Hello everyone!  I don’t know about you but I’ve had a pretty busy week.  And that is a good thing.  So, I would like to share an update on the Black Heroes Matter Coalition’s quest to have the leaders of the city of Chicago properly honor it’s founder, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable.  Here’s the latest press release…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Black Heroes Matter Coalition Accepts Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s

Proposed DuSable Drive Compromise, but must be voted on this Friday, June 25^th, 2021

(CHICAGO- June 24th, 2021)  The Black Heroes Matter (BHM) Coalition Chairman, Mr. Ephraim Martin announced during a Press Conference today that key coalition members and supporters have revisited the DuSable Drive Compromise that was proposed earlier this week by Mayor Lightfoot and her administration.  The outcome is a positive one.  One that will honor Chicago’s founding Father in a profound way.

“The BHM Coalition’s, position for a compromise is if the mayor would allow the vote this Friday (June 25th), we will accept the proposed adjustment to rename the Lake Shore Drive roadway as ‘The Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive, only if the voting can be done this Friday, June 25th, 2021,  Mr. Martin stressed.  While the proposal was only a verbal one, he ensured other Black Heroes Matter (BHM) Coalition members that Alderpersons David Moore and Sophia King (the sponsors of the ordinance) are working to make it ready for a vote during the City Council meeting this Friday.  Also, during the press conference, BHM Coalition’s Political Chairperson, Justice Shelvin L.M. Hall, talked about the art of compromise and how significant it is to recognize when it is a good thing to do.  Earlier in the week, the BHM Coalition leaders were caught off guard with the midnight hour compromise and believe that it is now time for the people to see the progress.

In the past year, BHM leaders, members and supporters have been working endlessly to affect a positive outcome for DuSable by attending City Council Committee meetings and other events;  making phone calls; distributing important information and updates; etc.  Some of those include, Tremell Williams, Youth/Entertainment Chairman; Elsie Hernandez, Education Chairperson; Valerie Hill and Marilyn May, Communications Chair and Co-Chair; Joel Stanford,  Minister Eric Sexton, Pastor Eric Taylor, Minister Betty Kellum, Olivier Kamanzi, Yolaine Dauphin, Claire Moreau, and Blaq Ice who opened and closed today’s press conference with remarkable poems entitled “Black Heroes Matter” and “Get Your Knee off Our Neck”.

They all concurred that they would continue in that work until DuSable is properly honored by the City of Chicago.  BHM Chairman, Martin said that he is grateful for the work of his team and concluded with “We now call on all Council members to be united to make this a unanimous vote to honor Chicago’s founding Father, Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, the man who journeyed from the Caribbean country of Haiti to start this great city that we all now enjoy.”

Last May, shortly following the gruesome police murder of George Floyd, Mr. Martin and his wife, the Hon. Shelvin L.M. Hall, Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, now retired, formed the Black Heroes Matter (BHM) Coalition, as an assumed name corporation under MIF.  They started with more than 20 supporting organizations and has now grown to some 80 organizations and businesses.  All supporting organizations and businesses, along with GoFundMe donors and petition signers can be seen at http://www.Blackheroesmatter.org.

To support this effort, visit http://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.

Friends, have a wonderful rest of the week.  And as always, stay safe and be well.  Remember to strengthen your immune system by eating healthy and taking a good multi-vitamin; wear your mask; watch your distance; and wash your hands often.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.  And, so it is.

The latest broadcast is posted on https://youtube.com/MarilynsCafeSociety.  Also, check out marilynscafesociety.com.  And, be sure to connect to my social media from there as well as “like”, “subscribe”, “share”, and “follow”.  Peace.

Live. Laugh. LOVE.

Marilyn

My friends, how are you doing?  Enjoying the summer-like weather?  This week, I thought that I would share the updates on the journey to renaming outer Lake Shore Drive to DuSable Drive.  Read this press release from earlier this month.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    

Mayor’s $30m dollar proposal for DuSable Project pleasant surprise to

  BHM Coalition Chairman but must be in addition to DuSable Drive

(CHICAGO- June 1st, 2021)

After one year of the Black Heroes Matter (BHM) Coalition launched to correct the wrongs to Chicago’s Founding Father, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, Coalition Chairman, Mr. Ephraim Martin reiterated during a meeting with BHM members and supporters that despite the deferral by Mayor Lightfoot and two Aldermen last Wednesday, May 26^th, BHM- DuSable Project are on a winning track with no plans to look back.

We can declare partial victory, because of the BHM Coalition campaign, the Mayor is proposing $30 million dollars to build the major Monument; start the process of building DuSable Park that was authorized 34 years ago by the first Black Mayor of Chicago, the late Harold Washington; and develop a DuSable Riverwalk among other honors.  However, the proposal must also include the renaming of Lake Shore Drive to DuSable Drive as first priority next month.

The Mayor, while announcing her proposed $30 million dollar plan, said they, (meaning the Black Heroes Matter Coalition and/or Alderman David Moore), “want Lake Shore Drive or nothing.”  To set the record straight, what Mr. Martin recently told the Mayor’s Administration is that “We have already compromised.  Alderman Moore and Alderwoman Sophia King, the sponsors for the delayed ordinance, have long changed the order to make the renaming for the Outer LSD only.  We told the Mayor’s Administration that we want outer Lake Shore Drive and everything else that we have been requesting for DuSable since last May of 2020.”

As an enhancement to DuSable Drive which the BHM expect will be voted on and confirmed by June 23^rd, the BHM welcomes the funds the Mayor has offered.  However, we need to see the proposal in writing and with a timeline from start to finish on all the projects.

The main objectives of BHM continue to be renaming the Outer Lake Shore Drive (LSD) as Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Drive, a full city Holiday, and a minimum of 25-foot Monument for DuSable.  Also, to further end systemic racism including police brutality as well as to bring change to the U.S. Postal Zip Code System.

Again, the three demands outlined in our July 4^th, 2020 protest, rally, and march from DuSable Bridge at 401 N. Michigan Avenue to the Grant Park Petrillo Music Shell came with deadlines.  The people want and need to see the progress.  The interruptions by the Mayor’s administration over the last six months has slowed the progress on renaming LSD as DuSable Drive.  If the Mayor will allow the June 23^rd vote, we can see real progress with the renaming of LSD as DuSable Drive.

On April 29th, the Transportation and Ways Committee unanimously voted for the renaming of LSD as DuSable Drive but the full city council vote was blocked by the Mayor and two Aldermen, Brian Hopkins and Ariel Reboyras from the 2nd and 30th Wards. “We are asking the Mayor to adhere to the will of the people and the Transportation and Ways Committee.  Let the full city council members, who were elected by the people, exercise their responsibility to vote on Alderman Moore’s and Alderwoman King’s ordinance to rename LSD to DuSable Drive.”, BHM Chairman, Martin said.

Last May, shortly following the gruesome police murder of George Floyd, Mr. Martin and his wife, the Hon. Shelvin L.M. Hall, Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, now retired, formed the Black Heroes Matter (BHM) Coalition, as an assumed name corporation under MIF.  They started with more than 20 supporting organizations and has now grown to some 80 organizations and businesses.  All supporting organizations and businesses, along with GoFundMe donors and petition signers can be seen at www.Blackheroesmatter.org.

To support this effort, visit http://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.

Friends, be sure to sign the petition.  As always, stay safe and be well.  Remember to strengthen your immune system by eating healthy and taking a good multi-vitamin; wear your mask; watch your distance; and wash your hands often.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.  And, so it is.

The latest broadcast is posted on https://youtube.com/MarilynsCafeSociety.  Also, check out marilynscafesociety.com.  And, be sure to connect to my social media from there as well as “like”, “subscribe”, “share”, and “follow”.  Peace.

Live. Laugh. LOVE.

Marilyn