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Solidarity with a Nia
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., once said “Our nettlesome task is to discover how to organize our strength into compelling power.” On Friday, May 15th, a well organized statement of compelling power was made in Port Gibson, miss. The Port Gibson Committee Demanding Justice for the lynching of our Brother Otis Byrd made the statement to the Claiborne County Judicial officials and the u.s. FBI officials "investigating" the murder of Brother Otis Byrd.
In full solidarity, the Port Gibson Committee Demanding Justice united with the Family of Brother Otis Byrd, The New Black Panther Party, the REAL Learning Institute, the Provisional Government of the Republic of New Afrika, the Natchez Chapter of the National Action Network, the Claiborne County NAACP, Attorney Dennis Sweet & Associates and local churches to Lift Every Voice for justice for the Byrd Family. The Nia (Purpose) of the statement was to make it known publicly that We already know what injustice looks like from our experiences with the FBI's mississippi Cold Case "investigations" from the civil rights era and before. We were saying emphatically that Brother Otis Byrd's lynching case would not become a cold case.
Brother Elmo Cooper, member of the Port Gibson Committee Demanding Justice, made it plain that injustice is not an option when he said, "In the Port Gibson area, when you need help, call me. I have been fighting for justice all by life and am still standing. Otis Byrd's murder will be solved!" Baba Asinia Lukata Chikuyu, founder of the REAL Learning Institute, Jackson, miss, said, "Because We already know about the injustice befalling the families of Reverend George Lee, May 7, 1955 Belzoni, miss; LAMAR SMITH AUGUST 13, 1955, Brookhaven, Miss.; EMMETT LOUIS TILL, AUGUST 28, 1955, Money, Miss.; MACK CHARLES PARKER, 23, APRIL 25, 1959, Poplarville, Miss.; HERBERT LEE, SEPTEMBER 25, 1961, Liberty, Miss.; CPL. ROMAN DUCKSWORTH JR, APRIL 9, 1962, Taylorsville, Miss.; MEDGAR EVERS, JUNE 12, 1963, Jackson, Miss.; LOUIS ALLEN, JANUARY 31, 1964, Liberty, Miss.; HENRY HEZEKIAH DEE and CHARLES EDDIE MOORE, MAY 2, 1964, Meadville, Miss.; JAMES EARL CHANEY, JUNE 21, 1964, Philadelphia, Miss.; VERNON FERDINAND DAHMER, JANUARY 10, 1966, Hattiesburg, Miss.; BEN CHESTER WHITE, JUNE 10, 1966, Natchez, Miss.; WHARLEST JACKSON, FEBRUARY 27, 1967, Natchez, Miss.; and BENJAMIN BROWN, MAY 12, 1967, Jackson, Miss., We didn't intend to sit silently and allow the lynching of our Brother Otis Byrd to be another failed example of mississippi justice. Baba Lukata led the crowd in a chant of Pamoja Tutashinda (Together, We Will Win) Justice!
Attorney Reverend Ray Coleman, speaking first for Dennis Sweet & Associates said the law firm stands strong with the family demand justice in the case. Attorney Coleman said that injustice will not be the resolution of this case and that Sweet & Associates are dedicated to getting the answers the family is seeking in this case. Speaking on behalf of the family, Reverend Coleman said the family is highly distraught about the lack of meaningful communication between the investigators and the family but equally encouraged by the support from the community in this quest for justice. According to Reverend Coleman, the family's presence at this demonstration was made possible by the love and support of the Port Gibson Committee Demanding Justice and the other advocacy groups presence and they express their deepest feelings of thanks and appreciation.
Ms. Debra Simmons, Detroit, MI, national representative of the National Action Network said the fight for justice in the lynching of our Brother Otis Byrd is pivotal in shifting the tide of equality towards real fairness in mississippi and through this country. She said anything less than justice in this case would set mississippi back hundreds of years to the barbarism of Black enslavement and hypocrisy of the declaration of independence being the moral position of the united states at the same time.
Dr. Ivory Phillips, who is just six month older than Emmitt Till, reminded the crowd of the pain felt by the Black community through the saga of the Emmitt Till lynching and subsequent mockery of justice called a fair trial. Living in mississippi through that shameful period, Dr. Phillips used to opportunity to teach the crowd that strength comes through adversity, growth and unification. He said that the presence of the various groups and individuals reflects the strength We have acquired as a community and that We must harness that strength to ensure justice in this case and any others that We cannot prevent in the future.
Sweet and simply, Port Gibson Committee Demanding Justice member Ms. Stephanie Atlas admonished the justice advocates to stay the course and continue to pray for the family until our demand for justice is fulfilled 'cause We already know what injustice looks like.
Claiborne County NAACP President, Mr. Evan Doss, told the crowd of justice advocates that years of fighting for justice has taught him much about the judicial system and that the court of public opinion has a strong impact how the system works. He told the justice advocates that their collective presence spoke loud and clear to the Claiborne County authorities that We are demanding Justice for our Brother Otis Byrd 'cause We already know what injustice looks like. He too admonished the various groups to stay focused and stay connected until justice is served. He vowed that the NAACP would remain vigilant in its pursuit of justice for the Byrd Family.
The National Chair of the New Black Panther Party, Sister Krystal Muhammad, fired the justice advocates up with chants of "Black Power" "What Do We Want… When Do We Want It…. How Are We Going to Get It?", and "No Justice; No Peace" before reminding them of the horrific nature of the lynching of our Brother Otis Byrd. Sister Krystal expressed the painful sentiments shared with her by Byrd Family members of the lost of Otis Byrd in such a suspicious, cruel and inhumane way, especially given mississippi's deep and protractive history of savagery and inhumanity towards People of African Descent. Knowing the reputation and behavior of white supremacist racism exercised in mississippi justifies an independent and transparent investigation of this insidious, hateful, and criminal behavior of white supremacist in mississippi. According to the National Chair, the frequency of lynchings of Black man nationally is increasing mysteriously and the New Black Panther Party is working to slowdown and eventual stop this ridiculous trend. Further, the Party will ensure that justice is served in every incidence of terrorism that occurs in our community. Sister Krystal stressed the importance of Black People being informed of modern day terrorism in our community and being engaged in the process to eradicating this disease of white supremacy from the american landscape. Further, she said, like in Port Gibson, cross america, Black People have to begin coming together on issues singularly and decide that Solidarity with a Nia is far most important and effective than singular gratification for ensuring justice for victims like our Brother Otis Byrd, Alfred Wright in Texas, Lennon Lacy in North Carolina and others across this country.