People's World 41st Annual African American History Month Celebration

Indict the System - Life Matters for All - Let Us Breathe & Grow

HARTFORD Saturday, February 21 at 6:30 PM at King-Davis Center 77 Huyshope Ave

NEW HAVEN Sunday, February 22 Youth March 1:30, Program 4:00 PM at 37 Howe St

The 41st Annual African American History Month Celebration, "Indict the System - Life Matters for All - Let Us Breathe & Grow" will feature special guest Zenobia Thompson a long time social justice activist in St. Louis Missouri, who will share experiences from Ferguson and call for a movement to end police brutality and structural and institutional racism in our country.

Thompson, a retired nurse and health care activist, is a board member of Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and participates with Jobs with Justice, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and the Organization for Black Struggle. She was the first recipient of the Martin Luther King Award 37 years ago for leading the struggle to save Homer G. Phillips Hospital. She is a member of the National Committee of the Communist Party USA.

Hartford and New Haven events include a home made buffet. A donation of $5 or what you can afford is requested.

HARTFORD:

The celebration will take place on Saturday evening, February 21 at 6:30 pm at the King-Davis Labor Center, 77 Huyshope Ave. with remarks by Zenobia Thompson.

NEW HAVEN:

37 Howe Street

1:30 pm MARCH

"Hands Up, Hoodies Up, Jobs for Youth, Jobs for All!" Please join the New Elm City Dream and the New Haven YCL in a march honoring Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, and all others lost to racist violence.  The youth say: "Come out and support the loved ones we've lost and the changes we are going to make." The march will begin and end at the New Haven Peoples' Center, 37 Howe Street.

4:00 pm CELEBRATION

Immediately following the march. The celebration will include remarks by Zenobia Thompson, drumming by Brian Jarawa Gray and presentations of prizes in the High School Arts and Writing Competition, "How Do We Achieve Justice for All?" highlighting the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and focusing on recent police killings of black youth across the country. Deadline for entries is February 12. Information at: ctpeoplebeforeprofits.blogspot.com or call 203-624-8664.

These events open the 2015 People's World fund drive in Connecticut. Your contribution toward the $2,500 goal for African American History month is much needed and appreciated to sustain this working class voice against racism and for equality. Read peoplesworld.org daily on-line and sign up to get the CT print edition.

How Do We Achieve Justice For All?

African American History Month 2015

Arts and Writing Competition for High School Students

Sponsored annually by the Connecticut People's World Committee to remember the

lives and work of Dalzenia Henry and Virginia Henry who devoted themselves to the

young people of New Haven and to making a better future.

How Do We Achieve Justice For All?

"The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges. " -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

When the civil rights movement won passage of the Voting Rights Act fifty years ago in 1965, Martin Luther King Jr. said this was part of a continuing struggle to end the "triple evils of poverty, racism and war..."

The Voting Rights Act banned racial discrimination in voting practices by the federal government as well as by state and local governments. That goal has not been realized. In 2013 the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated the most important enforcement measures. Since then many states have enacted laws which makes it very difficult for eligible voters to exercise their democratic right to cast their ballots. These laws have especially hurt voters in African American and Latino communities.

With the peaceful march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965 demonstrators demanding passage of the Voting Rights Act were brutally attacked by law enforcement officials. As a result, grassroots protests sprang up across the country. Today racial profiling of Blacks and Latinos and police killings of Black youth in impoverished communities have given rise to a national movement for fair and equal policing.

Express in artwork, poetry, essay or song:

Your vote is your voice. If your voice were heard what ideas would you present to local, state and federal government toward a bill of rights for fair and equal policing? What actions could you take to achieve justice for all?

Requirements + Art work – Paper size not larger than 12” x 18”

+ Essay, poem or song – Not longer than 2 pages

Deadline Entries must be received by 5 pm on Thursday, February 12, 2015

Name, address, phone, e-mail, age, school, teacher's name must be included

Submission Electronic: ct-pww@pobox.com

Mail: CT People's World, 37 Howe Street, New Haven. CT 06511

Prizes Gift certificates ($100 first place, $50 second place, $25 third place) and books

Presentation Prizes and recognition for all entries will be presented on Sunday, February 22,

2015 at 4:00 pm at the New Haven Peoples Center, 37 Howe Street, New Haven

during the 41st Annual African American History Month Celebration sponsored by

the Connecticut People's World Committee.

Information 203-624-8664 or e-mail to: ct-pww@pobox.com