September 20th, 2007 (New York City) - "Welcome to Jean 6 City Hall (NYC)" came a booming voice projected from Democratic New York City Council member Charles Barron. He said this while his arms were totally outstretched with an arched back in order to rally the African-American brothers and sisters who came out in large numbers to City Hall In New York City at 12 noon for the Jena 6 press conference. This press conference was one of the many held around the country as a strategic plan for Thursday, September 20th, 2007 to protest the judicial and civil rights injustice of the six Black men involved in what is called "Jena 6" in Louisiana.

As one looked around during the assembly on the steps of City Hall, there was an incredible sea of Black. Not just the Black people in attendance, but also just about everyone was wearing black clothing (who were told in advance notice through the grapevine) as a symbolic gesture of unity. Some of the other Black leaders and/or speakers in attendance were Bob Law (civil rights activist), Barron's chief-of-staff Viola Plummer an John Martin Green (co-founder of the Black Men's Xchange-New York or BMX-NY).

Part of the 2+ hour press conference was utilized to inform and unify Black people around the Jena 6 case. It was also used as an opportunity for individuals to take the knowledge and their own grass-roots initiatives back to their respective churches, organizations, etc and fight for the gross injustices these Black men in Louisiana are facing.

Afterwards a peaceful rally march ensued (with people's hand held signs and many worn Jena 6 t-shirts) as people (and myself) walked in protest around the whole one square city block of City Hall. We came back around for a last speech from Bob Law as flyers of literature were handed out for different upcoming events including the September 27th, 2007 meeting at Riverside Church to continue more Jena 6 strategic planning.

Changing gears, what was particularly interesting but not surprising was the involvement of BMX-NY (www.bmxny.org) in this civil rights assembly. I say not surprising because I was involved in BMX-NY as part of the leadership for a little over 3 years. Their mission statement is as follows: Founded as an instrument of healing and empowerment, the Black Men's Xchange-New York (BMX-NY) offers advocacy and affirmation. We celebrate the uniqueness and power of same gender loving (SGL) African descended men; employing critical thinking, diversity and cultural affirmation while encouraging self-determination through self-identification . 

And though BMX-NY's weekly gatherings in Harlem on Friday nights are topics that are focused on issues and concerns specific to Black SGL (homosexual, bisexual and transgender) men, BMX-NY has always embraced the larger segments of the Black community by inviting heterosexual Black men and heterosexual Black women and SGL Black women to specific topic gatherings for bridge building purposes, and a discourse in mutual respect in understanding, affirmation and unity for working together. Outside of the gathering space, BMX-NY has been involved in Black political agendas such as the town hall meeting seeking justice for Rashawn Brazell. Rashawn was found dismembered and murdered in a NYC Tranist subway tunnel by the Nostrand Avenue train station in Brooklyn 2 years ago; and BMX-NY was invited to speak at the 10th anniversary of the Millions More Movement where BMX founder Cleo Manago was the guest speaker and addressed the Black family.

It is strides like these that make BMX-NY not just an advocacy entity for Black SGL brothers, but also fighting on behalf of broader issues facing the Black community. After all, at the end of the day and regardless of one's sexual expression, we are all people of African descent that MUST affirm and unify one another for causes that affect us. Through coalitions with the larger Black community, it begins to make it easier for some people in the larger Black community to see Black SGL (homosexual, bisexual and transgender) people as nothing more than family, too, that deserve respect while we fight for the betterment of all our lives.

Other pictures of the rally besides what you see here on GBMNews.com are viewable in my personal photography gallery at http://big-rod.myjalbum.net

Your can contact me via email at big.rod02@gmail.