Presenter
Presented by Ms. Carlisle
Body
Whereas, the Pittsburgh Anti-Sweatshop Community Alliance and Allegheny County ACORN are leading the second Pittsburgh delegation to Topeka, Kansas to commemorate the 51st Anniversary of Brown v Board of Education and the dedication of the Lucinda Todd Memorial Bridge. The dedication will take place on May 16; and
Whereas, the following Pittsburghers traveled to Topeka in 2004 and participated in the march from Sumner School to attend the official opening of the Brown vs.Board Historic Site were, Celeste Taylor, Kenneth Miller, Casey Capitolo, Rene Wilson, Shayla Wilson, Roxanne Banks-Williams, Hunter McCurdy, Forrest McCurdy, Robin Capitolo-Zuidema, Cannel Hammond and Jerry Johnson. The march from Sumner School to the grand opening of the Monroe School was organized by Sonny Scroggins and the delegation for 2005 will be Celeste Taylor, Kenneth Miller, Gail Williams and Channel Hammond; and
Whereas, the people of Topeka, KS have a special obligation and opportunity to speak for those denied educational opportunities. We fought for equal education in Kansas through demanding legal rights, and we understand that the law alone was insufficient to create; and
Whereas, Celeste Taylor of Pittsburgh will give the keynote address at the Topeka Brown Anniversary Ceremony; and
Whereas, the people of Pittsburgh received the testimony from the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity on October 16th, 2004 at Freedom Corner. October 16th, 2004 was the 7th Anniversary of the 1997 Pittsburgh Anti Sweatshop Ordinance, a piece of legislation intended to protect the rights of workers who sew clothing purchased for use by the City of Pittsburgh. The Brown vs. Brown National Historic Site is an appropriate place to bring testimony about injustice and the struggle for educational opportunities; and
Whereas, Brown vs. Board overturned Plessy vs Ferguson, the idea that "separate but equal" facilities could be provided, issues of equal education and resegregation is not an option; and
Title
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh, recognizes and commend "Lucinda Todd for her commitment to build a civil rights bridge from Topeka, KS to the whole world through her commitment to testify and organize on the road to education justice. It's a bridge we must continue to build and cross many more times.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh, declares Monday, May 16, 2005 "Lucinda Todd Day" in the City of Pittsburgh and extend our greetings to those gathered at the Lucinda Todd Memorial Bridge in Topeka, KS.