MEDIA CONTACT:
Carrie L. Williams
404.397.7667
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RESTAURANT TOWN HALL SERIES BEGINS TONIGHT
ON “SWEET AUBURN”
Series Explores Justice and Race In America
WHO: Harold Michael Harvey, author/journalist
WHAT: “Justice in the Round” Townhall Discussion
WHEN: Tonight, Tuesday, September 15, 2015
5:00pm – 7:00pm
WHERE:Sweet Auburn Seafood Restaurant
on “Sweet Auburn”
171 Auburn Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
As summer draws to a close, what was expected to be a hot summer of riots and protests over police killings of unarmed African Americans did not materialize. Civil Rights leaders opted instead to call for massive demonstrations to combat rising incidences of violent police confrontations with African Americans. Tomorrow, September 15, 2015, begins a season of national demonstrations in Washington, D. C. and New York City to dramatize the need for reform of the criminal justice system.
These national demonstrations will begin with the culmination of a one thousand mile march from Selma, Alabama to the nation’s capital led by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The NAACP termed their march, “Journey for Justice”.
On October 10, the Nation of Islam will march into Washington partly to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March and according to NOI leader Louis Farrakhan to demand Justice or Else.
On October 24, the Communist Revolutionary Party, USA has planned a march in New York City dubbed Rise up October. They are calling for Justice or Revolution.
Meanwhile, down in Atlanta, Georgia, Harold Michael Harvey, author of Justice in the Round: Essays on the American Jury System, will host a series of town hall meetings on historic Auburn Avenue to discuss Justice and Race in America.
“I didn’t see anyone talking about solving the problem,” Harvey explained when asked why he decided to convene a discussion on justice and race in America. “Obviously, I don’t see any utility in rioting and destruction of inner city neighborhoods and although I participated in protest marches in my youth, I see very little usefulness in protest marches. I think we have to sit down on the local level and work out these issues over justice and race,” Harvey elaborated.
“I’m not sure anyone will come out and discuss this topic with someone who is not recognized as a national leader on civil rights, but somebody needs to get the conversation started. Somehow we need to point our citizens in a direction that can have lasting impact upon, not only the criminal justice system in our country, but ultimately change the character of our community.
“When I thought about it, I said to myself, ‘Why not me?’ Back in late May of this year, I had dinner with Amelia Boynton Robinson in her front yard under a star lit sky. She urged me that evening to find something to do each day I opened my eyes that would be of service to the community of humankind.
“Tonight, I can’t think of a better thing to be doing than getting a conversation started on justice and race in America that can lead to a reformation in the way justice is dispensed. For me it is not a question of ‘Justice or Else’ that is needed; nor is the solution found in ‘Justice or Revolution.’ Neither do I seek a continuous ‘Journey for Justice.’
“For me, it is a matter of Justice coming full circle — Justice in the Round.”
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Thank you, I admire you thought and leadership.
Thank you. You have been unaware, but you have been a source of inspiration to me since the mid 1970s.