Gangster Move by Mayor Lightfoot & 2 Aldermen delayed Vote to rename Lake Shore Drive after DuSable |
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Black Heroes Matter (BHM) Coalition will continue the push for Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Drive. Join the DuSable rally this Saturday, May 29th at noon/12:pm by Grant Park Petrillo Music Shell, East Jackson, between Columbus and Lake Shore Drive. BHM says thanks for your support. Your family, friends and/or associates can chip in to support our campaign for DuSable Drive, Monument, and Holiday by clicking this GoFumdme link https://gf.me/u/x99m75, and sign this petition http://chng.it/DLhPnQDfnv. |
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Despite the political tactics used to delay the affirmative vote for DuSable Drive during Wednesday’s Chicago City Council meeting, Ephraim Martin and members of the Black Heroes Matter Coalition (BHM) plan to continue to fight for the renaming of outer Lake Shore Drive (LSD) to Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Drive. The group will assemble to rally and protest on Saturday, May 29th, 2021 at Noon near the Grant Park Petrillo Music Band Shell at East Jackson Street between Columbus Drive and Lake Shore Drive. After enduring a nearly 4-hour long city council meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Martin, Chair of BHM Coalition along with the Entertainment/Youth Committee, Chair, Tremell Williams, quickly discovered that its politics as usual in Chicago. They, as well as other coalition members and supporters Minister Eric Sexton, Mr. Olivier Kamanzi, and Mr. Etzer Cantave, gave compelling remarks on DuSable during the meeting as well as provided important reasons why LSD should be renamed DuSable Drive, but their heartfelt petitions fell on deaf ears. When the long-awaited Chicago ordinance number 02019-7918 was brought before the City Council by 21st Ward Alderman Howard Brookins, Jr., Chair of the Transportation Committee, 4th Ward Alderwoman Sophia King quickly called for a roll call vote, but it was 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins and 30th Ward Alderman Ariel Reboyras who Mayor Lori Lightfoot (the Chairperson) recognized as they called for the ordinance to be deferred and published. |
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The Mayor then quickly rushed the approval through-- further delaying the full City Council vote to rename Lake Shore Drive to DuSable Drive. Mr. Martin said, “This was a blatant attempt to delay and prolong the approval of the ordinance because the Mayor knows that we have the votes. Her gangster tactics must stop!” Alderman David Moore (17th Ward) and 4th Ward Alderwoman Sophia King objected and attempted to call for the vote several times but to no avail. Dismissing their appeals as disruptions, Mayor Lightfoot pushed the balance of the agenda forward and within 20 minutes called upon 7th Ward Alderman Gregory Mitchell to move to adjourn the meeting. Later in the day, during her own press conference, Mayor Lightfoot responded to a question from media concerning the deferred DuSable ordinance by saying that she is all for doing something grand for Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, the city’s founder, but didn’t believe that simply changing the “iconic Lake Shore Drive to DuSable Drive” was it. The Black Heroes Matter Coalition believes that the name change is necessary and will demonstrate the Mayor’s and City Leaders’ commitment to effectuate positive change in city government. “This city has a long, deeply entrenched history of institutional racism and today was a prime example of it. This strategic move by the Mayor was to deny DuSable, the Father of Chicago, his respect and honor. Her actions along with the help of her council allies only highlight the continued systemic racism and discrimination against Black and Brown people in Chicago.”, Mr. Martin said. |
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He further stressed that the coalition will rally to protest the blocking of this historic vote on Saturday, May 29th, 2021 at Noon near the Grant Park Petrillo Music Band Shell at East Jackson Street between Columbus Drive and Lake Shore Drive. All DuSable supporters are invited. For more information, please email bheroesmatter@gmail.com or call 312/719-6181 or 815-593-1695. About BHM: Black Heroes Matter Coalition is an affiliate of Martin’s International whose objective is “Bringing Nations Together Through Music and Culture”. Our focus is on the Black founder of Chicago, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable. We are pushing to correct the injustices to DuSable and to give him a major Monument, a City Holiday, and to rename Lake Shore Drive to DuSable Drive. To support, visit www.Blackheroesmatter.org or click the following links: GoFundMe https://gf.me/u/x99m75, petition http://chng.it/DLhPnQDfnv. |
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