Several hundred families and members of Families United for Racial & Economic Equality (FUREE) will hold their annual convention to demand elected officials and candidates to respond to policies that affect low income families, May 17 from 1-3 p.m. at PS 67, 51 Edwards Street in Fort Greene.
Families will address “the displacement of low income families and small businesses due to massive development” in Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene, the shutting down of family day care centers, lack of quality affordable food and affordable housing and other issues that affect many low income families.
Council Members Charles Barron and Leticia James; Assembly Members Karim Camara and Joseph Lentol, and Congressman Ed Towns will appear to answer questions and address members’ demands with an expected audience of more than 400 residents, small business owners, day care providers and youth.
A march down Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn will follow the forum to protest what they feel is lack of community involvement in upcoming development plans.
Led by a 75 person youth marching band, participants will march holding signs that will say “Development for our People, Not Your Profit,” and “This Community is Our Goldmine.”
The march will stop at several places significant to the members of the organization, including the Underground Railroad that was slated to be taken by eminent domain but halted after FUREE co-filed a lawsuit challenging the city.
“Because of development in the area, our families don’t have a supermarket, pharmacy or a laundromat. It’s like we’re being shut out of our own communities. It’s time for elected officials to stand up and do what we put them in office for; to represent their constituents,” said Cynthia Butts, FUREE organizer and resident of Walt Whitman Houses in Fort Greene for over 50 years.
For more, call 718-852-2960 extension 308 or visit www.furee.org.
