a prayer and before I prayed, I made the plea, “whoever wins that we would be supportive” and then I prayed essentially that unity would prevail when the vote was over or whoever won the vote. Well after the prayer. The voting took place and Herman Danny Farrell won the vote. It didn’t mean that everyone supported the vote. It didn’t mean that everybody would honor his/her word. What it meant was a serious crack in our unity. As I have stated Herman Farrell and most of us, at least the key leaders were accused of being anti-Latino in staging the coup. Herman Farrell, Congressman Charlie Rangel, David Dinkins, and Basil Paterson were given the derogatory name “the gang of four”. It is significant to note that as I have stated Bill Lynch who was a key organizer in our group was among the crowds who were calling us anti-Latino. And as we all know; Bill Lynch became David Dinkins campaign manager and Chief of Staff when Dinkins ran and became the first black Mayor of New York City. I argued how could I be anti-Latino? I had supported Herman Badillo when he ran in 1969. I was a member of a group headed by former Senator Carl McCall and Bill Strickland. We called ourselves, Young Intellectual Democrats. We backed Herman Badillo for Mayor and Rev. Dr. William Jones, Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church, who ran for Brooklyn Borough President that same year. Of course, it was not anti-anybody. The fact of the matter was, Al Vann didn’t do his homework. Jitu told me that he had asked Vann the night before if he had counted his people, Al told him no. Which is true, because I came to the meeting as did others without being told what the plan was. Moreover, I had prayed that we would have unity when the vote was counted. Some of us had to obey our word. Herman Farrell won the vote! Well, the election proceeded and all of our candidates lost. I stayed with Herman until the end. We became great friends until his decease. Our friendship continues with Al Taylor (District #71, Herman’s protégé. The fracture in the group was serious and the wounds were deep. The derogatory name, the gang of four and what happened that night in Union Hall and what happened for years to come, instead of unity there was disunity. The gang of four stigmatized Herman Farrell, Basil Paterson, Charlie Rangel, David Dinkins even until the present time. People still remember, particularly, those who were running for office. They believe that they would have won had the Latino and the Black communities were unified. However, there was a significant degree of unity around the Jackson campaign for President. Al Vann still was considered the most powerful or influential elected official in New York. He became Chair of New York State Jackson’s campaign and of course when Dinkins ran for Mayor, Al Vann became a major supporter in his election.  We were at a distance and then we reconnected in our search for a Mayoral candidate and Dinkins campaign was like old times. This concludes our series on Remembering Al Vann.

RUN JESSE RUN! In 1983, across the country there was a thunderous outcry, “Run, Jesse, Run.” It was as nothing that had ever happened before. It seemed that every person of African Ancestry, also a significant number of Euroethnics and other nationalities were involved in this pervasive urging Jesse Jackson to run for the presidency of the United States of America. They were young and old, of every class, every profession, every political persuasion, all screaming, “Run Jesse Run!” In September, Jesse asked Assemblyman Al Vann and I to convene Black leadership to help him decide if he should run. (Remember that in 1989, Dr. Gardener Taylor had called Al Vann and I to convene Black leadership to help David Dinkins become Mayor of New York City. It was held at the House of the Lord Church. Now that I’m thinking, it is probably where Dr. Taylor got the idea. The Jackson meeting was so successful I surmise that Dr. Taylor got the idea to duplicate what we did in 1983. We could contribute substantially to the Dinkins campaign.) We issued the call across the city. The response was overwhelming. The church was packed, wall to wall with people. Jesse and I had a long relationship going back to the sixties. We were active in Operation BreadBasket(OBB). OBB was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s brainchild. He observed how we had made social progress. We had legal mobility. The legal wall of segregation had been demolished. But our economic situation had not changed very much, if at all. So Dr. King’s brilliant minds came up with the idea of  pulling corporate America into the fight for racial justice. His idea was to organize ministers who would approach the presidents of corporations or businesses. Only preachers or ministers would be in a delegation that would approach only the presidents of said corporations or businesses. Research would be done beforehand determining to what extent had the corporation or businesses responded to the black communities. After doing our research, we included a demand for jobs, job mobility or advancement, or public relations, banking, philanthropic, service ie; legal contracts, etc., black publications(newspapers, magazines, etc) In addition space both on the shelves of the corporations and space outside for street vendors where they could peddle their products without harassment from the police. We would then have a meeting, to gather information from the corporations, regarding the extent to which they have been involved in the black community or our executive director would get the information. In any event, we would compare what they are doing with what our research revealed. Then we would make our demands. If they comply, immediately we would engage in a productive relationship. If they resist, we would first call for a boycott of those corporations. If they continued to resist then we would put people on the street or in front of their businesses. Eventually, they would come around to seeing things our way. We were not about sustaining any kind of hostile relationship. We tried to convince the businesses that it was a mutual benefit for them to comply immediately or at some point the quicker the better. One of the most interesting development in our confrontation with a recalcitrant business in Brooklyn. The President Will Levin came alone to Bethany Baptist Church to meet with the ministers. He and I got into a verbal fight. The meeting was over and we had settled our demands, he said to me on the way out, “I’d like to have lunch with you some time.” I responded “ okay, I’ll await your call.” And to my disbelief he called. We started having lunch until his death several months ago. We would go to lunch at least once a month or no later than 3 month intervals. He was president of Martin’s department store and became the President of Independence Bank. The first Jewish President. Across the years our friendship deepened. Let me say that we were of mutual value to each other. On Thursday, September 29,2022 the Prospect Park Alliance sponsored a gala. They gave awards, one was given to the family of Wilbur A. Levin at the gala. My wife, Dr. Karen and I and our daughter Sharon were invited to the event. We were honored to be invited and to sustain the relationship  with the Levin family. The deceased, the Reverend Dr. William Jones, Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church was the chairperson. (See the chapter on Dr. Jones in my forthcoming book - The Passing of Giants of the Human Spirit) Reverend Dr. John Scott was the Executive Director. Reverend Scott just celebrated his 50th anniversary pastoring St. John Baptist Church and I was Executive Vice Chairman. Reverend Jesse Jackson was the National Director. He was appointed by Dr. King. One of the implacable corporations was A&P. At the time A&P was one of the most successful national food companies. They refused to comply with our demands. Even after Rev. Jackson came in on occasions and pickets on the street in front of their stores, still, resistance. We took over their headquarters at the Gray Bar Building on 42nd Street & 3rd Ave.We spent the night and was arrested in the morning. Jesse himself came to town and get arrested. But still, resistance from A&P. I led a prayer vigil and prayed that judgment would come upon the food chain.Eventually, as we can see it has gone bankrupt or is gone out of business completely. So, when the ministers gathered at the church, Jesse in his imitable phraseology spoke to the massive crowd and said, “ We all hear across the country, Run Jesse Run, Run Jesse Run. I don’t want Run Jesse Run to become See Jesse Run. So I’ll need three things: money, masses, and machinery (a structure/system). Now if ya’ll can get these three things for me or help me get them I will run.”  “We will help you, we will raise money, mobilize the masses and put together a structure.” Afterwards, Jesse did something unique. We went upstairs in the sanctuary and held a press conference. Jesse said, “I want to do this press conference with all of you here as an education of how the press interprets what we say and what we do.” The press, appeared everywhere in the church. The ministers that were participating in the press conference last in front of the pulpit with a row of ministers standing behind them. The press did their work, not only on the floor of the sanctuary, but also on the balcony. Jesse did his usual masterful handling of the press. As they say, “they didn’t put a glove on him”, they tried with all their might, but no success. Now, once the meeting was over. It was time for Al Vann and I to go to work. To build on the momentum that we created from the gathering at the church. Al Vann was elected/appointed New York State Chairperson for the campaign. Together we crisscrossed New York. And as often as Jesse would come to New York we were there by his side. I was asked to be on the National Campaign Committee and special assistant and confidant.  Without a doubt, Jesse ran a phenomenal campaign, we won but we lost. We have created a definition of our campaigns, that said, “We are winning and have already won” particularly those in the campaign is what we wanted people to see is that surely the big prize was the White House, but there were other things that we won. We won a political consciousness that lasts till today and will probably last until the end of time.We won political involvement, people decided to run for office from the lowest political ladder to the highest.  They even contemplated running for President. In fact, President Barack Obama can thank the Jackson campaign for helping him get to the White House. And the person who was the CEO of the 2008 Democratic Convention was my daughter, Reverend Leah Daughtry, who was a part of the Jackson campaign. She along with another daughter, Sharon, were Jackson’s campaign coordinators while at Dartmouth College. Not only did the masses involve themselves in the campaign, but also involved in electoral politics. But there was involvement at every social level. Particularly people of African Ancestry were on the move and we are still reaping the benefit of that unforgettable campaign. We ended at the National Convention in San Francisco. Jesse made a historic speech. We lost the election but we made significant gains. Yes, we lost the election, but again we won a change in the Democratic Party, for instance the selection of delegates to the National Convention. And other rules in the Democratic Party were made as a result of the Jackson campaign.  Assemblyman Al Vann worked hard during the campaign. His influence was deep and wide. He helped to mobilize the masses as I have stated from which we are still reaping the benefit.

Remembering Al Vann Series Chancellor David Banks pointed out that a part of the school system is not related to young students' experience, so they lose interest. It reminds me of my experience growing up in Jersey City, NJ and Brooklyn, NY. I too left school at sixteen. When I arrived from Georgia I was eleven years old. I had been an excellent student in Georgia. I loved reading books, magazines, newspapers, I loved going to school. I had two experiences in Jersey City school: I used to have an old principal named Dr. Bannerman. I will never forget her. She used to come to our class regularly. She seemed to get the greatest joy out of talking about “the darkies”, how the darkies loved to sing and dance for us. She was an old white principal. I hated that woman. The second experience was even more personally humiliating, we played a game in the classroom with a deck of cards which had pictures on them. The game was to do or perform whatever was on the card you picked – act like whatever it showed. Out of all the cards in the deck I had to pick a little colored boy eating a watermelon. I didn’t know whether to curse everyone out and leave the classroom or focus my anger only at the teacher, or just walk out of the classroom. Mostly white children were looking at me with laughter or smiles. To my self-shame and humiliation, I did what the card required. I left the school and I didn’t go back. I hated everything about the school, teacher, principal, children, etc. These experiences are forever deeply ingrained in my mind and emotion. It is probably one of the reasons that shaped the kind of ministry I have, particularly as it relates to youth. Because I refused to go to school in Jersey City. I was sent to Brooklyn to live with my father. My mother and father had remarried. I enrolled in P.S. 28 on Fulton Street in Brooklyn. I only spent a year and then was sent to Junior High school in Brooklyn, already I began to fail my classes. The Brooklyn school system was no different than the Jersey City school system. On graduation day, I don't ever remember receiving a diploma like other students. I received a medal for my athletic achievements. The principal took a liking to me, and didn't care about my academic levels. When I got in trouble and was sent to his office to be reprimanded, we would spend the time discussing sports. On graduation day when he handed me the medal he said to the audience and the students “..and here was the man that made the impossible possible.” I was as proud as I could be. Looking back, I wish he would’ve taken as much interest in my classroom activities as he did in my athletic endeavors. I was sent to automotive school, which I hated. It wasn’t long before I stopped going. I thought about my Army days. When I was nineteen, I realized that I was on the path to self-destruction. I joined the Army, as did many youngsters in my situation. Once I was in the Army, I grew to love it. I loved the discipline, order, cleanliness, camaraderie and friendships, we realized we were each other's protection. I loved the toughness and recognition, the Army gave me a sense of self-worth. I was voted the best soldier of the month, in the company of 250 men. To be voted the best soldier of the month meant that your sleeping area had to be spic and span, proficient at weaponry, immaculate in appearance, eagerness to obey and a good student. I was elected or selected to carry the company's flag. This meant I marched in front of the troops and moved the flag according to the commands of our Captain. He gave verbal commands, which couldn’t be heard in the back of the marching company. As he gave these commands, it was the flag carrier to translate them into the flag motion. It was quite an honor. Looking back, I excelled in all of my endeavors except the school system in the North - Brooklyn and Jersey City. Except that God was in my life, even when I wasn’t in God’s life but always under God’s protection. Otherwise I would’ve been another one of the millions of young Black, brown and poor white students in a school system that my parents and other parents paid to teach us and prepare us for life. There is a story that I learned from years back: A mother sent her child to school, the teacher sent the child back with a note saying, “Johnny stinks, wash him.” The mother sent the note back to the teacher saying, “Johnny ain’t no rose, don’t smell him - teach him!” Years later when I gave my life to Jesus Christ, he made me conscious of life in America and abroad. I became angry when I remembered growing up and how smart some of us were. Everything else we wanted to do, we did it with exceptional ability. One of the few of us that made it out of the “hood” was my good friend Fred Willis. Years later he taught calculus at the college level. We called him in the early days, Mr. Education. We recognized that he was a genius, but the school didn’t recognize it until years later. One of our gambling activities was shooting dice. There was a skill we called padrolling. You can roll the dice in a way that takes out the numbers that cause you to lose, putting them “inside” the dice. So, when you roll the dice all the numbers that come up, none of them would cause you to lose. Hence, shooting dice, the shooter who knew how to padroll could pick up the dice in a way that required experience and skill and rolled them with finesse, which meant that he could win and never lose. Now for someone to do that they would have to calculate in their mind the numbers on the dice and pick up the dice in a certain way which required skill and experience, when it rolls out of their hand the dice will march like soldiers. Keeping the losing numbers out of the way of the dice and the numbers you wanted inside the way of the numbers you want to win. Now we could do that with ease and yet the school system called us dummies. Just as Dr. Banks found these young children in Rikers Island, school didn’t relate to where we lived and what we were doing. When I grew older and became alert or conscious of the school system, I fought in every battle to make the school system what a school system ought to be. I’d like to continue with my family and brother’s experience with the school system. My baby brother was cited for lack of attention. In fact, they thought he was moronic. His rebelliousness was constantly looking out of the windows. Lost in thought, apparently paying no attention to what the teacher was teaching. My mother was wise enough to take him to a psychologist for examination. What they discovered was that he was a genius. They were teaching experiences and lessons that his mind would grasp quickly and then go search for something else that interested him. He needed to be challenged. But he needed more than that. The school system should have recognized and prepared itself for this child. I can cite the same thing with my son. He was not interested in schoolwork, so they sent us notes complaining of his lack of interest. I happened to go to the school – to his class unannounced and it so happened that the teacher was at the blackboard. They had put him in the front seat, I guess so he could be observed. The teacher put up a b word – and she asked what letter is in this word. The class responded, “It’s a d-word.” My son looked up and said, “It’s a b-word” and resumed playing with his imaginary game at his desk. (The reader will note that the letter b and the letter d are similar except for the but the bottom in the letters.) Afterwards, I talked with the teacher. She commenced by pouring out all of the negatives regarding my son. I informed her that I watched the whole episode. He knew the lesson and his mind went somewhere else. If you challenge him, he’ll be alright. I told her that we would be there to help. Another family experience is when our eldest daughter Leah registered to school in the first grade. She went with her bookbag, papers, and pencils. My wife and I spent a great deal of time with all of our children preparing them for the school system. It wasn’t long before the experience which the school system had designed/demanded that the children play with dolls and do chore-like duties. My daughter didn’t want to do that. She wanted to talk and to ask about reading books, papers and writing. That’s what she felt she had come to school for. But the school system insisted that she go in to play with dolls and into the kitchen. Every day, I would go to the school and argue with the principal Mr. Winegarten. He said to me “Reverend, your problem is that you want to change the whole school system.” I said, “You got that right”. He said, “I’m going to give her a reading test and see how she does.” When she completed the test, they discovered that she was reading on a third grade level; now they wanted to skip her from the first grade to the third grade. I said, “No. That is too much, she may be intellectually ready, but not physically and emotionally.” So they replied, “What do you want us to do?” I replied, “Skip her to second grade, that would be best.” We are proud to say that all of our children are college graduates, some are doctors. Our son, Herb Jr. of whom I referred is a graduate of the University of Chicago and a Georgetown Law school graduate. In other words, he’s a lawyer. But, believing that he could do more in education he resigned his law practice and became an educator. A principal in Brooklyn, Assistant Superintendent of schools in one of the largest cities in the country and now a teacher and trainer of educators. The first born of whom I spoke is a graduate of Dartmouth College and made history when she was asked to be the CEO of the 2008 and 2016 of the Democratic National Convention. In 2008, she did such a marvelous job that the momentum carried President Barack Obama into the White House. He became the first African-American president. Then in 2016, Hillary Clinton ran for president. She and the democratic party leadership asked Leah to be the CEO. It was the first time that a person had been the CEO of the Democratic National Convention twice. Unfortunately due to Russia’s involvement and other acts of unfairness – she lost the election. Had she won, Leah would’ve been the first CEO for the first Black president and woman president. She was also Chief of Staff for the Democratic Party for six years prior to her CEO experience. Our youngest daughter, Dawn, is a graduate of Syracuse. She received her Doctorate from Fordham University. She’s a principal and will be retiring next year. Another daughter, Sharon was a teacher, a professional performing artist and now after heading many projects, she is Executive Director of the Downtown Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance (DBNA). One of our most viable organizations. It is doing great things in the community. She has brought all of her administrative experience and skills coupled with her artistic abilities to the service of DBNA and the community. The point is, all of our children, I or my wife, had to constantly go to the schools they attended because of some violation from the rules of the school. One thing more, after Leah was tested they placed her in a school for gifted children. Looking back, as I often do and visiting the schools as I often do. I wonder what would’ve happened had my wife and I not been vigilant in demanding for our children and all children quality education. for the school system. We couldn’t change the whole system, but their relation to our children, we could change and many other children as we fought for quality education. As I have stated, a priority in my struggles across the years have been the school system, from segregation, integration to community control. To be continued… Look forward to the next article on Thursday, October 6, 2022

Remembering Al Vann Series On Friday September 9, 2022, my grandson, Minister Lorenzo Daughtry-Chambers and I attended the African American Clergy & Elected Officials (AACEO) monthly meeting. The first meeting after the summer hiatus. The AACEO is chaired by Dr. Robert Waterman, Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church. Ms. Dee Bailey is the Chief of Operations. The meeting was held under a huge tent where we had been meeting not long after Covid-19’s appearance. It was a crowded affair, large in quantity but also in quality. Primarily religious, political, educators, representatives of the legal profession (lawyers, judges and police) and community activists, etc. The main speaker was Chancellor David Banks. He was very impressive. Listening to him, you cannot help feeling that there are going to be changes in the educational system. This means the struggle for quality education for all students is going to be tense and tough. Additionally, there will be special consideration for various students in certain categories with physical and mental challenges. Among many aspects of the school system that Dr. Banks discussed, there were two which stood out in my mind and touched me deeply: Superintendent over the Superintendents Dr. Banks pointed out that one of the changes that he plans to make in a bloated school budget was the eradication of the Deputy Chancellor Superintendents over the Superintendents at the district levels. This structure was totally unnecessary. Thus, eliminating this unnecessary piece of structure would save huge amounts of money. There were other changes he mentioned which really had nothing to do with educating the children, it was just a piece of unnecessary structure to provide jobs for some people. Teaching children subjects that relate to their experience He mentioned that he met with some youngsters in Rikers Island. These were the antisocial youths that some people thought were uneducable. But according to Dr. Banks, these youngsters were hard at work at various projects and seemingly loving every minute as he engaged in conversation with them. One student told him if he would’ve known that school was this interesting, he would’ve never left. History of African American Clergy and Elected Officials (AACEO) The AACEO was founded by Reverend Dr. Gardener Taylor, Al Vann and I. But it was really Dr. Taylor who got the ball rolling. Dr. Taylor was one of the most prominent ministers at that time. He was known globally. A preacher sought after all over the world. He was Pastor of one of America’s most influential churches and President of the Progressive Baptist Convention. When he spoke, everybody listened. As the democratic race for Mayor heated up in 1989, Dr. Taylor called Al Vann and I and said “We have to help David Dinkins get elected the first Black Mayor in the city of New York”. Dr. Taylor suggested that we call a meeting of clergy and elected officials and we meet at the House of the Lord church, where I was the Pastor (wise man that he was). Our church at the time was the center of political, cultural, economic activity. In fact, all pressing issues ended up being discussed at the House of the Lord church — our church. But not only so, he thought that to be at his church would be self-serving and he didn’t need that. I should point out that one of the most significant rallies we held was on Thursday, November 2, 1989 a few days before the election. It was held at Concord Baptist Church where Dr. Taylor pastored. When we issued the call the church was packed with the most prominent ministers and elected officials in New York. We continued to meet after the campaign which Dinkins won: We wrote up the Constitution and Bylaws. I was voted the first Chairman. Congressman Ed Towns was voted Vice Chairman; Assemblyman Clarence Norman Jr., at that time head of the Democratic Party in Brooklyn was elected Secretary. I served for six years and resigned. The AACEO was unique in that it brought together clergy and elected officials which heretofore had been distant and suspicious of each other. Under my administration we addressed the important issues of the time. We maintained its racial makeup – we were the African American Clergy and Elected Officials. 3. The sharing of information. Our church was a place where elected officials and clergy can share vital information about the legislative halls and with the churches and communities. Thus, our meetings were of super importance for information, knowledge is power. The Bible says, “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”. There was no lack of sharing information in our meetings. 4. It was a place of camaraderie. It was a gathering of kindred spirits especially as we grew to trust one another more and more. After six years I resigned. Reverend Jacob Underwood of Grace Baptist Church became the chair and the meetings moved to his church. After which Reverend Joe E. Parker of Wayside Baptist Church became Chair. He moved the organization toward a more programmatic approach. He was a great implementer of programs and projects. After the passing of Rev. Parker, Rev. Waterman became the Chair, which office he still holds. In the process of time somewhere and somehow Dee Bailey became Chief of Operations, and we’ve never had this office before, this was a new office. The organization changed dramatically. It was more whosoever will, let them come to the meeting. Their police became a major part of the organization, their presence was conspicuous, one of the officers was a speaker at every meeting. In other words, the organization has completely changed. I don’t know that Dr. Taylor would recognize the organization today. I did mention Al Vann because he just recently passed. Therefore, he knew what was happening. I do not want to imply that the changes over the years were either good or bad. I am only pointing out the history of the organization that was started by Dr. Taylor, Al Vann and myself. The African American Clergy and Elected Officials with Chancellor David Banks. To be continued…

Remembering Al Vann Series In March-April 1977, I took the church on an educational trip to Albany and while there I did the prayer at the Assembly. The Assemblyman Al Vann helped me coordinate the trip with the assistance of others. One of which was Assemblyman Arthur Eve. It was at this meeting that Arthur Eve told me that he was running for Mayor of Buffalo and would I support him. I responded affirmatively, when he ran I organized two busloads to help him win the Democratic Primary. But, due to the racism in Buffalo he lost the general election to the former Mayor who ran as an independent. At the Assembly, we visited our individual Assembly and Senate members representing a particular district. In addition, we had group meetings with elected officials who chaired the various committees of the issues which we were concerned about. I was asked to do the general invocation prayer of the Assembly and Senate. Following is the prayer: The Lord Visits Albany… Oh God, We gather here today, not to apprise thee of our predicament, for thou, oh Lord, know all too well that we have created institutions that serve the few and not the many. Our traditions and mores are still freighted with derogatory content. We have fragmented ourselves into battle camps of religion and race, class and color. In the words of the ancient prophet, “The whole nation is sick.” But it is this sickness that drives us, individually and collectively; both publicly and privately to Thee, oh lord. And it is this sickness – acknowledgement of the same – that gives us hope. For the worst sickness after all is to be conscious of none. We confess to God, not only our illness, but our ignorance and weakness of will. There is so much we do not know. In spite of our pretensions of omniscience (for which we seek thou forgiveness too) there is so much we do not know. It is our conviction that behind the seen world is a spiritual dimension which fervent consistent, collective prayer can petition to work on personalities who influence the course of events in the material world. It is to Thy spirit, oh Lord, to Thou whose concern encompasses the whole of creation, Black and White, Muslims and Jews, Protestants and Catholics, that we have come hither today to implore Thy divine intervention for our city and state, our nation and world and more especially for those legislators whose labor in this place will influence to some extent the whole of life. As they deliberate and debate, in caucuses and committees, and as they legislate, move them to think and act from the purest motives, and the noblest aspirations. KEEP THEM AWARE, OH Lord, of the so easily forgotten in our society, the orphans and widows, the weak, the voiceless and the ailing. Attune their ears to the cries of children bitten by rats and gnawed by hunger pains. Let them hear the despairing cries of strong men for whom there is no work at worse, or meaningless drudgery, at best. Yes, let them hear the curses of young men who have given up hope and who vindictively desecrate, attack and destroy persons and property and prey upon the most defenseless. Let them hear the sighs of the aged to whom the last years was more burdensome with the passing of each day. Grant them the empathy to identify with the community where rodents run wild, garbage is piled high, and gutted houses proliferate, where education is a farce, where human beings live in unheated, unpainted shacks; while a few minutes’ travel would transport them to communities where dogs dress better, ear better and fare better and cars have more space for shelter than human beings. It all gives rise to hopelessness, despair and frustration for one group and contempt and snobbery in the other. Heighten their consciousness to the awesome responsibility is theirs to be just decision makers of the goods and services of this, Thy earth, and that ultimately, it is unto thee that they must give an account of the deeds done in their day for as thy love is pure, thy judgment is sure. To further enhance the weight of their responsibility, remind them that, at last, Thou hast brought us to this bend in history, where we have the resources and the technology to alleviate our ills, as never before, heaven and earth are in our hands.. The decisions that are made here will nudge us in one or the other direction and we shall reap the reward or retribution. Lest they accommodate themselves to the safety and stagnation of what is, let them feel acutely, the urgency and constraints of what ought to be. Fire them then, the vision to see communities wherein the sick is cared for, the young are educated, the able bodied are meaningfully employed, the handicapped are aided, the old are remembered and the quality of opportunity is extended to all. Inspire them with the audacity of faith which dares to believe that with thy help, it can be done. We ask it in the name of Jesus, the Christ. Amen. Photo: Assemblyman Al Vann, House of the Lord Church members including our Political Action Committee Photo: Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry, Assemblyman Arthur Eve and Rev. Dr. Karen Daughtyr To be continued.

Remembering Al Vann Series A Wind of Change ‘A Blowin’ (cont.) From left to right: Dr. Sam Pinn, Baba Jitu Weusi, Assemblyman Al Vann, Rev. Herbert Daughtry, Dr. Karen Daughtry From left to right: Al Vann, Rev. Herbert Daughtry, Basil Paterson From left to right: Assemblyman Al Vann, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Mayor David Dinkins, Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry Thus, the representatives of Southern Africa did not bring us words of despair, did not bring us words of discouragement, but rather brought us words of hope that the day is not long when indeed justice shall prevail in Southern Africa because the wind of change is blowing; likewise for Central America. Surely the Ambassador of Nicaragua was clear that the U.S. government, its leadership, and corporate structure, were intensifying its intervention, that big ships were speeding that way, and that mercenaries were being trained in Honduras, but there was no note of despair. Likewise from the representatives of the FDR and El Salvador who talked about the odds against them because of the U.S. presence in that region; but there was no note of despair , no note of discouragement. Consistently, they conveyed the unmistakable impression that they were on the side of history, and the wind of change is blowing in their favor. The wind of change is blowing in their direction. It reminded us of what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remarked before he was assassinated — that he believed that America was on the wrong side of history; that they seem to have a death wish which evidences itself so in support of reactionary regimes, the rightist regimes, the dictator regimes in Central and South America. And the words of Martin Luther King junior still apply. Thank God there is a wind of change a ‘blowing. The wind of change is blowing in Central America. The wind of change is blowing in the Caribbean. And although, as I indicated, our great friend and distinguished Ambassador of Grenada was not here, had he been on the program and brought U.S. news of the Caribbean, using his great country as an example, I’m certain that he, too, would not have had any words of despair — would not have had any words of disappointment — would not have had any words of discontent. But he too would have struck a note. Would have sounded the bell of hope and excitement. For the wind of change is blowing in the Caribbean. So whether in Southern Africa whether in Central America, whether in Grenada, or in the Caribbean in general, when we look across the world we need not despair for the wind of change is blowing. To be continued...

We are continuing our series on In this picture Jesse Jackson was thinking about running for President in 1983-1984. He asked Al Vann and I to convene Black leaders to help him decide whether he should put his “hat” in the political ring. Thus, we have the photo. September 1983, we convened every significant Black leader in New York at the House of the Lord Church. The important phrase that Jesse used in his speech to the crowded church, he said, “If I’m going to run, I need three things: the money, the masses and the machinery”. Six years later, 1990, capitalizing on the movement that Jackson’s campaign had generated, David Dinkins would become the first Black Mayor of New York as did a lot of other persons achieved political success, including President Barack Obama. A Wind of Change ‘A Blowin’ by Reverend Herbert Daughtry February – March 1984 There is a wind of change a ‘blowin’ across the world. The challenge for us is that we discern it, that we name it, and that we commit ourselves to it. This has been a rather historical week. We started with the Rev. Jesse Jackson's whirlwind crusade through New York, starting on Monday in Brooklyn at Fort Greene Senior Citizens' Center, from there to Boys' and Girls' High School, and we walked through the streets in Albee Square and visited New York Tech and the Bethany Baptist Church, where Dr. William Jones is the Pastor. Then on Tuesday, back at it again-another leadership breakfast in the Bronx and visits to housing developments, to schools, and then to Staten Island and Queens. On Wednesday, back at it again; this time in Manhattan with a leadership breakfast at North General Hospital and visits to some of the colleges; in the evening a visit to the Atlantic Avenue House of Detention, and then finally the big rally on Wednesday night. It was a tremendous experience. I think anybody who was in any way associated with it would agree. I must confess that never have I seen anyone so electrify people. It didn't matter whether the people were professional or non-professional, employed or unemployed, no classed, over-classed, middle-classed, or whatever class. No one was quiet. The reaction was the same wherever Rev. Jackson passed through. It didn't matter whether the gathering was composed of students in high schools or colleges or persons who were incarcerated. No one could remain unmoved by this event. As I start to analyze what was happening I was driven to the conclusion that we are in the midst of something that is bigger than one man. Something that is bigger than Jesse Jackson. Maybe it is the wind of change that is blowing that has thrust him to centerstage. As I observed the man walking, I kept wondering if he, in fact, understood the full dimension of what was happening. I'm certain that he did; he is a very wise and alert man. He seems to always be in command of the situation. He seems to be standing on the brink of something. marvelous, something magnificent, and it may be that Jesse Jackson has been touched upon by history, touched upon by God. I am not suggesting that we all agree that he should be the President or not be the President, but I am suggesting that we all agree that somebody has to be at centerstage; somebody that God and the God of history has laid hold upon: It may be Malcolm now; it may be Martin Luther King later; it may be Frederick Douglass; it may be Marcus Garvey, but it seems the Lord always sends somebody our way. I hope you will agree with me that we are not going to argue as to who it is-whether they come from the southern United States or the northern USA or whether they come from Jamaica, from Grenada, from Africa, wherever. I hope you will say with me that when the wind of change is blowing, and to whomever it is who comes to center stage, we will say, " Right on. Let's move ahead with the flow of history." Then as we entered into our Convocation, we extended invitations to representatives of very key places in the world. We wanted to look at the Middle East, and we wanted the people who have interests there, at least even if they claim to have it, to come and to say to us what they are doing in God's world. Growing out of the theological position, the Biblical position, as articulated by Chief of Staff Charles Barron, that the earth is the Lord's, which means that the earth doesn't belong to any rulers, doesn't belong to any corporate giants, but to the Lord; therefore, we wanted them to tell us what they are doing in the Lord's earth. So they came and told us what was happening in the Middle East. As I already indicated, the distinguished representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Dr. Terzi, came and told us what has been happening in the Middle East from his perspective. Then, lo and behold, the distinguished ambassador from the Israeli government also decided that he wanted to come. Now that was kind of interesting. You see, we sent them registered letters inviting them to this forum. Of course, we received on September 22nd the receipt that they had received the letter. They claimed on October 6th that they hadn't received the letter and that they wanted to join the forum. And of course, our hearts are as big as all outdoors, so we said, "By all means come along. We want to hear your side." And would you believe it, they came and gave their side of the story. On Wednesday we wanted to look at Central America and the Caribbean. We extended invitations to representatives of the governments of Nicaragua, El Salvador, Grenada, Cuba, and of course, the United States government. We were delighted with the responses. We had the ambassador from Nicaragua. We had representatives from the FDR, and we had a very, very thoughtful statement of regret from our ambassador, his Excellency Caldwell Taylor, who indicated to us that there were serious deliberations at the General Assembly of the United Nations and that he could not come at that time. We understood because the Ambassador of Grenada is a great friend of ours, and he is always welcomed, so we pretty much know the position of Grenada! * If we don't know it by now, I don't think we will ever know it. Unfortunately, the representatives from Cuba also could not come, although they had indicated that they would. Then on Thursday night we looked at the trouble spots in Southern Africa. The representative from the ANC was here, and we began to explore what is happening there. Significantly, the only government that did not respond at all was this government where we hold citizenship. U.S. Ambassador Kirkpatrick did not feel it necessary to even respond. Everybody else responded. Be it as it may, when we look then at what is happening with Jesse Jackson, and when we look at the reports coming from across the world, indeed we are convinced that the wind of change is blowing. There was no despair in the statements from the last representatives from Southern Africa. They reminded me very much of the statements made several years ago by Joshua Nkomo who stood in this pulpit when the bombs were rained down upon his people. He stood here in this pulpit and said, "We are going to win. We are going to win!" and a couple of years later Southern Rhodesia had become Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe had become the Prime Minister. They reminded me of the words of Sam Njomo, the President of SWAPO, who spoke to us in Nairobi, Kenya, at the OAU Conference; and when he was asked, "How do you expect to win?" he said, "We are going to win because the people are on our side." Thus, the representatives of Southern Africa did not bring us words of despair, did not bring us words of discouragement, but rather brought us words of hope that the day… To be continued... *This address was given prior to the death of Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and the subsequent U.S. invasion and takeover of Grenada.

Remembering Al Vann Series We are continuing the series on Al Vann – Remembering Al Vann Series. Below is an article published by the House of the Lord Church VICTORY newspaper in February 1976 titled, Al Vann: The Question of Survival. Al Vann: The Question of Survival By: Sis. Rosalind Sparrow

June 29, 2022 United Nations Ceremony The police led our car caravan to a special parking place along the street at Dag Hammerschel plaza. We gathered at the Isaiah Wall across the street from the United Nations on First Avenue between 41st and 42nd streets. It is called the Isaiah Wall because of Isaiah the prophet “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Officially the name is Dr. Ralph Bunch. Dr. Ralph Bunch was an African American who gained fame in resolving the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land. We heard the prayers of every minister, then we had a photo session up the steps, along the wall, where the quote is written. Thus ended the first day of our 3-day commemoration of the 40th anniversary of June 12. We sought to have a meeting with the President of the General Assembly, Abdullah Sahid but because of emergencies, he was called away. We continued to look for an agreeable date and the names of the delegation, in the process of submitting the names of persons who will be in the delegation. Prayer to the Creator and Appeal to the Leaders of the World Friday, June 3, 2022 We, the peace-loving peoples of the world, fervently desire peace and goodwill in and among the nations of the world. We are profoundly concerned regarding the war in Ukraine and plead for a speedy, mutually beneficial agreement. We tremble with fear, lest the war's continuation may result in a widening that would include other nations and the introduction of nuclear weapons. We pray and plead that all nations, where there is the potential of conflict or war, for dialogue and successful negotiations; that the United Nations be utilized more fully to accomplish its primary purpose, for which it was established, a place where the nations of the world would gather in peaceful respectful interactions wherever there was danger of conflict or war. Moreover, not only when there was danger of war, but that the nations would learn to live together as one human family. In some cities across the world, seemingly they have been infected with the war virus. In the USA massacres are happening daily, hatred, violence, killings are the order of the day. Concomitantly, hunger and homelessness, nakedness, disease, physical challenges of every description, desperately inadequate, understaffed dilapidated hospitals are pervasive across the globe. Our own mother nature seems to be angry with us as though we have done something wrong to her. It is a melancholy consideration that the land, resources, energy, creativity, and human toil that we put into the world’s militaries could heal and fix most, if not all, the aforementioned problems. Just last Thursday, June 1st, 2022 the Congress of the United States approved 40 billion dollars which total of 54 billion dollars that have been spent in Ukraine since March 2022. In approximately four months, America alone will have spent and will spend up to 54 billion dollars. Now, add what the other nations have spent including Russia, and then it becomes reasonable that as stated, the ills of the world could be eradicated. This is a great big beautiful world that the Creator has made for us, ALL OF US, to live in peace and happiness with one another. Let us hasten the day, (let us start today) fulfilling the words of the Prophet Isaiah written on the stone walls across the street. “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” Micah 4:3 Surely the peace-loving people of the world will shout out with one voice, “A consummation devoutly to be wished.” We have no choice, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who issued an Armageddon threat, “we must learn to live as brothers or die as fools”.

June 24, 2022 Morning Worship & Juneteenth On Sunday, June 19th at 11:30am our congregation in Jersey City, NJ had its Sunday morning conference call. We have not been inside a building for over two years. First, it was covid, and in the middle of covid, the owner sold the building in which our church was housed. To the eternal credit of our membership, they have continued to be together and worship together. We are still looking for a building that we can rent or share space. My theme was Name It, Frame It and Claim It. I told the story of how the people who were enslaved were free for two years but didn’t know it until they were informed by General Granger in Galveston, TX. I used the story to underscore that many of us are still enslaved to our habits, people, ideas, etc. and we don’t know how powerful we are. That we are free and don’t know it. We must learn to name ourselves, the people and the events and never to call anything or anyone slavemaster. Secondly, we must frame in our minds what we want. Some people use what is called mapmaking, that is to say, they cut from the magazine/newspaper a picture of what it is that they desire or trying to achieve. Claim it, whatever it is you desire, claim it. I used Jesus’ words, “whatsoever things you desire, believe that you have them and you shall receive them.” Believe that you have what you're praying for and act as though you have it and you will bring it to your existence, your objective. I told the story of Tupac Shakur, who joined our church when he was about 11 or 12 years old. His mother Afeni brought him, his sister Sekiywa and her sister Gloria. He said to me one day during his incarceration when he wanted to achieve something he’d draw a picture of it or find a picture of it and put it on the wall over his bed. He would not sleep in the bed, he would sleep on the floor, couch, or anywhere but in the bed until he achieved his objective. Name It, Frame It, Claim It. The Juneteenth Celebration at which I spoke was in Overpeck Park in New Jersey, it is a huge park. On one side of it was where we first started playing basketball together over 35 years ago with some of the fellas that still come around and make a good effort of trying to recapture some of the skills of their earlier years. The other side of the park is a huge stage, beautifully manicured land of trees, flowers, bushes and clear space decorated over hanging trees. Also it was near the river's edge which added to the beauty of it all. The celebration was organized by Chi Chi. There was all day picnicking with music and speakers. I spoke using the same thing that I use for the morning worship, Name it, Frame It, Claim It. I stayed long enough to greet the people. Mrs. Panel and her daughter Natacha were present as was the young man that I influenced years ago and who is now a principal. His name is Lamar Thomas, he reminded me of Mayor Eric Adams and many, many others who tell the same story. I always walk away overwhelmed with gratitude and joy and a sense of fulfillment that God had used me to influence so many lives. The weekend commemoration of the 40th anniversary June 12, 1982, is over. It was an exciting, enlightening, challenging several days. Starting Friday with the Interfaith ceremony at the House of the Lord Church in Brooklyn. There were 35-40 people present. At first, I was disappointed. But it seemed I was the only one disappointed. When it was brought to my attention that the number had quality and competition. It was Stop Gun Violence month. The same weekend was a weekend that others had focused on gun violence. In addition, global issues have never been at the top of most people's list of urgencies, especially people of African Ancestry. The organizing committees were Mayor Eric Adams Team, Herbert Daughtry Global Ministries, Coordinator of the June 12, 1982 Demonstration, National Action Network, June 12 Legacy Committee and Hiroshima Nagasaki Peace Committee. Mayor Adams spoke at the ceremony. He was, as usual, very eloquent. I particularly liked the fact that he detailed his involvement in the issues that the church had spearheaded or been deeply involved in. From being a young man at which I encouraged him to join the police force to the issues of police brutalities. Even to assist with security for dignitaries at the church. There were photos that I showed him to his delight. There were other speakers including Rev. Dr. Karen Daughtry of the House of the Lord Church, Bishop Eric Figueroa of New Life Tabernacle, Bishop Orlando Findlayter, New Hope Christian Fellowship, Imam Talib Abdur Rashid, Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood Inc., Reverend Dr. Allen Hand Sr of Little Rock Baptist Church, Reverend Gilford Monrose Faith Director/Executive Director of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, Leslie Cagan, coordinator for the June 12, 1982, Committee. Also in attendance was Minister Gregory Daughtry of the House of the Lord Church in Jersey City. The ceremony concluded with prayer and the blowing of the shofar (the ram's horn).

June 12, 2022 Intro to June 12 weekend The commemoration of the June 12, 1982 weekend, the largest demonstration in history, was a glowing success. All of the events achieved their objective. We will discuss the occasion starting next week. The weekend and days preparing for the weekend were long and grueling with meetings 24/7. Monday the week after there were still other things to do. Partnership of Faith Zoom Meeting We started 8:30-10am with a Zoom meeting with an organization we started in 1989. The name of the organization was called Partnership of Faith. The issues we discussed was revitalization of the organization and youth activities. The most notable act that we did was to start the Stop the Violence movement. In 1990, we organized a week of Stop the Violence with events in every borough. Stop the Violence became widespread and utilized by other organizations. I watched our slogan or watchwords capture our feelings and determination of that time “We’re fired up, Ain't gonna to take it no more”. The streets of Brooklyn and America and reverberated the thunderous voices of people who meant what they said. Office and Coordination Office work from 12-1:30pm, we went over the final draft for my book, Reflections on the Pandemic 2020 and an outline of my schedule and responses to phone calls, emails, etc. 1199 Installation of Officers I attended 1199 Installation of Officers, held at the Sheraton Hotel in Manhattan. It’s always great being with 1199 union people, especially the President George Grisham. 1199 has a history of being involved in the full range of human rights. Most unions only get involved in their issue. It is not so with 1199. We patted ourselves on the back for saving Interfaith Hospital in Brooklyn. We held daily rallies and on occasion all night rallies. The speakers included Bishop Barber who's organizing the Poor People’s Campaign, Mayor Eric Adams, and the State Attorney General, Tish James. Remembering Arthur Miller Jr., I departed the ceremony before the end. I regretted having to do so, but my next meeting was the I Remember Arthur Miller Jr., a virtual meeting. So, I left the meeting and found a quiet parking space on 10th Avenue between 51st and 52nd streets. The meeting lasted from 8-9:30pm. Minister Lorenzo Daughtry-Chambers, my grandson, was the moderator. I rehearsed the times in which Arthur Miller Jr., was choked to death by the police. We were on the street boycotting because Randy Evans, fifteen years old, had been killed for no reason in November 1976 and at the same time the following year, the jury pretty much acquitted the officer Robert Torsney. We were boycotting the Downtown Brooklyn stores when we heard that Arthur Miller Jr., had been choked to death. We were demonstrating in the evening when we heard Arthur Miller had been killed. We left the demonstration and went to a school and held a rally in the auditorium. The auditorium was packed, Arthur Miller was a model citizen, he was liked and respected by everybody including the police. I promised that Arthur Miller along with Randy Evans would never be forgotten and we would build a movement that would perpetuate their memory and empower our people. Out of that movement gained some of the prominent people in power positions. I’ve already mentioned Mayor Eric Adams. Lolisa Miller-Bradford, the youngest daughter of Arthur Miller, spoke of her growing up without her father. She introduced other members of the family and friends. She spoke of the family foundation- A Daughter Never Forgets Foundation. In addition to the police killings on June 15th Arthur Miller was killed on June 14, 1978, and on the 15th 1978 Victor Rhodes a fifteen-year-old African American youth was almost beaten to death by 30-50 members of the Hasidic community. So with the police brutality, the Hasidic cruelty and special treatment and other issues it was a challenging time and we had to organize and mobilize to meet the challenge and we did. The National Black United Front which became the internationally recognized preeminent mass-based and independent organization of people of African Ancestry consisting of all of the religious persuasions and ideologies. I spoke at the UN political committee annually. I sat with other liberation organizations, including Southwest African People’s Organization (SWAPO), Namibia, the Patriotic Front of Zimbabwe, The African National Congress of South Africa(ANC) and the Pan-African Congress (PAC), Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).