Marcus Garvey Park/Attempting to Silence the Drums of Harlem

A message from Rebecca Scott: Marcus Garvey Park /Attempting to Silence the Drums in Harlem

Here's an update on this situation:

Boro Comm. Castro had a second meeting with the Marcus Garvey Park drummers on Friday,July 13 at 5pm at Marcus Garvey Park, along with the Marcus Garvey Park Alliance.At this meeting, Comm. Castro and Mr. Green, a contact person for the drummers, along with other drummers, announced that they picked a site within the park to be designated a drumming site. Comm.Castro said that benches would be installed in the site (near theacropolis andthe amphitheater) today, Saturday July 14. This is now an officially sanctioned area for drumming, like the drumming circle in CentralPark. Drummers have the right to drum there on their regular day and time and can't be removed. If there is a program at the amphitheater,the drummers can also move location. Park EnforcementPatrol havebeen instructed to monitor the area only to protect thedrummers, notto remove them.

If you have more questions about this, from the drummers' perspective, I can give you a few contacts for thedrummers. Feelfree to email me for that contact information.

Becky

Rebecca Scott
Partnerships for Parks

Phone: 212 360-3326
Cell: 917 816-2167
Fax: 212 360-3323

Previously stated by Johnnie Stevens:

For immediate release

Marcus Garvey Park Drummers, July 2 2007

Sat June 30 two white police officers approached drummersat 5th Ave Marcus Garvey park, at about 7:30pm, stating that they received complaints about the drumming being to loud.

Two spokespeople, a man and woman, from the drummersorganizationtold the officers, "We have been drumming every week until nine p.m.for the last thirty years ", They asked the officers why were theycoming now when it was only 7:30pm. The officers responded that the residents at 2005 5th Ave (across the street) had complained that the drumming was too loud. The drummers said "We will continue until 9pm".

The policemen then called for reinforcement, when a carwith a barofficer came , the drummers spokesperson continued along the lines oftheir right to drum, "it's our culture fromAfrica and the Caribbean" One women drummer said about the white residents. "They have forced Black people out of Harlem to move here, they knew thatwe drum here every week, if they don't want to hear the drumming they should move"

Still another police car came, this time with lights, andabout nine policemen. With the drummers, women, children and menaround eightypeople, the drummers resisted their position and continuedto drum,while an assigned spokesperson talked to police offers.

Across the street at Fifth Ave condo (124) the four white residents watched while the struggle continued. The drummers, dancersand crowdtook out their cellphones and video cameras recording. After 25 minutes the police backed down and the drummers drummed louder as a protest and message to the white residents that they will fight fortheir African culture.

Please join us next Saturday July 7th to help support the MarcusGarvey Park drummers in their struggle against the ongoing police harassment.

Statement written by
Johnnie Stevens
By Phone :866-527-2545
Sent by Agnes Johnson