October 7, 2013

National Heroes’ Day: Where's the Outrage?


RESPECT Garvey: Jamaica’s First National Hero

National Heroes’ Day will be celebrated in Jamaica on October 21, 2013, at various locations in Jamaica and the diaspora.

Among the heroes to be honored will be the Right Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jamaica’s First National Hero. This is only fitting. Marcus Garvey was the first of the modern Jamaican heroes to propose the idea of nationhood, and in his seminal work, The Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey, he outlined the values which have been at the core of the RESPECT Garvey campaign: Redemption, Education, Self-Reliance, Purpose, Entrepreneurship, Community and Tradition.




Yet despite Garvey’s enormous contributions to Jamaica, Central, South, and North America, Africa, Britain and the Commonwealth, which have been acknowledged by leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Kwame Nkrumah, and Jomo Kenyatta,  Marcus Garvey is still regarded as a felon by the Department of Justice in the United States of America.




Where is the outrage regarding the disrespect of Garvey and his legacy? Why have we allowed our National Hero to be dishonored for so long?


Could it be that we are lacking the pride and respect that Garvey tried to instill in Africans at home and abroad?

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The Coalition for the Exoneration of Marcus Garvey is petitioning Senator Bill Nelson, Representative Frederica Wilson, and the Congress of the United States of America for the exoneration of Marcus Garvey:

http://www.causes.com/actions/1722148-urge-congress-to-exonerate-civil-rights-leader-marcus-garvey

We are also petitioning President Barack Obama to exonerate Marcus Garvey:

http://signon.org/sign/exonerate-marcus-garvey?source=c.url&r_by=4631897

Thank you for your support.

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