Sheikh Musa Drammeh Host of the Claudette Colvin Day event held at St. Helena's Church 1315 Olmstead Avenue in the Parkchester section of the Bronx, Saturday March 2, 2019 opened with the following.
Dear New Yorkers,
It is snowing in New York today. But if she could stood her ground in exercising her “Constitutional Rights” at the tender age of 15 on Wednesday, March 2, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama for us to sit-down, we shall defiantly celebrate her world-changing day under any weather conditions. Claudette Colvin Day.
Ms. Claudette Colvin was to have a street renamed for her, but complications at City Hall will make that happen in the spring or summer when the weather will be much warmer and nicer, with the hope that Ms. Colvin will be able to see the street co-naming. The other problem was that Claudette Colvin is not well as she approaches her 80th birthday. Organizers of Claudette Colvin Day, and having a street co-named in her honor would like to have Ms. Colvin present to see the street being renamed for her.
Father David of St. Helena Church gave the opening prayer. Assemblyman Jose Rivera then went on to say that it was people like Claudette Colvin who are the unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement, and it is people like Ms. Colvin who children do not know was the first person, not Rosa Parks to refuse to give up her seat on a bus in an unrespectful time in the south to people of color.
Recently elected Parkchester Assemblywoman Karines Reyes said that she is a nurse who is a rabble rouser, and that Jose Rivera is a trouble maker.
Councilman Andy King sent his Bronx District office manager (and Yo-Yo Wizard) Brian Melford with a certificate of recognition of Ms. Claudette Colvin.
Parkchester District Leader John Perez who was at last years Claudette Colvin Day where Ms. Colvin received a flag that flew over the capital from the previous congressman, brought his daughter Emma with him. District Leader Perez said that he is teaching his young daughter about icons like Claudette Colvin, because it is very important that children know who really made the history, and that those people don't always get the credit they deserve.
This event was presented by Project Peace Lights.
Above - Assemblyman Jose Rivera speaks about the history of Claudette Colvin, and Assemblywoman Karines Reyes added to what Assemblyman Rivera said.
Below - Councilman Andy King's Bronx District office manager talks about the Certificate of Recognition he brought from Councilman Andy King for Ms. Colvin.
Above - Parkchester District Leader John Perez brought his daughter Emma up on stage with him. He said that it is important for young children to know the real events that happened like Ms. Colvin being the first Black woman not willing to give up her seat in the 1950's, and not just what is written in history books that Rosa Parks was the first Black woman not willing to give up her seat.
Below - A survivor from the Rwanda Genocide of young girls spoke of the importance of speaking up and not allowing one to give in to the pressures young girls face today.
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