WASHINGTON — A Baltimore reverend is walking from his church in Baltimore to the front gate of the White House on Presidents' Day to call attention to reparations for African-Americans.
Rev. Dr. Robert Turner, Senior Pastor of Empowerment Temple AME church announced he will be walking 40 miles from Baltimore to D.C. It is expected to take 14 hours. Turner calls to walk "40 for 40" because of HR 40, which calls for a group to be formed to recommend reparation strategies. This walk is the reverend's fifth walk. He says it is to call attention to "the long history of failure by the U.S. government to grant reparations for enslavement of African Americans, and post-emancipation racially exclusionary policies."
"America had 16 presidents who presided over slavery," Rev. Turner said in a press statement. "Thirty presidents later, President Biden has the opportunity and an obligation make right on what America has gotten wrong since 1776, her mistreatment of Blacks."
Rev. Turner said that the HR-40 Strategy Group, a broad coalition of reparations organizations and leaders who have been working with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, lead Sponsor on HR-40, are expected join him for the Presidents' Day Walk.
"We want Joe Biden to hear our voices on Presidents' Day. It's time for reparations. It's time for HR-40," Turner said.
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On a cold, wet November day in Potomac, Maryland Cherisse Milliner visits her ancestors.
“My people,” said Milliner as she stood on the site of the Union Wesley Methodist Church cemetery, how hidden in a wooded area off Piney Meetinghouse Road.
“I have grandchildren,” said Milliner. “I want them to know this history. I want them to know where they came from.”
Milliner said her great-great-great grandfather and his family are among those buried in the 150-year-old cemetery, filled with the graves of former slaves and freed Blacks.
“I have to fix this,” said Milliner. “I have to make this right.”