New York, NY (1888PressRelease)
May 11, 2008 - Families United for Racial & Economic Equality holds forum to protest massive development and day care shut downs in low income communities
Several hundred families and members of Families United for Racial & Economic Equality (FUREE) hold their annual convention to demand elected officials and candidates to respond to policies that affect low income families on Saturday, May 17, 2008 from 1 to 3 p.m. Families will address the displacement of low income families and small businesses due to massive development in Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene, the shutting down of family day care centers, lack of quality affordable food and affordable housing and other issues that primarily affect low income families. The convention will be held at PS 67 at 51 Edwards Street in Fort Greene Brooklyn.
Council Members Charles Barron and Leticia James; NYS Assembly Members Hakeem Jeffries, Karim Camara and Joseph Lentol; as well as NYS Senator Velmanette Montgomery and Congressman Ed Towns will appear to answer questions and address members’ demands with an expected audience of over Brooklyn 400 residents, small business owners, day care providers and youth.
A march down Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn will follow the forum to protest lack of community involvement in upcoming development plans. Led by a 75 person youth marching band, over 400 families will march holding signs that will say “Development for our People, Not Your Profit,” and “This Community is OUR Goldmine.” The march will stop at several places significant to the members of the organization including the Underground Railroad that was slated to be taken by eminent domain but halted after FUREE co-filed a lawsuit challenging the city.
“Because of development in the area, our families don’t have a supermarket, pharmacy or a laundromat. It’s like we’re being shut out of our own communities. It’s time for elected officials to stand up and do what we put them in office for--to represent their constituents,” Cynthia Butts, FUREE Organizer and resident of Walt Whitman Houses in Fort Greene for over 50 years.
Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE) is a Brooklyn-based multi-racial organization that organizes low-income and working families to promote equality, improve economic conditions, and build collective power to win systemic changes at the local, state and national level. Primarily led by women of color with an emphasis on community and family, FUREE uses direct action, leadership development, community organizing, and political education to achieve our vision and goals.
Contact:
Eman Rimawi:
eman ( @ ) furee dot org,
(718) 852-2960,
ext. 301
Valery Jean:
valery ( @ ) furee dot org,
(718) 852-2959,
ext. 301
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