Deconstructing the Justice for Children March...

Standing on (miracle worker) Geoffrey Maclean's makeshift 'Kathryn-Chan-organized' Callaloo Company stage, holding on to Sherron's son in law's microphone to a sound system mounted on the back of his van facing hundreds if not thousands under the tents Sangeeta organized (even though she could not get past the traffic on the north bound highway to actually attend the event) and following the likes of the giants who went before me - Kathryn Stollmeyer Wight, Diana Mahabir Wyatt and Martin Daly, I felt like I was part of something that could bring change, real change to the country.

My brief words were based on that concept, the concept of 'we' changing this country and changing the world.

There is a history that I need to share about this Justice March for Children, so that others may realize both how easy and how hard it can be at the same time to be a part of something that has the potential to change the world.

Kim Maharaj is one of those rare people to whom a good idea is all she needs to start working. Many who have been in constant touch with her for the planning of the March might be surprised to know that she is in fact based in New York City, and for all the work that she has done and all the resources she brought to bear on the event, she was never actually physically here. A brief discussion between us about parlaying the success of the Jericho brand into seeking justice for Akiel Chambers begat a 'page' on facebook, which snagged another force of nature Renee Cummings (who SHOULD be the Minister of Justice if you asked me, for all the knowledge and ability this woman possesses), and attracted none other than national icon and longtime champion of the oppressed, Diana Mahabir Wyatt, with whom I had a lovely cup of coffee that took four hours, and by the time I reported back to Kim, we already had something like momentum.

Press fast forward and myself and Don Bideshi of the jericho Project have our first of many meetings at Diana's offices with a committee capable of anything they set their eyes upon; Christine Cambridge with her calm, controlled demeanor, Carolyn Fifi, whose assertiveness and obvious capability empowers, Kathryn Chan, whose giving heart inspires, Diana, our 'unofficial' Chairperson and Renee Cummings, media manager extraodinaire for this event and so much more.

We encountered obstacles along the way from the ridiculous to the sublime (outright mutinies and near riots among others) yet still managed to pull this event into reality, and it was done from a place of 'knowing' we were doing a good thing, the right thing.

At every point we simply went over, under, around or through every impediment, until everything was ready to go.

 

With Terrence leading us all, we the people marched for justice.

The following are names that must be called:

Patricia Smart

Jeremy Edwards

Bevon Reyaz

Geoffrey Maclean

Dave Surajdeen

Brian Pouchet

Joshua Alexander

Kathryn Stollmeyer Wight

Martin Daly

Sherron Harford and family

Candice Aking

David CB Smith

Meryl Mahabir

Mr. Beckles

The Jericho Project's Youth Arm

Aarti Gosine

Helen Shair-Singh

REACT

Blue Waters

KISS Baking Compamny

Valdez & Torry International (always, always, always there for us)

Lisa Johnstone and the Carlton Savannah

The ladies at Dolce Vita Movie Towne

Movie Towne (who broadcast the march info for weeks for free)

IGDS and crew

CADV and crew

Childline

NCC

Ministry of Agriculture

The Office of the Commissioner of Police

ALL of the Police Officers on the morning of the March

Terrence Worrel

Rodger Varley (for his tireless media appearances)

Robert Amar

TV6 and Felipe

CNC3

Gayelle

104.7

94.1

95.5

CNMG 

All the media people who did so much

Michael Lovell (Judah's dad)

Gerard Llanos

Ashley Thompson

Scrip J

Larry Khan

Hyline

Sharon Boodoosingh

Deryck Richardson

City Hall

Promenade Management Committee

Spatch Industries (we get Jericho Polos at COST, thank you always Andrew Alkins)

Carib

Angostura and Ricardo Bideshi (another silent champion for the cause)

Sign Post

The lone pan man

Sherron Harford's son in law (we need to call that boy's name for ALL that he did)

Marguerite and her big smile

Guardian Newspaper

Express Newspaper

Newsday 

Red Cross (for the ambulance)

Fernando and Kaifa andALL the boys and girls who helped distribute ten thousand flyers provided by Helping Hands

and one thousand friends on Facebook.

If I have forgotten to call your name I sincerely apologize, but I know your reward is greater than words and is already written into the Book of Life.

In so many ways were it not for the efforts of ALL of you this event would still be just an idea, and we at the Jericho Project consider ourselves in your debt and praise you for your community spirit.

Thousands came out to march for justice even as many more were stuck in a horrible traffic jam leaving south.

ALL of us together changed the world a little bit for the better by our combined actions on Universal Children's Day 2010.

Thank you.

(All Pictures provided by Dave Surajdeen of the Surajdeen Intelligence Agency (SIA))