Nelson Mandela — Long And Mighty March
Saturday, June 21, 2014, twenty-four years to the date, from 10:00 AM to 12 noon, the people of Brooklyn will commemorate the 24th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s visit to New York City in 1990.
The program will be held at Columbus Park-Borough Hall Plaza near 209 Joralemon Street in the Brooklyn Heights section. This event is free and open to the public. Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, Office of South African Consul General in New York City, Rev. Dr. Herb Daughtry, labor unions, youth groups, and other noted anti-apartheid activists are expected to participate.
Cultural activities provided by the Jazz Drummer’s Circle and South African musicians.
The event is co-sponsored by the Office of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Committee to Remember Nelson Mandela, and Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium. Brooklyn fondly remembers Mr. Mandela’s June 21, 1990 visit as part of his eight city USA tour. Prominent Brooklynites Al Vann, Roger Green, Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry and community activist Jitu Weusi were part of the national effort to dismantle apartheid.
Mandela’s first official stop was in central Brooklyn. This trip was made just months after his freedom from 27 years of imprisonment in South Africa.
The NYPD estimated that 100,000 Brooklynites greeted Mandela’s motorcade as it passed through the neighborhoods of East New York, Fort Greene and other sections.
Mr. Mandela addressed New Yorkers in Bedford Stuyvesant at Boys and Girls High School. This high school is the host campus of the recently named NYC educational institution, Nelson Mandela School for Social Justice. Boys and Girls also hosted a celebration of life ceremony for Nelson Mandela on December 14. 2013. Held in the middle of a snowstorm over 300 people braved the conditions to honor the international icon for justice and peace, Nelson Mandela.
The Committee to Remember Nelson Mandela was formed in December 5, 2013 to keep the memory of the icon for social justice and peace alive. It was also inspired by the spirit of Brooklyn’s community activist Jitu Weusi. Additional support came from Public Advocate Letitia James, Honorable Albert Vann, Dr. Una Clarke, Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry, South African native Bongani Sibeko-son of freedom fighter David Sibeko; executive committee members: Christine Parker, Mark Henegan, Deidre Olivera, and Bob Myers.
Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium/CBJC founded in 1999, is an amalgam of patrons, entertainment venues, faith based institutions, community organizations and musicians. Over the past 15 years CBJC has presented an annual spring festival, established a Brooklyn Jazz Hall of Fame & Museum ™ and produced yearly programs that feature local jazz talent.
The consortium co-sponsored, with the North West Province government agency, the February 2007 Jazz Africa Heritage Pilgrimage to South Africa. CBJC is a nonprofit corporation committed to preserving, promoting, and supporting live music within the underserved communities of Brooklyn.
For more information about the event: Bob Myers [email protected] (718) 467-1527
