So, we want to thank everybody for being here today. We have a full um agenda as far as a presentation from the United Sons and Daughters of Freiedman. We have three presenters. We're going to break this up. So, I'm going to give some rules of engagement. We're going to have the speakers go first for the first part
of the presentation. We're going to take a pres a brief intermission and then we're going to come back and do the final part of it. After we do the first part of the presentation, we're going to do a Q&A. So, be prepared to ask your questions to any of the members that are going to do the presentation for the
first part. After intermission, we'll do the same thing. When it comes time for you guys to come and speak, there should be a microphone in the back right there. Just line up to be able to ask the questions. Okay? So, just give a huge round of applause for United Sons and Daughters of Freeman. Um, they'll do the
presentation for you briefly. [Music] [Music] Josh, Naim, Ali [Music]
[Music] Uh, thank you my issue pulling up but um hopefully that
will be resolved shortly. I just I guess we can start with some brief introductions and speakers. Um I'll start with myself. My name is Josh Gray. Um one of the co-founders of United Son Freeman. I just want to say
to the city of Boston folks um thank you for having us to be able to speak with you today. Uh we would love to well we met uh some of you in person um in previous visits and we look forward to blocking on again. Um and I'm going to
pass it to my brother Na Wayne also to give us introduction and then greetings. Greetings. Yes. Hello Austin again sons and daughters of uh last time we met you all was back in October. We
had a debate with the representatives of dark and co. It was a great event. We had a Q&A at the mix where we had our mixer. I got to meet many of you and um I'm honored I'm honored to be doing this
work for the American Freeman in the city of Boston. Uh I am Nahi Wade, president and co-founder of United Signs for the Daughters of Freeman, also Keith Power, which is our political activation
and education uh advocacy organization. And one of the things that we do at Mary Southern Freeman is fight for relieving justice for our people all across the country in various states while trying
to get the same implemented at the federal level. So much of our presentation today is going to be centered on just that. what we as United Sons and Daughters of Freedman bring to
this fight for remedial justice. We believe we believe that we have answers to all of the challenges to everyone that believe that they can shut down our push for equal justice. Uh we believe
also like I said during the October debate that we are the future of the civil rights movement and during my presentation I will get into some of that. So again, thank you to the city of Boston, the reparations task force for
having us. We're honored and humbled. [Music] Just just in one second. Having a little
bit of technical issue in one second. [Music] Yes. you just don't forget. Yes. Yes. Definitely. Definitely. Um
I think it's important for people to understand what it is that that we're doing. Nicole Hannah Jones, author of the 1619 project. Uh she's I guess one can call
her a celebrity a celebrity activist. My brother Ali and I went on one of her threads on Twitter. This was before she deactivated her account and we were trolling her to this Freeman thing and she began to ask
questions and once she started asking questions we were able to drop some of the information on her thread, particularly the workshop video that we presented for the city of Boston for the
community of Boston River And the next thing you know, she was in a podcast or on a podcast, a live podcast with Michael Harriet and I can't remember the other brother's name we made. And she
was talking about the very things that we posted on that thread. the importance of understanding this status that was given to the emancipated person in 1865. And then she went on MSNBC with Ali
Belshi. And you can tell that she may have, let me say, shared some of our information with Ali Belie. And in that, Ali Belie opened up that segment speaking about how the Freedom Bureau
was not established due to our race. it was or or for some type of racial benefit, but that it was established because as Charles some former senator of Y's great state of Massachusetts
said, these people need this not because they're evil, but because they are men who have been for generations destroying their rights, being robbed of their rights. And so
for her to finish out the segment on many of the talking points that we've shared with community over the past 5 years and that we're going to share with you tonight, it shows that some people are listening. It is our honor to present it to you.
I think ladies and gentlemen just going to pull up the slide for the introduction by that. This is Holly Day. He is the director of history and research for United Sons and Daughters
of Freedom. [Music] Can you see my screen? Yes, I can see. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it. All right. Greetings everybody. My brother is my brother and I just introduced um co-founder and board
member of United Sons and Daughters of Green as well as uh you power corporation. Um I pray that everyone is doing well and that you all have a wonderful Junth this year. Um I believe
that you know this particular celebration Junth um it it should be all about family bonding and community fellowship. So uh today what I'm going to do is be presenting on the historical
and cultural legacy of Junth from the Civil War you know moving forward. Okay. So we see on the screen that's what it is going to be presented brother Josh to the next slide. Now I've written down uh four basic
bullet points right that I'm going to cover. Um the first one is January 1st and significant January 1st 1863 emancipation proclamation takes effect legally free enslaved people in the confederate states.
Number two, from 1863 to 1865, you have uh freedom which could not be implemented in areas that were still under Confederate control. That's very important, very key to Junth. Why June 10 comes from according to Greek June
19th 1865 General Granger was a general of the Union Army that arrived in Gal with what was called general orders from the freeing 250,000 enslaved um enslaved black
people in Texas. And then number four, we have the modern uh modern uh enactment of Junth as a national holiday by president who signs the Junth National
Law. So we can go to the next next slide. Okay. So here we have freedom's emancipation. Now, on freedom's eve or or the eve of December 31st, 1862,
this was the first wash night services that took place. On that night, enslaved and free African-Ameans gathered in churches um private homes all across the country waiting awaiting the news of that the
emancipation proclamation had taken effect. Watch service is rooted uh in African-American religion. From the first watch, many slave African Americans gathered to pray, worship,
sing. Um the spirit the spirit of these celebrations is still visible in watch night services today. On watch night service typically begins around 7:00 p.m. on December
31st. And last midnight as faith leaders died congregants and praise and worship. Many congregants across the the the nation the power of prayer minutes before the midnight hour as they sing
out watch please tell me the hour of the night and in return the minister will reply it's 3 minutes to midnight. Uh it's 1 minute before New Year and it is now midnight funeral has come to
bless their transition into the new year. At the stroke of midnight, prayers were answered. All as all of their enslaved people in the confederate states were declared leaders free as the Emancipation Proclamation took effect
January 1st, 1863. Um, Union soldiers, many of whom were African-American, a free men, marched on plantations across the cities in the south of reading small copies, small
copies of the emancipation proclamation and spreading the news freedom in Confederate states. However, only through the 13th amendment was emancipation enslavery throughout the entire United States. So even though
this emancipation proclamation took effect January 1st and other states that were not considered confederate states that had slavery is still um existing. So four things that we the things we
take away from here. Freedom e enslaved and free Africanameans gathered to watch night services on December 31st 1862. Emancipation proclamation at midnight all of the enslaved people in Confederate states were declared they were free. And then you have the Union
soldiers who came many of whom were African-Ameans and marched through plantation reading copies of the emancipation proclamation. Then at the end here we have the 13th amendment and that it's important to recognize that only through the 13th amendment was
slavery ended throughout the entire United States. We can go to the next uh next slide [Music] free. Not everyone in the federal territory would immediately be free.
Even though the emancipation proclamations was made effective in 1863, it couldn't be implemented in places that were still under Confederate control. And as a result, in the western most Confederate state, which was the
state of Texas, um enslaved people would not be free until much later. actually a year and a half, which is June 19th. So, freedom finally came on June 19th, 1865 when more than uh more than 2,000
federal soldiers of the 13th Army Corp arrived in Dallas, Texas. And with him was Major General George Granger, who was the commanding officer from the district of of of Texas. Um Graham
delivered to God what's known as general orders was read and that informed Texas that the more than 250,000 slave black people in the state were freed by free and uh those orders specifically say
quote the people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a proclamation from the executive of the United states all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality, personal rights, rights of property
between former mass slaves and the connection here to poor existing between them becomes that between employer and higher pay. The free men are advised to remain at their personal homes and workplace.
They are known that they will not be allowed to collect their military force and that they will not be supported either there or elsewhere. And this day came to be known as Jun by the Freedman families of Texas
specifically. So again the takeaway general order number three people of Texas square form that in accordance with the proclamation from the executive the United States all slaves free. The executive decree was delivered by
General Major General. uh they spoke about absolute equality proclaimed that even personal rights property rights between former massism and the emancipation establish
relationship as employer and high connection set. So we become we go to the next next line which is dealing with the reconstruction of
Now the post emancipation period known as reconstruction which was from 1865 to 1877 marked an era of great hope um as well as uncertainty and struggle for the
nation and hope [Music] the free people immediately sought to reunify their families as well as uh establish schools, pharmacy schools, run for political
office, push radical legislation, and even sue former slaveholders for compensation. So, the issue of reparations is not goes back given the uh 200 plus years of slavery.
Such changes were nothing short of amazing. Not a generation out of slavery. American freedom families were inspired and empowered to transform their lives and their country. And although uh Junth has long been
celebrated the African-Amean freeman community, this monumental event remains largely unknown to most Americans. Even to this day, many don't know about Junth. They don't know what it is or
significance. Junth was first recognized as a federal holiday on June of of 2021 when President Biden signed the national uh independence day act Junth National Independence Day Act into law. Uh in
most states where Junth is a public holiday is in 2020 or later. The exception is Texas where the holiday originated where it also is known as emancipation day.
Um Junth has been celebrated locally in Texas since the 1860s and it became an official state holiday there in 198. So again takeways family reunification education uh political participation
uh and economic justice this post emancipation really marks an era of great open struggle these changes nothing again nothing short of amazing we go to the next slide so Junth foods and traditions
where I highlight here some of the uh important cultural aspects to the now national immigration routine. Uh I think it's important that the culture be remembered um deserved and
protected from appropriation as well as commercialization. believe that these these commemorations historically included guys, family and friends, um consumption of delicious jun and later the raising of the emancipation
black the gathering of family is rooted in the reconstruction period and after the civil war where Africanameans relied on the freedom bureau to assist with reuniting families.
who have been torn apart from slavery and also um red foods are the most prominent feature on the Junth menu. So for example, red beans and rice um smoked meats covered in barbecue sauce
such as chicken, ribs, hot and brisketss. These are also considered red foods and the most important features of the junior. Multiple um 19th century newspaper reports have been found that all calls
for entire communities to gather at the local barbecue pit for grounds to prepare the food eat together in honor of Junth. Um also watermelon which had the convenience factor being in peak season
during the month of June. Um, strawberries, red beverages like fruit punch, strawberry soda, hibiscus tea, all have a place on the junth table. The significance of red foods can be
traced back to the descendants of Africa brought to America placed uh great philosophical, spiritually valued in the color red. It also symbolize sacrifice, transition
and power. Then we have um we have the side foods known as prosperity. These are all about celebrating with luck and wish you the best. This
includes foods such as corn, cornbread, collard greens, cabbage, black eyed, pork for those who, you know, those who eat pork. I don't many of us don't. Potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, even
potato salad. Uh these side foods are called prosperity meals because each side actually signifies something prosperous. So present like our feed like our bees represent wealth. Collard
greens or any dish using leafy vegetables are said to bring good fortune and corn it yellow color symbolizes gold. All right, for those of us um in this family who are a little more health
conscious, that means eating healthier, vegan or vegetarian alternatives, we use protein spread, which is completely acceptable. Um fish uh uh fish fries, crab oils, seasoned
shrimp. These are also popular things back to coastal southern black communities where meals were required mostly receive. So we have red foods, red meat and rice barbecue, watermelon, red beverages
symbolizing sacrifice. And we have your proced shrimp your state back coastal southern black communities and then your family gathered into the reconstruction period. Uh reunite your families after being on
slavery. We go to the next slide. The colors of Junth. This has been this is a a great topic. What colors fall with Jun? And here what I like to to end
with um this important explanation of why why black Americans, American freedom families use the colors of red, white, and blue during commemoration. This um this would become a
controversial issue as certain people persistently question question citizenship of the freedom counties and attempt to other uh according to the national park service
in 1865 President Lincoln said quote without the military help of the black The war against the south did not want any hope. And had it not been for their
efforts, we could all be living in the federal states of America right now. Those black freed fought, killed, and died for their own liberation as well as that of their
families and their while enforcing the constitution. and helping to save this union from otherwise short destruction. Again, like I said, without military help with the black freedom, the war against the south would not
support the national park service. They consider themselves these freedom, they consider themselves to be members of this fighting politics called the United States of America. And they did all of this under the red, white, and blue in the United States.
Not the red, black, and queen, not the red, black, yellow, strong of color. We are in fact citizens of the United States and very much investigated following in the footsteps of early American patriots who sacrifice their
sacrifice their lives for liberty such as Chris Adams, a man of African Native American ancestry who is considered the first American to die in American Revolution. Outstanding black Americans,
Africanameans, the American family are in fact rooted, multiple generations in this country and are invested in a way that no other group of people are. We have blood, sweat equity in this
country that nobody else has. I want my freedom family to understand that we're much more than descendants of slaves or massive people. We we are they
who have saved this nation from many occasions and are in fact the true heirs to a vast state and justice is in fact. So we can go on to the next slide.
German place signing of the Junth National State Act law should not be seen as just some mere symbolism. It should be viewed as federal acknowledgement the crimes of
Christianity that this United States government allowed to be imposed on a whole segment of it citizenry since it found in spite in spite of the principles of liberty and unable
rights and cornerstone 1776 declaration. So in closing, I'm calling upon black Americans, the American Freedman families specifically to accept the duty of ensuring that this
holy day of painting is protected from cultural and historical appropriation as well as commercialization by corporate America or other actors. We are living in a time where culture
roaches have come out of the woodworks. They're shameless and would not think twice about appropriating and ultimately erasing the history of our particular fight in this country.
I lead you off with these principles. The principles that I stand on those are the principles of love, truth, peace, freedom and justice. I thank you all for your time. Um, brother Ali power and son
of freedom love. Let's give a huge round of applause for Ali Bay. I call him the professor. Um there's a lot of knowledge in this organization and I thought it was appropriate to have them as a community partner present at this particular time
right before Junth to explain Junth and also the legacy of slavery. So you're going to hear two other present presenters um right after this. So right now does anybody have any questions with regards to the history of Junth they want to ask? Any questions?
Okay. Can you stand up at the mic over there? Are there any questions online? Not yet. Okay. So when we do questions, we're going to alternate between in person and online just to give people on online a fair share. But the microphone is right there. I speak loud enough.
There's just a order. We have Yeah, we have standard order procedures. You have to stand in line. And also the mics are back there. Hi, how are you? Do you want to um address yourself and introduce yourself? And the mic doesn't work. Okay, go get it.
[Music] And I want to thank everybody again for appearing today. Um it's this is the last of our series of community partnerships and I thought it was important to um again tied to the legacy of slavery and also Junth. So I really appreciate everybody being here. Give
yourself a round of applause. Your question. Hi there. Hi there. My name is Mala Banbury. Um we can barely hear you. Uh my name is Mala Banberry. My family is from Boston from before 1900. Um I just found out that I have a
relative um Fortune Howard that was at the um the the royal house. Yes. So um um that's why I'm here carrying this flag. The true I I understand that that
the RGB, but the RGB was 1920. I know we didn't mention that and there was no RGB back when Ranger ruled into Texas. So we have to
at least I beg you pan-Africanist to please include us as Americans. Every generation of my family that I can trace back has fought for this country under red, white and blue, not RGB. And I
understand the disassociation of RGB and the inclusion of the whole diaspora, but there is no more of an American holiday than Junth. And I just want to say that that thank you so much for that. You're better at some red, white, and blue. Thank you so much. I really appreciate
that. Mister, excuse me. Want to step up to the mic? How are you today? Good. My name is Charles Owens and I had one particular question but that might even be you know fulfilled in some part of this
presentation but the first part of the educational part was was very inspiring and my main question is what are you going to do to the public to get this reparations out there since this is what
the first year I Are you asking what are we going to do to to reach the public? Yes. So, we have people on the ground. My organization has been on the ground all over the place educating people on American Freeman. We also have a marketing team has been social media getting people getting the information
out to people and the task force and Mr. Fista gave us the green light to do like ads on the buses. All all this stuff has been done, you know, initially and it's being revamped again. So, we're trying very hard to get the community involved and I myself have pled to the community
because I really am on the ground every day talking to people, trying to get them to come to the task force meetings. I just can't do it by myself anymore. I'm tired. I'm not going to lie to you. So, I just feel like when when when you have people in the community speaking and they're asking you to come to the meeting, it's for a reason. This can't
be done without the community. The community is the harm party. And so if you don't come to the table and you don't intermingle with the task force and the city, your voice will never be heard. And so it has to be communitydriven. You have to be able to say what your
harms are and how you want to be repaired. And it can't be done without you. And so the task force has been diligent to have meetings um to present themselves. We did community partnership meetings. I don't know what more to do. So we are going to come up with we came up with a whole other process. We'll be
tableabling outside here in Dubian Square. We'll be having the buses that have the um advertisements on them, a billboard possibly on the Edison building. But it takes teach you everybody has to bring 10 friends, right? So if I tell you about it, bring your family. Everybody has to help out
because we're the only group of people that aren't at the table representing ourselves. We have to be here. Again, it's it's about your story, your harms, and what you want out of reparations. So, we're we're trying very hard. That's great. Did that answer your question? Oh, it
does. It does. Yeah, we try very hard. I know that to be true. Next person, Miss Sharon. And I just want to announce that Sharon um is running for city council in High Park, District 5.
That's right, District 5. Can I get That's not why I'm here, though. First, I want to commend the brothers that did the presentation and I want to give a shout out to Antonyia Edwards because I know all the work that you've done and you're an excellent addition along with
U brother Joe Feast who forever. Yes, task force. The task force. So, I want to talk about the significance of black Americans driving this conversation. Yes. as I watch other people and other
ethnicities capitalize again on our sacrifice. Um, I've already attended Junth celebrations and we get lost in the conversation. The original harm party gets lost in
everybody else looking at a perception of money for people of color. That's another whole conversation. So, first I want to say thank you to these brothers who talked about the office of the the actual establishment of the bureau of
freedman affairs of freedman affairs and that it's actually was official. I mean they didn't I don't know if the next presentations are going to talk about what happened and why 40 acres in a mule didn't happen. I'm not sure about the presensation. Second thing is that I want to commend the reparations task force for not giving up this
conversation because we're getting lost. And then the question that I have is um how do we continue to support the reparations task force as you go to fight for the original harm party, the people in this country that should be at
the forefront of this discussion in reparations. What can we do to support you? I understand there's legislation. Is there something that you need us to do? So, first of all, I want everybody to give a huge round of applause to the task force. Mr. Joe Fista, stand up, please. Mr. Joe Fista is an attorney. He's been
honoring several organizations this week. His very um You want to speak? He wants to speak. You want mine? Okay. Thank you very much, Antonia. But I think it's not only
me. is my fellow members Jones the Reverend Mar Byron Russian but Antony has taken on this particular task in order to bring the community into the conversation. One of the things that we've said and we
consistently wanted to do was to make sure that the community was involved and I see some of the regular faces of the persons who have engaged in this process. Now, I repeatedly, every time I come to
the mic to talk about this, I try to remind folks of what our responsibilities are, how we intend to carry it out, what the time frame it will take in order to do it. Now, we are
in treacherous times at the moment with regards to our history, but folks, we've been here before. Yes, this isn't nothing new. We've been here before and we will surprise survive these
situations as well. But the task force is staying focused on what its responsibilities are as was given to us back in December of 2022.
We were asked to look at the history to do the type of research that's why Antonyia had this conversation today on Junth. Mhm. We have researchers who are researching the history and as a
lawyer I know that folks aren't going to talk about repair and reparations for us without a fight. So, we have to be grounded in a factual argument. So, we're going to do that. And I know for
some they say that the time has been too long, but we have a responsibility to do it right. I tell folks this has been going on for over 400 years. Don't rush us. We're going to get the job done in order to do that with your help. So
there will be time frames that will be talked about after these presentations but I just wanted to come up and say Antonia thank you for this evening. Thank you the brothers who presented on Junth uh the history of that that was
very enlightening even from some of us who think we know the history to know it as detailed as that. And I also want to thank my fellow task force members for being here. Can we give them a round of applause please? Thank you ladies. Thank you. I also want to recognize the city. Um,
Khaled Mustafa is my our project manager. We're in communications almost every day. He makes this happen. Stand up, Colleen. All right. We have Lorie Nelson out back. She is a senior analyst to the mayor. She
oversees the equity and inclusion cabinet. Give her a huge round of applause. Maya Geta is out back and she is the executive director deputy director. I got it. So these people help put us all
all this together. So there's more people behind the scenes you may not see here today, but this takes a huge unit to make this happen. So supporting this reparations task force means that you support the equity inclusion cabinet as well too, who puts a lot of hard work talking directly to the mayor to make
this happen. Any other questions? Uh, thank you to Thank you, Antonia. Thank you, Edwards. Thank you for all you do. Thank you for the reparations task force. Um, and I'm just standing up here to support our flag, the red,
black, and green. It is the flag of our struggle in this country. It is for all our ancestors who are not here present, who struggled, who died, who fought tirelessly for us to be here in this
community. And they made their mark on this community and black communities across America. The red, black, and green, the red for our blood, the black for our color, and the green for our promised land. Uh we cannot discount our
ancestors librations to all those who fought this hard fought and continue to fight this hard fight for the freedom of our people. That flag means for the freedom of our people. Thank you. So I just want to clarify something. This is
about the historical part of the legacy of slavery and what the true meaning of Junth is. So prior to the pan-African liberation flag, this red black and red white women one second. That's not a pan
flag. That is that is that is a black freedom fight. Can you let me finish please? Not panaffrican. Can you let me finish please? Prior to the black liberation flag, I didn't say panaffrican. There was the red, white, and blue junth flag that she's carrying.
We never seen that. We never No black people had that flag in their house. Okay. No black person had that flag in their house in Texas. They did this. Well, not here. And here too. And and and I know across America, black people had the red, black, and green flag in
their house and have will always have that in their So, let's just stick presentation. I'm not here to argue. This is a wonderful and they weren't pan African. This is a wonderful celebration and I don't want anybody to ruin it. It took a lot to put this together. This is
not about a debate or discussion. This is about history. So, brother Ali, do you want to come back on and explain the red the red, white, and blue for the Junth again or are we all set? Well, actually, there was a question in the chat. Um, but what
I thought I think would be great to conver. Yes. Um, yes, please. Can you see the chat? I can't see the chat, but the the gentleman can see the chat. Can you see the chat, please, to answer the question? There's a question in the
chat. Would you mind reading the question out? All right. So, brother asks, can you explain as well? Tell us the connection between reparations and how right does it signify? Right. That's what this is all about. So uh in terms of what Junth
act signifies reparations in that conversation is basically justice. Junth signifies symbif slavery had legally ended in federal states but enslaved and taxes continue
to labor under oppression. So similar to the reparations of justice lay promising theory would never live in practice. Uh the fame 40 acres and mule was proposed in 1865 the same year but it was quickly
resended. No compensation no restitutional resources. So there is a there is a very close connection between justice delayed uh emancipation and justice that we're
seeking today. Uh I really don't want to touch too much on the uh the red. No, we don't want to talk about that. That's something that uh people would people feel a certain way
and I get I get that decision making. Uh I understand the uh our like I said in the presentation [Music] the fight for liberation in this country [Music]
happened under the red line and the men that fought fless that fought killed and died for their liberation the liberation of their families and their future generations did so as American citizens. Right.
They were not others. They were Americans. They weren't Africans. They were American citizens who were fighting for the human rights and rights of citizenship in the United States. It had nothing to do with Africa.
We love Africa. We not going to deny our our African ancestry of African people. None other than being with the truth of the history of Junth and strong and the fight for freedom and
liberation in this country having direct to do with people who deem themselves to be true Americans. This is why they want to go back to Africa with the fact that Africa movement before the Europeans in this country
were trying to get people to go back. vast majority of the free people who they were trying to pay for back decided they did not cuz they were firmly rooted here. This is their this is our this is just as much or more so our
country than anybody else because we are firmly rooted in deep deep investigation. So I get all the emotional connections to the red, black and green, but the red, black, and green fight is a foreign
fight for us in truth. In truth, there's more that I can say about that fight, but I don't want to get that deep into that. Thank you, brother Ali. I'm going to um cue up for who's going to go next, Josh or Brother Naim.
And while we do this, I want to give a huge shout out to Frugal Bookstores. Mr. Mr. Ler, can you step up for a second? He provided all the books from here to equality free for everybody here this evening. Dr. Sandy Darity is the namesake of my organization in solidarity with a capital D and talked
to him very frequently. He has the blueprint to reparations um and so Mr. Leonard from um Frugal Bookstore gave out the book here free to everybody. So make sure you get a book. In the bag is also the bookmark and also a pen. We're going to ask that you guys do the evaluations before you leave. It's very
important that we get this feedback um so that we understand what's going on with the community and what the concerns are. So, please make sure you fill those out and get them to me before you leave. Who's coming next? Yes, ma'am. You have a question. I'm going to You don't have to move. You don't have to move. You don't have to
move. My name is My name is Lizella Reed and my uncles they fought in my cousins fought in the wars but I'm not I came late so I don't know where to start
because no one has informed me of what was going on but I have asked a couple of people that showed up at the coffee hours. My uncle had a home over on Rutland Square. They tore that home down and built the park. And what I've been
begging and asking for, but then I got sick for the last two weeks. Um that um if they could just put a little plaque or something with his name in the park because he did have that. So we just want everyone to hear you very well. Oh, okay. Yeah. Perfect. Thank Did everybody
hear me? Uncle your uncle. Yes. And a matter of fact, it was five uncles that went in service and then there was about five cousins. But I this particular uncle, he did own that land and they asked him to
move or vacate or whatever move move to another spot. So, but since I see it's a park, I feel like his name should go down in history as a plaque and a plaque on the ground in the park.
That's on Rutland Square and Columbus Avenue. Thank you. You know, thank you for contributing that information. Are you able to write? Are you able to write? Okay. On the um evaluation, put on the back of it what you're requesting. These
all go to the city. And so, we try to get the community to interact with the city with their requests and writing. So, if you can just give the information on that and put your name on the back of it, I can see if somebody can get in contact with you. I'm not quite sure what his historical context is in Boston, but if you're requesting
something specific like for him to be acknowledged because he fought in all the wars as an American freeman and you want to have him recognized because the property was taken away from him, imminent domain. Am I correct, Cece? And so, let's just see what we can find out. I can't make any promises. I know. Okay.
We were just talking about Junth. No problem. You got it. Thank you so much. I know you're talk I know you're talking about June 16 Junth but what has happened to me I live to be 85 I can't tell and I found out that the town right
next to Mon Georgia has the same name as I have Lzella okay so and I can't find that in no bookstore no way around but I did see the book when I visit the town I've always wanted to be Baptist when I
went down there. There's this big gorgeous Baptist church named Liz Lizella, Georgia. Wow. It's quite possible that your family is structured in that area. And so, you'll probably need like a genealogologist to help you figure out where your family is in that area since it's Georgia. Um, I can make
recommendations. I know you can probably get somebody to help you do my own. Okay. So, make sure when you fill out the um assessment, you just put that little bit of information on there. Make sure that I have it. I'm not quite sure what can be done, but if you feel as though he he was wrong by seizing the
property, imminent domain, and he was fighting and the families fought in all the wars, and you want to tie that to reparations, let's see what we can get done. Nothing reaches right tri. Anybody else have a question? Anybody have anything to say?
Hi, ma'am. I'm going to walk up to my elders. I'm just really polite. I'm sorry. Okay. Thank you so much. I just want to say that um my father talked about his grandfather being from
Africa, from Sagal and um I've been there many many times now and I don't think that I mean I I agree with the uh red, black and green. It didn't really come into play until
Makascabi and um the history. I get that. I totally. However, I can't even imagine that my greatgrandfather didn't want to go home, which is Africa. So, I'm just saying we don't want to
take that out of our out of the uh not the vocabulary of what we're talking about here. You know what I'm saying? And um yeah, that that's it. I mean, some people I ain't no African. I ain't
come from that. Whatever. The point is that we don't want to take it out because I it it just really connects us to the beauty of us as a people. And when you go there, you see everyone who
looks just like us. So the Yeah. I just don't want to take it out. That's all. The red, black, and I mean the red, white, and blue. I get it. You know, my father was a veteran and he fought and didn't get his GI bill.
Okay. Yes. So, the point is is that I don't don't take it out of the conversation in terms of Africa. I just felt that kind of energy when the sister was talking about red, black, and green and oh, a we ain't dealing with Africa. We dealing with No, we're dealing with a
a circle. Same thing with the brother of whoever his name. So, can I just clarify something? America. Okay, let me just clarify something from Antonyia's perspective and then brother Ali, Professor Ali has said it twice. Nobody is taking away anybody's
ideology, beliefs or wanting to to be in Africa. That has nothing to do with today. Today is about the history in the United States and what Junth really means. And it was important for people in the community to understand the legacy of slavery, which those presentations are coming up right now, and how it ties into Junth. A lot of
people don't know. When I walk up to people, they're telling me they never heard of Junth before. They That's my job. My job is to educate people. And that's what this is all about. If I had to have this team come here today, this is what it's all about. The legacy of slavery and the true meaning of Junth.
It takes away from no one else's ideology, beliefs, or wanting to be in Africa or the diaspora, whatever. I don't want anybody to feel disrespected. That has nothing to do with the presentation. We're just talking about the legacy of slavery and how that pertains to Junth and the real meaning
of Junth. I talked to a lady who says she never even heard of slaves being freed in Texas 3 years later. And that's what brother Ali was saying. the slaves and the confederate states were free first and then they were pushed to Texas and they were mis misleading them to believe that there was no freedom and
those slaves stayed in enslaved for another 3 years and that's how we got to Junth but a lot of people that I go into the community and talk to don't know that and all this is on the books this is this is law that's and that's what I want people to know so I really respect you I don't I don't want anybody to think that this is disrespecting
anybody's ideology or belief this is about what the true facts are in the United States and what the meaning you think that's one more thing. Sure. And um it really bothers me when you say the slaves because they were people. They
were and they were they were enslaved African people. They were they weren't slaves. Okay. I I can I can agree to that and I can change the verbs, but we're talking about those who were enslaved but then enslaved in Texas. I can change that. That's not a problem. I can agree that. I'm not beyond employee
approach. I I will definitely lead to the elders. I really respect that correction. I know. Does anybody else have a question? We want to go to Sam real quick because we have two more presentations and we got to Okay, Sam, can I do the presentation first? Is it about the Junth? Cuz we're
going to move on from Junth. Okay, let's do the presentation. Who's next? Is it I can't see them. Is it Josh or is it brother Na? Who's ready? It's Josh. Hey Josh, you
ready to go? Yeah. Thank you. So, I got presentation queue up. Let me just share my screen here. Uh, hold on a second. Get out of here. And
All right. [Music] [Music] Can you guys see that? Yes. [Music] Can you guys see my screen? Yes. Yes. I can't I can't hear anybody.
Can you see my screen? Just want to make sure you see before I take off. Yes, you can see. Hello. Can Can you um Thank you everybody. Once again, my name is Josh Ray. um actually
um born and raised from Virginia. Um I have some counters that actually relocated um to Boston and longtime community members. I was up there um a couple times over the last couple years. So I just want to say I'm excited to
present this information to you today. U what I'm going to be talking about first off is uh the number eight. You're going to hear that as a consistent theme. And what do I where do I get that number eight from?
Well, we talking about $8. That's the median um family wealth of u families in Boston. Uh and that is a extreme tragedy. So today uh as you want to
listen to this presentation I want you to keep that number in mind and if you want to reduce it to zero as a simple meaningful that's fine too um especially when you want to compare that to let's say white
being wealth is about 200,000 and this is according to the data over 10 years ago. Okay. So my my goal today I yes we're talking about Junth but we want to talk about what is present in our lives today what is actionable in our lives
today so that we can resolve this number eight so we can actually move towards the justice that uh the Boston free should have as in getting justice for the atrocities committed to their so Um,
and because I was listening to some of the some of the uh individuals speak and they're talking to uh stories that I hear, one of my family members whose son actually spent many years um in Boston. He was my uncle. He
he lived in New Jersey from New Jersey and my great-grandfather was a a farmer tobacco, sweet potatoes, things like that. Um and he he went and got advanced degrees at St. Paul's University in
Lawrenville, Virginia. He got two degrees, master degree and um he was in the military all that great experience and he moved to Harvard and he was trying to um get just work just to work in in this field which electrical
engineering however due to racism and you know he couldn't get access to unions and we found out later at his funeral that he spent much of his life you know depressed and disappointed for not being able to live out his dream working until he wanted and he ended up
opening up the teacher repair shop and did okay. But when I think about uh the opportunities that should have been available to him um you can see how these type of denials can pile up and
compound over generations as you create. Okay. So today I don't want you to be intimidated. Okay. I'm going to speak in some uh legal terms but I'm going to try to translate in 10 words or less. So, um I don't I can't see you, but if you I
what I want you to do if you um ever read the 13th amendment, I just want you to raise your hand. Look at your neighbor and see how many people raise your hand if you ever read 13 minutes. Okay, just keep that in mind. So, this
is our road map for today. Um our road map today is we'll begin with the foundational question. What does status mean in American law policy? From there, we'll apply the framework to freedom, the class of people created by investigation. We'll then move through
each of the four types of status types or what I call the four pillars of freedom status and um connected directly with the case of reparations and current battles in Boston as well as on the
Massachusetts state level like uh the bill recently introduced by uh representatives representing we're talking about H6 United States and H3 379 because these are these are very
very important right now. Okay. So let's unpack what we mean by stats. Okay. Go to the next slide. Okay. Think of status like an ID badge. Okay. It can open doors
or in slam. Let's let's see which bad most of us wear. So, I want you to think about I want you to think about and don't be afraid to give me a shout out. You know, I'm getting even open invitation shout out. Um,
sorry. Trying to move this thing out. Give me a second. I want you to sh this you think affects you today. When you look at um
when you think about uh your mar your marital status, okay, your disability status, okay, your veteran status, if you're pregnant, uh if you're a citizen, if you're a noncitizen, if you're a stateless person, you're undocumented. All of
these status, okay, they affect your life. they they about uh where you've been, where you are today and where you where you can or can't go in the future, you know. So status is very different
and we formulate status talking about okay legal status and the legal status is like a category that defines rights, obligations, restrictions under laws. I gave you the example of political status, personal relationship with a
state governing or governing court. Are you a citizen? You're not a citizen. It's a social economic status. Uh are you are you what's your social standing? Okay. Are you working class? Are you low income? Are you elite? You a fool? And
then protective class status. So a group can be shielded from determination by law to historical structural disadvantage. So I want you to think about the freedom the group who came out of slavery who have endured all kind of atrocities in
in America as a group that should have a protected class status not just as members of or you know class classify themselves members of the black race but as a group who experienced historical
harms and therefore uh review just let me So, I'm just going to I'm going to kind of trying to drive find different ways of driving. So, let's walk through um this. All right.
So people's tax free were formally enslaved by the US uh under the US law. Uh it was it was not it was permitted you know until the 13th amendment. We can say it was actually
unconstitutional but nothing was done to the end of the institution of slavery until the civil war and you know the 13th amendment etc. political status political status. So this is how status is is intertwined
with the treaty context here where denying legal rights are selectively infranchised in 13 women, 14 women and 15 women. These are what we call reconstructive events. the reconstruction is the social economy status
$8 and I'm sure that the number is not too much too different in many other places especially being that the free for the most part a lot of people have been forced to move by because it's become
too expensive and various trans have dispossessed them with their residency uh we want to talk uh protected class act. So bring us together for legal protections and prepare the program based on government. So here's what I
want you to understand. Here's how what I want to leave with you and I'm not supposed to but I won't be too too long. But I want you to understand that when we say freedom, we're not talking about race farm.
Freedman is a status race. It's a government free legally documented condition and it carries consequences today. Okay. Um very important to understand I'm pretty much just repeated that. So I want to
give you a timeline of free as an equal. So 1619 1865 to various degrees. The institution of slavery was developed and then eventually um it was codified in US saw 1865 with the 13th amendment with the
abolition of slavery. There were other other uh laws that serve to um facilitate slavery such as future slave law and others. Um 1863 emancipation proclamation was issued by President
Lincoln. Um it ordering emancipation of the enslaved in Confederate states states that we 1865 13th amendment is ratified. You're supposed to that's constitutionally
um guaranteed abolition except for if you were to create a crime. Um, and then what's also important about this 13th amendment that a lot of people don't understand is that section two gave
Congress the authority to uh to make the appropriate legislation to enforce the 13th amendment. And so that's how you get some of these other acts later, the Civil Rights Act 1866, the 14th Amendment, 15th Amendment, the other reconstruction acts. And that gave
the authority of Congress to do the same thing today to eradicate. This is key language that was uh very key, very good Marshall in um in the in the civil rights uh era Supreme Court
case to eradicate the bad instance of slavery. Okay. So, and I'll get into that a little bit more later. So, we got the free zero. A lot of people don't know very much about the free to zero, but this is where um they say, "Hey, something has to be
done. Something has to be done. We have these people who've been nasticated into homelessness. They've been nastated into their families are broken and scattered. Uh we need they have they're in poverty. They're starving. And we have these
veterans that would would still try to kill. So we we need to have uh an agency that handles their affairs. So they call the free zero and they say we need the free zero not because these
people are negro but because they are men who for for generations have been disclosing their rights. That's very key. Um and there's a there's a case that affirms the legal meaning of freedom in 1865 or 1883.
of Fairfax the case that happened in the state of Connecticut they affirm that this freed from status is inherited that means that when you hear the term freedom free from what free from slavery okay but this is
not just a term that's applied to those people who who were free it is also inclusive of those individuals who were uh heirs or who are descendants of those people
and all of that the family members that come in property of those originally domesticated are constitute a class that we call and today uh just in recent times uh 2025 we have uh two bills is introduced
from the state and Massachusett level that serve to it's ground range stuff that serve in 2025 all right so That's that was legal status. Okay. So that was the first pillar. Killer number
two, political status. So um I'm you can raise your hand. I just want to quick show your hands. Who knew that Bostonians technically won the the vote the right to vote 140 years
before? Okay. Now keep your hands up if you think they actually got to use their vote. I can't see it but I'm hand. So that gap between law and reality we call political status. That's what
political status is all about. Um so when when so now I'm going to talk about a term that only break down. So you know the post civil war status you got you know you went from uh property
being being recognized property not citizens now we were always were citizens we we were citizens it's just we were denied right to citizenship that's that's a key point to remember we didn't if anybody has any questions on that we can get to it in the question
answer um we bar from voting in most states even legally bar from voting for political participation in private the Civil War to Massachusetts. Um technically they suffered in 1783 but as
you know that that was that we had an extra um after Civil War we got those in construction and it redefined our political status through federal action. Right. the political status so freely tied directly
to the the previous condition of servitude not free that was the 15th amendment you know so this is what I want you to understand our political status is tied to previous
condition servitude not race and when I say free condition servitude that is what we call the stain of sleep and that is something that you inherit that is the stain slavery. That's that's something that we've been enforced inherent because
America's not done that the they they overthrew reconstruction. They overthrew reconstruction. So what happened um after the civil war when they set up these reconstruction when they set up the dream bureau when a lot
of people don't know you know about 48 acres of new well some some got acute it was actually reneged on after they killed after he killed Abraham Lincoln and President
Andy Johnson took his place reed on 48 to be the uh the truth specialist oil. He gave blame targets to former Confederates, he put in provisional governors back into the southern states
that were confederates and essentially not only that he tried to veto all the freedom acts and reconstruction and he basically stripped those free.
He made sure to block uh any action that's that that serve to like carry out the work of reconstruction. And that's why many of people in history being the worst president in America. Some some people may feel otherwise today. I don't want to get into that but
for the purpose of this discussion um because after reconstruction following black folk disenfranchis literacy testing um freed expression voting civil rights social okay and a
lot of that is still today when we're dealing with that effect that so I just want to bring up this graphic you want to talk about um how we got here, you know, how we got here is very important
and I wrote down some uh incentive for some new uh but it's not just that. Okay, it's not just that. It's also the exclusion of New Deal programs where they crafted um they crafted the New
Deal in a way that gave states the ability to um control the money. So we we excuse me um especially the GI. So uh the southern democrats they actually
would not sign the repeal uh legislation unless they allowed to craft it in a way that disabled the free from being able to get people access to these new programs whether it be social security. That's why many of the jobs that people
work our our parents and grandparents and great grandparents work um under in the New Deal program. A lot of a lot of the jobs, whether you were field man, whether you were somebody that was a bailpock or somebody that was a servant,
those jobs, they didn't they didn't qualify for minimum wage. They didn't qualify for social security, but they didn't have the protection that they that got um included in the new bill programs. Uh and then they states the ability to oversee the admin the
administering of the GI Billings. So that uh I know in Mississippi you had like I think it was 1947 you had I think it was something like 3,000 or a couple thousand people that actually received the ideal benefit that year and only
like two of them were free. How was that justice? So then you think about the red line and the the the horrible amendment policies that came and you look at just look at your communities. Just look at what neighborhoods it's it's not the segregation because people want to live
with around. It's not it's not the segregation just because um you know we had so much money so we wanted to deal with huge uh estates. Look look at it. that's not coming out. It's because of federal policy and local policy and
policy of corporations how they want to do to that that spread that um divide today. So the the bills that we have um introduced that we need support for we need co-sponsorship for they can create pocket home insurance capital and
definitely for Bostonians who are descendants of of people that were estimated child very important okay let me go to the next slide so
I can't see but you You know, we did need to move around a little bit. Quick, show a hand of who we Okay, now keep your hand up if you still live every day. Okay, look. I hope I hope this number's
high, but the unfortunate reality is uh many many folks have not do not currently deal with it. Um, and You know, gentrification is just a fancy
word that for for prices out and that's essentially what happened. People got to get priced out. So, uh, the exodus then, you know, think about it, right? Like just look at just look at the
communities and how it's changed over the the landscape communities over time. Um, you know, it actually extends community power, but poverty hasn't left the people.
Let's rewind and see how stubborn that poverty line is. Or gentrification, you know, it's not a it's physically shaking where loss family live, friend
live. While overall lost population remains silent, the woman share is foreign. US born black Austinians, those most directly descended from those enslaved in America are leaving poor neighborhood due to the sky housing
shift makes it even more urgent to enact per policy before free advantage from the city fabric. Gentrification weakens community institutions and reduces political power of free voters inside city land. Um and two bills that we
talked about H696 and HB 3879. They can slow the displacement via uh down payment grants and property tax relief for eligible house. These are just some of the examples, right? But you see, I don't have I know I'm probably too far.
You see it? Um this this line right here you can see on this first graph. This is the the the population rise. Black Boston US Boston population rise. And this is the decline. Look how sharp it's declined
just in the last uh what is that 15 years. Um, but you know when I say black, we got to understand and this is no slice of anybody. We just have to we have to understand what we're talking about because everybody, every community,
every group of people has right to their own selfidentity and they have their own uniqueness and just like American freedom do. Okay. So um it this should never be an issue. We have to point out the distinction because uh the treatment
have been here for generations. We've endured by I mean all kind of terrible atrocities and now um we need specific repair specific policies that address uh baseline condition.
So he's been talking about high rates, but you look at it and I have these numbers here. This chart is showing you like, okay, the the the light, excuse me, the light is the white property and the black is the the blue is the white is the black
property. And as you see, hasn't really changed much since the last 100 years. There's not really significant change in terms of the relative the relative position like the gap between this poverty gap has not really changed much
and it's still too astronomically high as far as black poverty. Um that's on the free immigrant crime black higher incomes lower poverty and what happens when you don't have this this uh disagregated data it actually
mass the free part and you got to understand even if you see some of the numbers that are simple okay why free have a little little and why you know other groups that may identify
black as well have along there different pieces, right? You're talking about intergenerational asset deny versus, you know, the challenge of being a new migrant to a country or two generational education, especially if you're coming from a a poverty background in that
country or, you know, relative to America. So these these distinctions have to be understand just in case people, they're black and they're poor. Okay. a lot of premiums for generations different than why somebody else has just you know just arrived in America
from maybe a foreign country before. Okay. Um and we also talk about structural barriers beyond income. Let's look at the incarceration rate. The black loss incarceration rate is 4.1 times higher than white record. uh we
have 8880 uh incarcerations per 100,000 residents in the national talk about black mass residents incarceration compared to only 196 so
we're talking about a fourth less uh more than a quarter of the black incarceration rate yet only 3% business ownership we talk about blackowned business in Boston and And again these numbers are not disagregating freedom. So this is
why we talked about and we talked about the uh legal pill. We talked about the free political status. We talked about the freedom social economic status being
now we're going to talk about why freedom status warrants legal protection. In other words being a protected class. So, um, if you think about, um, Harvard's race plan and they got struck
down, right? And when I'm talking about Harvard's race plan, I'm talking about their their student initiative plan. and you know they planned for district they got down by Supreme Court was it 2023 the ruling came out whereas the Japanese
Americans they they got their reparations and it was it never got challenged they didn't have it was never even a challenge about whether or not that was constitution so they address you know what's the difference the difference in status
um you know the difference in stat. So when you think about when you think about freedom class stat, we got recognizing freedom as a protective class at the top. Um and but
it's it's an historical present, you know, um the fact that the Japanese Americans were able to get theirs using status. And see the reparations that went to the Japanese Americans, it didn't go to them because they were Asian because they were members of the
Asian race. So at that time we don't use those terminology. We say Asian-American. So, um, but but they got they didn't get it because they were Asian or they got it
because they were they had a specific harm that was government inflicted and they they had that status of intern scrutiny which is the highest form of judicial scrutiny. it it passed that it
didn't even get challenged. Okay. And also constitutional authority. I mentioned the 13th amendment as section two where Congress actually is empowered to end this place like they they just
and even in in a hard a lot of people don't know this may not have been but justice and justice Thomas both confirmed freedom of status. they they made a distinction between quote unquote black.
You know, in other words, they say uh special given to um the descendants of those investigated the freedom did not constitute a race based discrimination. Okay. So, very very important. So for
anybody that's looking through law enforcement, whether you're in the city, whether you're in the state level or federal level, you can create, you can craft and create policy that makes that allows people to be a protected class just like veterans protecting class.
It's like the same people class, this like protect class, the Native Americans, Japanese Americans, and so on and so forth. Why do all those people can have a protective class? Why in the world would the people who went through the most storms in America not have a
protected class? So this is why this is an emergency. We're talking about uh H69 is an emergency bill. This shouldn't happen. This is something that should have been a long time ago. So I'll wrap it up here. We got a couple more, but I
just want to give you a summary of status based versus racebased program. So, one side he's crashing in court, the other side he's winning. So, which one should Boston and which one should mass?
obviously static. Um if you if you look at like strict scrutiny, okay, in the Supreme Court, it's like a 7 foot high a 7T high like whereas you know when you when you look
at things from status, you take status based approach, they're like way high. So you don't have to really triple up and fall on beh [Music]
which always gets me in trouble right these people they're trying to shut down everything y'all heard about the fearless one they shut them down because they other reperation programs ever in Illinois, you know, they're getting challenged and they're getting shut down. Why? Because they're they're doing
race based reparations, race based policy, which you can't do. Unfortunately, I know we got the race where they they they had race targeted policy, but the deal is you want you have to make a race neutral.
And the the answer to that is you do a remedy based on okay so I'm not going to get into all all the rest of this just understand that Harvard got struck down and civil li88 and so there's another argument and I
got there's another argument um this is kind of legalization like we got to put in but Um I just want to explain 30 seconds why this argument that's coming from Cameron
is the guy who fought on the side of the students uh that that um basically guiding race based affirmative actions and college traditions. He was he's he's against his reparations
and this other guy Andrew Quio he's out of California he's very outspoken and so we got one dude on the east coast one dude on the west coast and they both they both use different so we say well hey we we not because of racis because
of we that's still by the constitution but you can't you extremely based on ancestry. But I want to tell you why why title um first by show who in here is a is a
military veteran or a child. You can put your hand up. Okay. Well, congratulations. You already benefit from a status day program. You already did. Okay. Just like Gordon service
programs prepare slave status. So if you if you were young people enslaved and emancipated in America that freement program you would be protected um to receive special benefits based on that's that's not because you like not that
it's because of the freedom status again status not status answers what did the government do to you the answer so I want you I want you to think I want you to think about that now these four pillars their iron flag and the
constitutional green light. The next step is action. We got to map the road from Junth the policy adoption. Um and and that's that's really what we want to understand today. We got careful time we have established
president commission support foundation and I I don't have any problem out for those in the room. We want to use some of our sources for a guy and I'm going to open it up for questions
from him. So, can can we please give Josh a huge round of applause? We're going to go on to um brother Nahm because we want to get to him and then do Q&A at the end. So, brother Nahim is queued up to speak now and then we can come back and ask any questions with
regards to Ali um Josh or Nahim. I'm making arrangements with them to email them to everybody. Um once they have them all together, which we we got that done right before we got here. Um I'm making arrangements so that we can have colleague email them out to everybody. Yeah, they're awesome. Yeah.
Can Can you hear me, Josh? Can you hear me? [Music] Can you hear me, Josh? So Naem is on. Okay, Naim, you're set to go.
I'll share it till you So, can Josh hear you? Can Josh hear you guys? Okay. Can you tell him to start Nahm's presentation? Thank you so much. [Music]
Okay. After um Nahim does this presentation, those who have questions, please step to the mic and line up so we can go through the questions. Um again, I'm making um provisions to get the all three presentations emailed to everybody who's
here. Um I'm going to ask colleague to email blast everybody with the presentations for your future reference. Has everybody filled out their evaluations? It's really important that we do that. You're first, Samuel. I got you first for a question.
You need one on the chair. Here you go. So, who does Josh? Okay. Okay. So, Naim, can you please um text Josh and tell him to stop sharing his screen? Are you able to do that?
[Music] [Music] [Music] I know. [Music] Is it there now? I just texted him. Is it there now? Uh, yeah, it should be all
set. It's just There we go. Okay, there we go. [Music] [Music] All right. Can you hear me? Yes. Yes, we can hear you. Okay. So, I'm going to I'm
going to try to move this uh along quick. Uh uh cuz I know we're going to press some time. So, this is the freedom movement from civil rights to civic power. I introduced myself earlier on. So, for the sake of time, I'm going to
try to get through as much of this as I can. Um, the Freeman movement from civil rights to civic power. The Freeman movement represents the next evolutionary phase
of civil rights advocacy in America. While the civil rights era secured critical relief protection, this transformative movement specifically focuses on the social and economic advancing of American freedom families,
those descended from persons emancipated in the United States. This presentation explores how this identity anchor data movement emphasizes care over representation, self-determination of
civil and concrete political power creating a pathway to true truth and injustice for those most harmed by America's history. So this is this
movement is rooted in a historical foundation. It is identity and this is why we stress the American freedom and its data uh data excuse me. This movement leverages disagregated data to make visible with
specific economic health and educational status facing American freedom families and they believe precisely targeted in precisely targeted at the people who
need it most. $8 is the media network of most American frequent families in Boston. You can target that because we know that in that same color of vote report that other blacks are their
networks are showing $13,000 for instance media network for black revenue families in the city of Boston uh while the civil rights framework needed it up right and I'm going to try to get through some of this as quick as
possible right the civil rights movement was focused on integration and equality. It had a broader black identity framework that kept us into today's day and time. Uh a rightful emphasis on
desegregation. Civil inclusion was the primary goal and it had a race only down. There were many different people that were connected with the movement and then eventually the American freedom got left behind.
When this movement does it and what it focuses on is empowerment and repair. It focuses on American friend family free and living meaning establishing the office of freedom affairs in the state of Massachusetts and doing
genealological traces so that we can know who our representatives are in this nation. It places an emphasis on restitution and our own political autonomy. Political consolidation is our primary
goal and disagregating that by family history is of great importance to what we're doing in this broader move. So, you know, I'm going to for the sake of time I'm going
to stop uh my presentation and let me jump on the camera real quick and say uh peace to everybody first and foremost. Uh, you were able to hear our brother Josh, you were able to hear our brother
Ali give a breakdown to what it is that we represent as United son and daughters of freedom. As I stated earlier, many of you were in attendance when we had New York and Cobra and you were able to see
the difference between those of us that are waving of this American flag versus those who wave the flag of the red, black, and the green. There is an obvious difference here. There are some people that are anti-American and yet
still pushing for Americans to give something to our people. We are pro America. Our colors are the red, the white, and the blue. We understand that it was our ancestors that built this country. Our ancestors built this
country. We've been citizens in this country from day one. And that is important to know as we move forward in this fight for remedial justice. Much of our historical advocacy work starts
right here in the state of Massachusetts. The first year local programs start right here in the state of Massachusetts. For the sake of time, I'm going to end it. I don't know if we're going to have any time for a day, but I I want to thank you all. Thank
sister. I want to thank the reporation task force and everybody that came out to hear what it is that we had to present. I am honored and peace. Thank you. Can we give brother Nahm a huge round of applause as well? Can we give the whole
United Sons and Daughters a huge applause? I just want to say that these brothers spend their life compiling data on our history going back from enslavement to current day and they go from state to state putting the stats together for how we've been impacting
each state. So I have a thousand% comfort in the data that they um present and that's why I thought it was important to share it with you guys today and tie it into Junth. So I want to say thank you so much for all of you all coming and listening. This is really powerful information. I'm going to do whatever I can to get it to you in an
email. I just talked to Khaled. We're going to quickly do questions, Q&A. So Sam, you had a question. Sam, and can you just say specifically to whom you're referencing it to? Sam, if you don't mind, was it Ali, Josh, or or Nahim? Well, I think that this is more
of a uh I would say mutual understanding because I think that part of what is very helpful and I definitely want to give a shout out to Frugal Bookstore again. Can we give a huge shout out again, please? Thank you. And for those who don't know,
um I've been working with um with the sister and the brothers for a while. We've been working on this one book. So I I want to I want to uplift the moment mainly because this has been a long time coming because the whole idea is we want everyone to literally be on the same
page. Exactly. So my question really is if we can as we turn to the same page really define what it means to be a freedman versus a slave and really wrap our heads around all of that cuz I
remember some of the sisters that left they were very upset. they were about that and I think part of that is because when the Europeans left their continent in Europe which people debate is really part of Asia but that's a whole another
conversation when they left Eurasia came over here they tried to use the argument that Rome and all these other people had slaves and that's why they thought that they could kidnap people bring them over
here and use that terminology that today too like there were slaves here and there in Guinea and Nice. But the point is and what we have to basically say for legal terminology is that these people were kidnapped, right? And that is
really why the the Supreme Court said in the case of the Armistad that those Africans had the right to kill everybody on the ship and they were innocent because they had been kidnapped. They were already free. you kidnapped them and so they have a right to free
themselves, right? So that was the whole point. So when we start calling our ancestors slaves, I feel like it's disrespectful. They were always free. So we didn't need someone else to free them for us cuz they were always free. And even if you look at the history and I
think that this is why we are called freed men and all these other terms is because now we need to be free mentally, mentally. And I think that mentally we're not there yet being on the same page which is why I want to redirect
people back to this book. So my very last question is how many people have read this book? Oh I have twice. I've read both of them. Okay. So that was maybe we can start having that conversation after we read this book again together. But thank you sister. No thank you. So is your question for the
brothers to answer? What's the difference between being enslaved and being a freeman? Is that what I got out of your question? It's a lawyer question cuz I know the answer. Okay. But yes. Okay. Thank you so much, Sam. I appreciate you coming to the play. Can you reach the microphone? I think I did
it. Yes. Okay. There you go. All right. Good. First time. First time I fixed the mic. Okay. I want to say something about the one comment that was made. One comment that was made. I'm all set, please. Yeah. He can adjust it for you. He's
gentle. I'm so proud of doing it myself. I know. Ah, all right. They didn't want to see the mic, did I? Okay. Any Sorry. Anyway, you know, Josh mentioned he talked about the stain of slavery. Yes.
And I just wanted to say the stain is not yours. The stain is because it's my I'm Irish background. I know my culture part of Europe. There was a blindness. And the blindness was about
having no idea how to work with the people they conquered. Mhm. Um there's a piece uh there's a piece on just recently about the Belgium conference in Europe where the now this is I'm not going into the African thing but they
all the European heads of Portugal and France and Europe they all met together and it was for a whole conference to divide up Africa and the person who actually be or whatever she's a great speaker um on Instagram and she said you know there wasn't a single African
person there to work with them. So, is your question for us to clarify what the stain of slavery is? The reason why I'm asking is we have five people behind you. I'm sorry. I don't want to be rushed. This is No, no, no. I'm just asking for the brothers. Are you asking them to clarify the stain of slavery? I know what it is, but would you like them
clarify? Excuse me. I'm saying it's not your stain. I know what he's talking about. I know exactly what he is. And it's my culture that gave you that stain. Right. But we still carry it. Exactly. Exactly. I'm right. You know, believe me, I I understand it there. I just want people to realize because
unfortunately that's kind of what happens when people put you down and leave you out and mixed up and everything else. Eventually you feel like it's my stain. Okay. It's not my stain. But that's how our people been made to feel. Yeah. That's exactly. So let me have one of the brothers clarify it real quick. Who wants to answer that
question? Josh Ali or either Nahim, can you go into more depth about the stain of slavery? I wanted to get that piece first. Yes. I heard what she said. But I want to get that piece first. Josh, do you want to clarify for the stain of slavery and why we feel like we
hold the stain of slavery slavery? I'm sorry. We can hear you. Yes, we can hear you. But I I'll just say this. Um, what this um what this uh woman is
saying is right here, the stain is given to us. Uh but yes bottom line is that it's a thing that we carry whether we carry it something that we should be no we don't agree that we should be vent
but the same remains with us because of the way that society views us like Josh says our status or standing in this society dictates that it's not something that we really have control and it's the very reason that we are here today
looking for legal justice to remedy that stain, to embrace that, to remove that from our people once and for all until we can reme. That's going to remain, right? So that's what we're saying. It's not whether or not somebody gave it to
us, whether or not we should have it or not, we know we should have, but it continues on generation after generation because it has never been. That's very tal and on a daily basis, we're constantly reminded of it. And that's what I want to make sure to clarify for
you. So finish your statement. Sure. Exactly. Because because the thing that I just wanted to say is that the reason part of the reason why there's a specific American situation and I'm old enough to have watched it, watched heroes and then being shot down and shot
down and shot down when they shouldn't have been shot down. There's things going on that are wonderful. And the point is that some of that happened because my particular culture doesn't want to be criticized. No. And so therefore, it's like it's like that and
that is what black Americans can do very well. And who who could help them? Of course they can do it well. They've been watching it all this time. They got something to say. And I think that the issue is, you know, it's a little bit like Trump will never apologize. It's kind of the culture is a little bit the
same. And also the machines that we manage everything. People don't mean harm, but the machines don't give feedback. And so there's that's just to point that out that there's a that there's a resistance to being criticized which is why they feel differently about
the African ones from the American ones. The American ones know what's gone on and the African ones are the newer ones or whatever are not quite. So So can I shed light on something? As somebody who desents from slavery, I'm three generations removed from slavery. My mother was a illegal sharecropper. My
grandparents on both sides were sharecroers because their parents were slaves. So, it wasn't that long ago. It's not that white people don't want to be criticized. They don't want to acknowledge it. They want us They're erasing our history right in front of us. That's why I thought it was so important to do Junth. You know what I'm saying? Because now it's become
commercialized across the nation. People get to take a day off and they don't even know what they're celebrating. So, it's not that they want to be criticized. We're not criticizing. We're just asking them to acknowledge the harms they did to our ancestors and they continue to do to us even today. It wouldn't hurt us to admit that we were
wrong. Yeah, wrong. Exactly. Wrong. So, um I just want to make sure you understand the difference for us. We're not in a criticism mode. We're not criticizing them. We're want Sorry, but that's my family and these people need to be criticized. You know, Trump's niece knows what's wrong with that
family. People need to have be able we need to join a few critics together because it's a whole world. It's not just black Americans. It's the world is being dead. And so for us, we look at it like um the acknowledgement for other people's plightes are immediately acknowledged by the original oppressors
or oppressors. But when it comes to us as being black Americans, American freed men, it's ignored. Pull yourself up by the bootstraps. Get over it. Slavery is not no longer here. There's no slaves. But immediately, as soon as there is an atrocity with any other race of people, it's like, "Send out the aid. Send out the ships. Let's get it going." And so
that's really disrespectful to us. It's hurtful. painful that everybody else's plight is acknowledged before ours in our face. In our face. Absolutely. Yeah. So, that's that's what we're talking about. Not criticizing with you. You don't have to teach me. I've got Exactly. And I always appreciate your statement. You always keep it really
real and I really appreciate you. I just wanted to make sure that you heard that piece as a stain of slavery. Thank you. Next person, Miss Sharon. So, okay. Thank you. I appreciate you. Um, two questions. One has to do with
the brothers that are there. Thank you, sir. And the other one has to do with the meeting times. Um, my question is, when determining reparations for Boston and considering the great migration from the south, can
reparations be determined on the state level when it comes to Bostononians or freedmen in Massachusetts or does this have to be dealt with on a federal level? That's the first question. Okay. the second question. Do the first question first. Okay. So, another
colleague and I along with some of the support from um United Sons and Daughters, we did a timeline for Boston. This was Boston social economic timeline. So, from 1641 to 1965, you can clearly see who was here and you can see that they were American freemen. And so,
that's a report that I have. I'll be more than willing to share with you. That's not my question. So, that's not my question. I know what your question is. So, in order to get reparations, if you're going to talk about the legacy of slavery, yes, but there's a there's a there's a there's a concerted effort to
have reparations for all melanated people. And that's what we're trying to say. We're saying that American freemen are the people who the original harm if you're talking about the legacy of slavery. Now, if you just want to talk about people who have been potentially
discriminated or racially profiled, that is another set of reparations. But I'll let the brothers answer you because you're asking me, is it possible with the great migration and the numbers, can you on a local level get reparations versus the federal and you can get both. I know that to be true and that's what
we fight for every day. That's why we have a state bill. So the federal level is a 40 acres of a meal. They own owe the original debt of 16 trillion at this point and that's what Dr. Dar's book is all about. However, we're hoping that the local reparations would springboard
to the federal to get it recognition. But a good example is Massachusetts is complicit in the fact that it sanctioned slavery, the first colony. So yes, it does have a debt that's owed. So yes, you can do local reparations and federal. I Well, that wasn't that was
kind of my question, but it wasn't. So my question is how are you going to differentiate between the people who were is there going to be a specific delineation when it comes to um Oh that's not what you asked actually. Yeah I did um when it comes to really
focusing on Boston and Massachusetts in terms of reparations versus the federal level. Okay. It's because there are people that like all my grandparents are southerners, but I was born here and there's the legacy of reparations. So, how is that going to be differentiated?
We don't know. Okay, that's the we don't know because let me just make make this clear and we should probably go over the ordinance on every meeting we have. The ordinance says specific recognition acknowledgement of blacks to descend from slavery in the US that live in Boston. Okay. So, I'm answering your
question and that's why I said to you I did a project from 1641 to 1965. Prior to that, there was 1% any any black immigrant that was here. So, those numbers can be grounded in local reparations. I got it. So, hold up. So, cuz there's other people behind me. So,
the backup to that question is I've been here for every single presentation from Northeastern and from TUS and there is nothing that backs up what you just said. Okay. But you're Wait, wait, wait. Okay, Sharon, I can't talk about the research. Let me stop. Let me finish
asking my question. So, there is nothing. No, you don't. Cuz I haven't said it. There is nothing in those presentations that specifically says the harms that were caused and therefore you can actually talk about reparations. That's the first question. Second question. Okay, let's get back to that
real quick cuz I like to answer things as they come out. Have you ever I know I need to answer things as they come out. Have you ever addressed the fact that you weren't comfortable with the fact that neither report that was presented said black citizen from slavery in the US since this Okay, so if you did, let
the city handle that. If you sent it to the city, let the city handle that. I have absolutely nothing to do with the researchers. I don't even know what they're presenting because it's not June 30th yet. None of us do. So, I can't answer that question. All I can say is when they presented in December, January, and March, I that the community
was asked that if they had any problems, concerns to email. That's all I can say to you. I I can't talk about the researchers today. I really can't. So, I'm just putting it on the record again. That But did you just put it on the record by sending an email? Because this is not putting it on the record. This is
a presentation. And I think that that's what the confusion is. These brothers are presenting their their their their presentation for their project. And it's kind of unfair to ask that because nobody I wouldn't allow anybody to ask that question through your presentation. So can we So hold up. I didn't get to
have a question to answer. Yes, you did. You did my presentation. No. Yes, you did. You didn't get to have a Q&A. I don't want to argue. I want to ask my second question. My second question is the meetings start in September. This is June. Are there not going to be meetings in July and August? What are you asking
me again? I'm sorry. Right there it says third meeting a month. Public meeting. We are off and I've told you this and I told other people this. We are off for July and August. The task force decided to be off in July and August. I clearly said that this is our last community partnership meeting. We're off in July
and August. We come back in September. I'm working closely with the um communications director Martin to put something on for the month of September. It looks like a listening session where everybody can come in and speak their mind. So, we have this conversation and that's okay. And what I'm saying is I'm
advocating because you now have the momentum and you have the people here that are interested in it. And I'm advocating. I don't know if you can do it. I don't know if you can't do it, but I'm advocating to as a teacher. I know what it's like when you have a winter break or you have a summer break and you
try to regain the momentum with the community. And I'm advocating for this still to be something in July and August. So when I mentioned this at the last meeting and when you were told, did you send an email in requesting? See, this is what I don't understand. I'm going to be very honest. I'm very honest
with the community. There's nothing that I know that you don't know about this task force in these meetings. When I ask you all to send emails in to state whatever your concern is, you don't. And then now you're now we're standing in front of a presentation that's supposed
to end in 10 minutes and you're asking me questions about the task force and about policies and procedures. It's not fair. It's not fair to the brothers on the screen. It's not available. It's not fair to the people in the room and it's not fair to the task force. So, all I'm saying to you is when I spoke of and
when we spoke of previously that the task force will be out in June and July, my question to you is did you send an email to the task force saying I don't think we should do this. I suggest that because if you didn't, we can't talk about that right now. You're putting me in a very precarious situation. You
really are. And so I can't talk about task force policies and procedures and the city's policies and procedures in the middle of a presentation. So can I just have you step aside, please, because you're really you're not you're not being fair and you're really putting me on the spot right now and I can't
answer your questions. But talk to the city. They're right there. Talk to We can talk to the task force afterwards. It's not it's not fair what you're doing and I'm not going to engage you. So what I'm saying to you, there was a question answer period. I'm trying to kick it down a little bit cuz the energy is a little wild. But the question you're
asking has nothing to do with these brothers presentation. I'm putting it on the record. Okay. Then put it on the record with the city in the corner. This is not on the record. This is not public comment. This is Q&A about the presentation. That's what I'm trying to tell you. You're wrong. You're supposed
to be asking questions about the presentation, not trying to put the city or Antonya and throw me underneath the accelerator train. And and you're wrong right now. because this has nothing to do with the presentations that this brother's put together. And guess what the clock You
know what? Let me stop. Okay. What I'm going to do is I'll step aside cuz there two other people that need Okay. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Good evening once again. Uh, my name is Miss Grace and yes, I have had my DNA
tested and I am on my father's side a descendant of Ramsy's III. So that's why it's important for us to connect to Africa. I also want to say to the presenter
um he went from I like to thank him. Um the children are our future, the youth are our future. So I would like to thank you that you took the time to put together this presentation. And I also would like to say I'm sorry to all the
black youth who didn't grow up like I did, who didn't grow up with a black community, a strong black community intact. You grew up when the community was destroyed. When guns was dropped on on our community, when guns and drugs
was dropped on our community, when black men was mass incarcerated, when black children were forced into foster care, and black mothers suffered, buried their children, watched their men locked up.
So, I'm sorry you didn't inherit the black churches teaching us black history. You didn't inherit the black organizations that taught our history. You didn't inherit the black organizations that had free
daycare, free after school. You didn't inherit the extended family. Actually, we didn't have to go to uh to daycare. We had our cousins, our aunts, our uncles, our grandparents. So, I'm sorry
to the black youth of today that you did not have that. Okay? But I'm here to tell you that for one, you went from the civil rights [Music] to I don't want you called it, but you forgot the black power movement. The
black power movement came after the civil rights movement. And during that black power movement, our people grew. We decided that we wanted to take, we didn't call Roxberry, Dorchester, and
Manipan. We called that whole strip the Berry and we wanted to incorporate this as a black town. So, I just wanted you just to add that to you and thank you for presenting today. Thank you for
coming, Miss Grace. I really appreciate it. Are there any other questions? Do you have a question, ma'am? Um, yeah. I I want to I want to make a statement. And can you come a little bit closer so we can I want to make a statement and and then I I may have a question, but I
wanted to say thank you because I learned a lot today that I didn't know. Thank you. And I've been operating on a different I guess five you would say. Um in that
uh I'm planning an event that takes us from 1900 to 1965. Mhm. When we had a Black Wall Street here and just like the young lady who just
spoke, our community was different. Mhm. And you know, now I'm teaching and training youth in entrepreneurship who are in Dys. Wow. And they didn't even know what the word entrepreneurship
meant. Mhm. And that helped to save us during that time period. So I just wanted to say thank you. I we appreciate you. I I learned a lot. I wasn't focused
on reparations because I felt like the reparations committee was nothing. I didn't know that you all were so connected and you knew about the laws and things. I haven't been dealing with the laws, but we did do a a
comprehensive study of black businesses from 1900 to 1965 with Northeastern University. And now we're going to turn some of that information into performance. Our youth are going to
perform some of and reenact some of that time period. So I have flyers if anybody's interested in participating and um you know so I just wanted to say thank you. Not that I agreed with
everything, but it's nice to hear another perspective on things. And I think that that's what we have to keep doing. Yes. We we can't just look at one perspective. You know, I believe strongly in reparations. Yes. You know,
but I I had no idea the little steps that you have to take in order to achieve it. Yes. You know, I thought that honestly I thought that you all were just chucking and jing. And you know what's so funny? And we
weren't going to get it with this particular committee. I mean, and I see my beautiful friend over here who is um part of the committee and I know she's for real. Yes. So, thank you. So, I just want to say thank you so much for that statement. Um even if we reach one or
two people and somebody learned something, it's about exchanging ideas. It's not debatable. It's not an argument. But I really wanted people to see that we work hard and we're not working with the like ideologies or just what we think. We have backed material to do what we do. You know what I'm
saying? We have facts and I don't want anybody to think that we're just twiddling our thumbs. Right now from from last year to now, we really couldn't do anything because the two researchers were doing their thing and that's Tus Northeast. Okay. the community partners like the United Sons
and Daughters, we had um um Marlon um Salman, those people came in with their projects. We had to wait for them. So, we're not just sitting back not doing anything. We're really working hard to get a comprehensive report and get a and make the recommendations that are necessary, but we need the community to
import this vote, too. So, that's why we need you guys. We really appreciate you. Any other questions? You have a question? Um yes, I have uh passed out these surveys. My name is Mandisha Tyrie on my album. Can I just cut you off for one second? Oh, I'm only giving my
information. I know, but I have a question for you. Sure. Do you have anything pertaining to the brothers and their presentation? Cuz we're not doing public comments today. We're just doing Oh, well, honey, you need to make that clear. I did. I didn't hear you. I did. So, do you have a question for them? That's what I'm asking about their
presentation. Are they online? Yeah, they're That's what they're waiting for people to ask some questions. Yeah, they're waiting. Mhm. Yes. I would like to know how long did it take them to collect all that research. That's a good question. Are you guys there brothers? Josh about five years
[Music] for how many for how many years? For how many years of scholarship? Okay. How many years of scholarship have you guys been doing to study this? That's what I want people to know. I can hear you. Can you hear me? What's
the call to action those of us outside for outside the state of Massachusetts do to support the work? So, right now the ta the task force is in limbo waiting for the report from Northeast and TUS and then the city is getting
ready to do their report. So, we've also um engaged with some other things that not we're not really willing to ver right now because we don't have all the facts. But on a city level, we're okay. It's just about waiting for those who have been contracted to do the reports to get them to us. The deadline was June
30th. We're out for July and August. Hopefully, we get that information and can disseminate it over July and August if that's possible. I'm not quite sure those deadlines. I do know in September we're going to be dealing with community listening sessions, workshops according to what the community engagement
committee has decided. What you can do for us in Massachusetts is is is um support the state bill that we have. We have an American Freeman office of freedom affairs bill in the state house that just left the house council to have it um validated. We also have American
Freeman Commission. So those bills were read bill number 8169596 and also bill number 3879. So, if you can support on the state level, but right now we need a community to be involved and come to the meetings. Um, and and that's that's all I can say. And
right now, we're just gearing up to do a huge marketing campaign to get people to come in September to that meeting. I think it's September 15th. Um, if there's no other questions, we're going to dismiss. Um, we're behind time, so I just want to let everybody know.
Okay. But did you I need those? Uh, Miss Janice, do you have a question? Sure. Oh, no problem. I didn't see your hand. That's okay. Uh, my name is JS McManis, so I'll go through this very quickly. In terms of Junth, uh, both of my families
were in South Carolina at that time. Uh, Boston has played an intricate part in the establishment of Freedman schools in the south. Uh, some of the women that were teachers here did go to the south to um, enhance the literacy of the
ex-slaves. Um there was a freedman's bureau in Boston. And the freedman are as a legal class. Uh the enslaved people did not get their 40 acres in a mule, but the slave owners and slaveholders did receive their
reparations. And that's a document that is out there in a book called Slavery by Another Name. Slavery isn't officially dismantled in this country until 1935.
So those are my comments for today. Yes, thank you for that information. Also, um the Freeman's pension fund was started here in Massachusetts. Charles Sumner, which was one of our senators, he's the one that petitioned for the Freeman Bureau on the federal level. So I want people when the brothers have
that information, they spoke. I don't know if you heard that and that's why I'm going to try to get this PowerPoint to you, but Massachusetts is rich in Freeman history um and also in actually sanctioned slavery. So that's why I take this so serious. But is everybody okay? Everybody answered. All the questions
have been answered. Thank you so much for coming. Can we give the United Sons and Daughters a huge round of applause first? Can we give yourself a huge round of applause? Thank you so much for coming. And please thank Khaled and the AB team.
If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be able to see or hear anything right now. So, yay. Where's the um AB team? Come on over here. Say something. We really appreciate you and thank you to the city. Thank you for making this all happen as well too. I really appreciate everybody. Our next meeting is going to
be on September 15th. We're going to have a lot of marketing material that comes out to tell you exactly what it's about. So, we're going to need you and more people to come out. Thank you so much.