Campaign to Exonerate Marcus Garvey moves into High Gear

The following is issued by Most Hon P.J. Patterson, Statesman-in-Residence at the P.J. Patterson Centre for Africa-Caribbean Advocacy at The University of the West Indies (The UWI).

The P.J. Patterson Centre for Africa-Caribbean Advocacy is throwing its full weight behind the decades-old campaign for the posthumous exoneration of Rt. Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey. In a letter addressed to all CARICOM Heads of State and Government, the Centre has invoked its endorsement by three specific steps:
1. A letter co-signed by all Heads addressed directly to US President, Joe Biden, invoking his assent to the petition;
2. Launching in each Member State a public appeal for 100,000 signatories to the petition, which transcends partisan political boundaries;
3. To extend their outreach through all regional institutions and organisations via the CARICOM Secretariat and externally through their Embassies and Consulates located in countries where the Caribbean Diaspora reside.

It should be generally known that signatories are not confined to citizens or residents in the United States. This is a global campaign and the more persons above the age of 18 who sign, the more effective will the petition prove.

Marcus Garvey was a heroic pioneer in the fight against racial inequality. At this time when the struggle to obtain equal rights and justice is experiencing a necessary rejuvenation, the pursuit to obtain a posthumous exoneration must be unrelenting and must confront and conquer the insistence of the racists who are determined to deny voting equality - the bedrock of any democracy. This is a most propitious time for Marcus Garvey’s long overdue posthumous exoneration.

The Centre makes an urgent plea: “Let our voices be heard loud and strong on the Continent, across the Caribbean Sea and throughout our Diaspora as one in this plea, for the tenets of justice demand it.”
Head of the Marcus Garvey Institute has conveyed his deep appreciation of the Centre’s support in the global campaign to obtain a minimum of 100,000 signatories to the petition.

On Wednesday, February 16, The University of the West Indies in collaboration with The P.J. Patterson Centre for Africa-Caribbean Advocacy and The Centre for Reparation Research will host a Vice-Chancellor’s Forum themed, “Exonerating Garvey”. The Forum will air live from 10:00 a.m. EST/Jamaica and 11:00 a.m. AST/Eastern Caribbean via www.UWItv.org OR www.facebook.com/UWITV.

To learn more about the global campaign to exonerate the Rt. Excellent, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, please visit the petition at www.justice4garvey.org.