A Grateful Perspective!
Marion/The Proletarian/The Egalitarian — Rest in
Peace!
Timothy Jenkins, SNCC
As remembered by Joyce Ladner
November 23, 2014
Friends,
It is with a heavy heart that I pass on the news that our first SNCC chairman, Marion Barry has passed on. So painful to realize that our ranks are thinning as we march on.
Joyce
As remembered by Bob Zellner
November 23, 2014
To the Reg, Margaret and SNCC Folks,
I spoke this past summer in Wilmington, NC honoring our leaders, C. T. Vivian and Alice Walker at the LBJ Austin Foundation celebration. Our Marion Barry brought his SNCC experience to the first local DC government to be run by the citizens. He is largely responsible for building the Black middle class in our nation's capitol which remains a colony even today. We will all miss our "Mayor for life."
"This summer marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Public Accommodations Civil Rights law in 1964. President Johnson, through his Great Society, actually reduced poverty in this country, aiding mightily in building a black middle class. Government in those days worked. LBJ in the White House and Mayor for Life, Marion Barry of SNCC in Washington, D.C. collaborated to empower the least of these, which proves that sinners, warts and all, often do the Lords work."
Brother Marion, PRESENTE! Don't forget to google the protests of the murder of the 43 SNCC type students just south of Mexico City. Nation Magazine said, "More than 16,000 people converged on Fort Benning this past weekend to protest the School of the Americas, a US-run training camp for Latin American soldiers."
In struggle, Bob Zellner
A SNCC Legacy Project Tribute
November 25, 2014
Mayor Marion Barry
First Chairman of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee
Marion Barry, at the age of 24, was elected the first Chairman of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). From his election as SNCC Chairman in 1960 until his passing some 54 years later, Marion Barry was engaged in public service. While a doctoral student in chemistry in the early 1960's, Marion Barry led SNCC-sponsored demonstrations to end segregation in public accommodations across the South.
In 1965, Marion was sent to Washington by SNCC to head up its fundraising office, and in addition to undertaking his responsibilities at the Friends of SNCC office, he began organizing the youth of the District to oppose segregation in Washington. Marion co-founded the organization Youth Pride to help out-of-work youth be trained for gainful employment. After his work with Youth Pride, Inc., Marion was elected to serve as Chairman of the District's School Board.
When Home Rule was granted to the District, Marion was elected to serve on the District's legislative body. In 1979, Marion became the second person to be elected Mayor of the District of Columbia. He eventually served four terms as Mayor. After leaving the Mayor's office, Marion served as the Council member from Ward 8.
Marion passed away last Sunday morning, and will be missed by the residents of the District of Columbia for the contributions he'd made to their lives. Marion's comrades from SNCC will honor his memory on Friday, December 5 at 6 pm. The gathering will be held at the African American Civil War Memorial Museum, 1925 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. All SNCC, Friends of SNCC and all other concerned veterans of the Civil Rights Movement are invited to attend," said Frank Smith, former DC Councilmember and SNCC organizer in Mississippi.
Frank Smith
SNCC Legacy Project
African American Civil War Memorial & Museum
As remembered by Dr. Gwendolyn M.
Patton
December 10, 2014
Our Dear Marion
There are very few of us who were not in the presence of Marion and his infectious smile. I remember when we left the Houston Street SNCC Collective in the mid 1960s to trek to D.C. to join Marion on his long-standing pickets in front of downtown clothing stores because of their segregated policies of hiring and trying on clothes. Marion did not labor on the differences between people nor found fault with people's circumstances. In the true sense of the meaning---Marion was a people's person and a peace-maker. He will be lovingly remembered by many D.C.ers from all walks of life. Sisterly, Gwen Patton
Gwen Patton
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