Big & Historic Win for DuSable -Black Founder of Chicago! Yes, Black Heroes Matter! |
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Alderpersons Moore-King, Martin's International- Black Heroes Matter Coalition, and Mayor Lightfoot made History with Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive Compromise, and they are all smiling.Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive Victory, Unity, and, Motor Caravan Rally Celebration this Saturday, July 3rd, 2021 in Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois. Get free tickets at Eventbrite.com, search DuSable Lake Shore Drive |
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On June 25th, one day after the Black Heroes Matter (BHM) Coalition Chairman, Mr. Ephraim Martin accepted Mayor Lightfoot’s compromise proposal to combine Chicago’s founding Father’s name with Lake Shore Drive; with a 33 to 15 vote, Chicago’s full City Council voted “yes”, and renamed the street as “Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive.” Ephraim Martin, who is also the president of Martin’s International, under whose umbrella, the BHM Coalition was organized, said, “This victory did not come easy, for more than 25 years our organization and others have been calling for the wrongs to Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable to be corrected. The late Mayor Harold Washington designated a Park for DuSable, but after 34 years nothing has been done to make it a reality. The BHM Coalition started calling for the renaming of Lake Shore Drive to DuSable Drive, a 25-foot Monument, and a city Holiday, in May 2020. The Pandemic and the gruesome murder of George Floyd pushed us to the edge, which forced Martin’s International, to start the DuSable campaign. My wife Justice Shelvin L. M. Hall, Ret., Illinois Appellate Court came up with the name “Black Heroes Matter (BHM)”, which we have registered under Martin’s International to start our Coalition. On July 4th of last year, the DuSable campaign officially kicked off with a successful rally and march which started at 401 Michigan Avenue and ended in Chicago Grant Park. Since that time, the BHM Coalition has been making weekly remarks, in the Chicago City Council meetings that now total well over 100 comments, to date; primarily by Coalition members: Tremell Williams - Youth/Entertainment Chair, Hon. Shelvin L. M. Hall-Political Chair, Marilyn May - Communication Co-Chair, Valerie Hill- Communication Chair, Minister Eric Sexton – Faith-based Chair, Paul Pearson - Mobilization Chair, Elsie Hernandez - Education Chair, ALJ Yolaine Dauphin-Haitian American Lawyers Assn., Pastor Eric Taylor, Olivier Kanazi- African Global Chamber of Commerce, and BlaqIce – Poet, among other Coalition members.” Visit www.blackheroesmatter.org to see all members and supporters. Mr. Martin asserted. |
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The BHM Coalition has grown to some 80 organizations and businesses, most of whom have sent customized letters to the mayor asking for proper recognition of Chicago’s Black founding Father, DuSable. Without question this DuSable victory is believed to be one of the most historic and significant victories for Chicago in over 100 years. Until 1996, John Kinzie, who purchased DuSable’s property, was on display in the Chicago Historical Society Museum as the Father of Chicago. This win for Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive is a great achievement for the BHM Coalition; however, the minimum 25- foot Monument, the City Holiday, and of course, the long-awaited Park that is under the umbrella of DHA and another organization are the other objectives for the people to claim complete victory. “The good news is, Mayor Lightfoot has proposed US$40 million dollars for various DuSable projects, which should be enough to cover all the project items listed above. And there is even better news, from the main opponent to the Drive, Alderman Hopkins, who wants to rename the “Millennium Park” as “DuSable Park”. The BHM now calls on him at his earliest convenience, to sponsor an ordinance to rename Millennium Park as DuSable Park, which will supplement Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive.” All of this will be a testament to the world that Chicago is leading the way to correct wrongs of the past, and to end Systemic Racism, for the rest of the country to take note and follow.” Mr. Martin, concluded. All the BHM Coalition supporting organizations and businesses, along with GoFundMe donors and petition signers can be seen at www.Blackheroesmatter.org. To support this effort, visit www.Blackheroesmatter.org or click the following links: GoFundMe https://gf.me/u/x99m75, Petition http://chng.it/DLhPnQDfnv. For more information: 877/973-4423 or Email: Bheroesmatter@gmail.org. TO ARRANGE INTERVIEWS and PRESS CONTACTS: bheroesmatters@gmail.com or 312-719-6181 or 815/593-1695. |
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