Martin expects to renew call virtually and/or on-site for Chicago's founding Father Statue and Holiday. Last, July 4th weekend 2019 Martin's International dedicated the Festival of Life to 400 years of Blacks arrival in America, and to Chicago's Father, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable.
Chicago, June 2020:
Last year, July 4th weekend 2019 Ephraim Martin - Martin’s International President, dedicated the 27th annual African/Caribbean International Festival of Life (IFOL) in Chicago to mark the 400 years of Africans arrival in America,1619, and to the black man who founded Chicago, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKFTcG8_sTI
This year's Festival of Life, July 4th weekend has been postponed to July 4th weekend, 2021. Nevertheless, this July 4th weekend, Ephraim Martin said he will continue his organization's and other community organizations' call for a "city holiday", and for the erection of a monument/statue with average size- standing at least 25 feet tall, with a base to be constructed in the region of Navy Pier or DuSable Bridge downtown Chicago in recognition of Chicago's founding father, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, a black Haitian who established a trading post on the Chicago River (near what’s now known as Navy Pier)...
Mr. Martin would further like, Columbus Drive, which runs through DuSable’s discovery property to be renamed, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Drive. The monument will be in addition to a smaller statue that now sits at the DuSable Bridge and North Michigan Avenue, which was financed by the late Mr. Leslie Benodin Haitian businessman and designed by Mr. Erik Blome an American-born designer. See a short video clip below from last year’s Festival of Life, with Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle speaking at the ceremony moderated by Justice Shelvin Hall, Illinois Appellate Court, the wife of Ephraim Martin. Other speakers were: Alderman Jeanette B. Taylor, On. Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Court, Hon. P. Scott Neville, Illinois Supreme Court, and Judge Sharon Johnson, primary winner for Illinois Appellate Court, with greetings from Governor J. Pritzker, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Click here to watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKFTcG8_sTI
Now more than ever before, as the country is witnessing its biggest systemic, police abuse and racial discrimination protest following the gruesome killing of George Floyd. As the Black Lives Matter movement is in full force for change in policing and the removal of monuments of those who oppressed blacks in America over the years. It is most important to let the world knows that Black Lives and Black Heroes Matter, by displaying monuments of blacks who have contributed greatly to this country in cities where it matters. A representative statue of Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, Chicago's founding Father, welcoming one and all to our country’s 3rd largest city is well overdue.
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For more information contact, Martin's International Foundation at www.martinsinternational.com, email howaboutthatblog@gmail.com, or call 877/973-4423.