The concept of a Rally/March/gathering in DC at the Mall works for me on so many levels.
“UNITE To Face Addiction is a grassroots advocacy initiative bringing together people, communities, and organizations working on addiction solutions across a wide spectrum. We are coming together to let our nation know that addiction is preventable and treatable, that far too many of those affected have been incarcerated, and that people can and do get well. Addiction cannot be ignored any longer.” See more info here.
Growing up in Detroit, with a burgeoning and strong Civil Rights movement led by a coalition of Baptist churches throughout the city, I had the spectacular opportunity to see Dr. Martin Luther King speak at my high school. It wasn’t my high school yet, being too young, but my older brother’s. My parents were anti-racism and it instilled in me a desire to follow the movement and learn from an early age. Dr. King grew the size, value and importance of marches on Washington and eventually (after his death) the term Million Man March came along.
“The Million Man March was a gathering en masse of African-Americans in Washington, D.C. on October 16, 1995. It was held on and around the National Mall in the city. The National African American Leadership Summit, a leading group of civil rights activists and the Nation of Islam working in conjunction with scores of civil rights organizations including many local chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (but not the national NAACP) formed the Million Man March Organizing Committee. The founder of the National African American Leadership Summit, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Jr. served as National Director of the Million Man March.”
In a conference call with planners of the Unite to Face Addiction Rally, I threw out the term “Million Man March” and esteemed researcher Bill White coined, “Million Years of Recovery March”. That was a moment of supreme pleasure.
Maybe we’ll see you there.
Is this an NA related event. Is there a group bus or ride share from the Asheville area?
going! so very very VERY EXCITED!!
I am a recurring addict and think this is really great. There is such a stigma with people in recovery, especially with people in the medical field. I cannot be open about my recovery because of this. I think everyone should have to watch this.
I awoke today, grateful, that just for today, I’m not using.
Its no milestones that I want to throw away….
It was the weight of carrying that pain, that became unbearable. At this point It moved.
This is not an NA event! It’s about getting politicians to put more money into educating and rehabilitating rather than locking people up for minor drug crimes. Way to many addicts are incarcerated and there is no rehabilitation.
SO Proud of “Chino”
Being @ The Rally ❤️? Today.
❤️ Him…