Indigenous Peoples’ Day
October 12, 2020
Dear Sisters & Brothers,
October 12 is celebrated in Washington, DC and many other cities, states / provinces, and countries around the World as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In the past, many of us have observed October 12 with protests against honoring Christopher Columbus who initiated the genocide of the Indigenous People of the Western Hemisphere and People of African Descent in Africa and throughout the African Diaspora.
In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day and to celebrate the unbreakable bonds of friendship and solidarity between Indigenous Peoples of the Western Hemisphere, Palestinian People, African People (including all People of African Descent), and Oppressed Peoples world-wide, the Piscataway Indian Nation and Tayac Territory, the American Indian Movement (Mid-Atlantic Region), the American Indian Support Committee, the National Council of Arab Americans, the Hiroshima Nagasaki Peace Committee of the National Capital Area, the All African People’s Revolutionary Party (GC), and Pan African Roots invite the entire community to join us in an Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration on Monday, October 12, 2020 from 12 (Noon) to 3 pm at the lower end of Malcom X Park (also known as Meridian Hill Park).
Parking for the event can be found along 15th St, 16th St, and Florida Ave, NW. Because of the Covid-19 Pandemic we are asking all participants to practice 6’ self-distancing, to wear a mask and bring hand sanitizer.
The Celebration will feature solidarity messages from elected officials, church groups, labor unions, community, national and international organizations, cultural presentations by Native American, other Oppressed Peoples, and others in solidarity. Program will be announced
The Arts Development Center will provide sound, staging and live streaming. The DC Humanities Truck will provide access to its web-based exhibit projects and digital repository.
We need your endorsement and support! To add your organization’s endorsement or to volunteer, please contact John Steinbach at johnsteinbach1@verizon.net, or Bob Brown at paroots02@yahoo.com
Please help circulate this outreach letter widely. See you at Malcolm X Park or on the Internet.
Yours in Struggle,
Chief Billy Tayac, Piscataway Indian Nation and Tayac Territory
Pete Landeros, American Indian Movement (Mid-Atlantic Region)
Penny Williams, American Indian Support Group
Jafar Jafari, National Council of Arab Americans
John Steinbach, Hiroshima Nagasaki Peace Committee of the National Capital Area
Kamau Benjamin, All African People’s Revolutionary Party (GC)
Bob Brown, Pan African Roots
Initial List of Endorsers
(In the process of development)
| Representative | Organization |
| David Grasso | DC City Council |
| Isobel Sorenson | |
| Lee Robinson | Africa on the Move Radio / African Awareness Association (Richmond, VA) |
| Imhotep Ashanti | African Black Star (Kingston, Jamaica) |
| Tom Blanton | Afro-American Civil War Museum (Washington, DC) (for identification purposes) |
| Mtu Mweusi | All-African People's Revolutionary Party (GC) |
| Chuck Kaufman | Alliance for Global Justice (Tuscon, AZ) |
| Tony Gonzales | American Indian Movement (West) (San Francisco, CA) |
| Michael Nephew | American Indian Society |
| Haitham Suliman | Arab Baath Party |
| Mba Mbulu | Aset Books University (NC) |
| Max Obuszewski | Baltimore Nonviolence Center |
| Ajamu Baraka | Black Alliance for Peace |
| Black Lives Matter of Oklahoma (Oklahoma City, OK) | |
| Felipe Noguera | Caribbean Pan African Network |
| Lou Wolf | CovertAction Magazine |
| Dr. Boykins Saunders - (Richmond, VA) |
|
| Janine Bell | Elegba Folklore Society (Richmond, VA) |
| Gar Smith | Environmentalists Against War |
| Ezili Danto | Free Haiti Movement |
| Maurice Carney | Friends of the Congo |
| Paul Pumphrey | Friends of the Congo |
| Angaza Laughinghouse | Fruit of Labor |
| Gray Panthers of Metro Washington, DC | |
| Grupo Waypa | |
| Gail Walker | IFCO / Pastors for Peace |
| Pam Africa | International Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia Abu-Jamal |
| Akbar Muhammad | International Representative of Nation of Islam / Minister Louis Farrakhan |
| Peter Urban | International Republican Socialist Network (IRSN) |
| Daniel Osuna | International Secretary Emeritus of the LaRaza Unida Party |
| Keith Bennett | Kim II Sung Kim Song II Foundation (London) |
| Malaya Movement (Baltimore, MD) | |
| Sukant Chandan | Malcolm X Movement (London) |
| Doc Powell | Malcom X Drummers & Dancers |
| Obi Egbuna | Mass Emphasis Children's History & Theater Company / Mass Emphasis |
| Sis. Empress Phile Chionesu | Million Women March / Universal Movement (Philadelphia, PA) |
| Celine Nayah | MUBWERT COOP (Cameroon) |
| Melvin W. Smith | MWS Journal (MA) |
| Camile Landry | Nappy Roots Bookstore (Oklahoma City, OK) |
| Banbose Shango | Nappy Roots Bookstore (Oklahoma City, OK) |
| Jafar Jafari | National Council of Arab Americans |
| Dr. Richard Bensen | NOMMO Scholars Collective (Atlanta, GA) |
| Omma Appiah Amankwaa | Osagefyo Youth Movement (Ghana) |
| Babatune Akinwole | Pan-African Coalition (Cincinnati, OH) |
| Netfa Freeman | Pan-African Community Association |
| Akua Holt | Pan-African Journal/ KPFT Pacifica Radio ( Huston, TX) |
| Neil Holmes | Pan-African Revolutionary Socialist Party (Richmond, VA) |
| Zethu Mdudo | Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania (Azania/South Africa) |
| Ismael Conde | Parti de la Revolution Populaire Africain de Guinee |
| Peaceful Sunrise Buddhist Group (Hagerstown, MD) | |
| Luci Murphy | People's Music Network (Washington, DC) |
| Sharon Black | Peoples Power Assembly (Baltimore, MD) |
| Shawn Marta Harrah | Pima Indian Youth |
| Positive Action & Creativity Brigade & Zimbabwe-Cuba Friendship Assoc. | |
| Jonathan Hutto | Prince Georges County Peoples Coalition (Prince Georges County, MD) |
| Fred Hampton Jr. | Prisoners of Conscience Committee / Black Panther Cubs |
| Maurice Robinson | SLANG (Richmond, VA) |
| Spiral Grove Interpath Community of Nature | |
| Andre Powell | Struggle La Lucha / Socialist Unity Party (Baltimore, MD) |
| Cheryl Labash | Struggle La Lucha / Socialist Unity Party (Baltimore, MD) |
| Dr. Dennis Rogers | Student Leadership Development LLC (Dover, DE) |
| Atty. William Jackson | The Law Office of William Dave Jackson |
| Akwete Tyehimba | The United States of Africa Revolutionary Party |
| Dr. Maulana Karenga | The Us Organization & National Association of Kawaida Organizations |
| Sheila Hansen | United Tribes of the Shenandoah |
| JoJo Shifletete | United Tribes of the Shenandoah |
| Uptown Boyz | |
| Gerald Perreira | Victory of the People Guyana |
| Phil Wilayto | Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality |
| Pastor R. M. Hunter | Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church (Richmond, VA) |
| Simin Royanian | Women for Peace and Justice in Iran |
| David Swanson | World Beyond War (Washington, DC) |