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FREEDOM'S JOURNAL Issue #28 December 5th 2005.
NEW YORK HOSTS THE UNIVERSAL AFRICAN MEETING OF THE MINDS #6 
November 26th 2005: The New York Division of the UNIA-ACL, A. L. Crawford Memorial Division #404 hosted the sixth installment of the Meeting of the Minds. It was the second anniversary of the first Meeting of the Minds held in Baltimore, MD in Novemeber of 2003 and hosted by the local Division #460. Despite the immoral declaration by the Parent Body that they were abolishing the Meeting of the Minds Series, members from a majority of the divisions within the Association supported the conference whole heartedly in an effort to overcome recent difficulties and charter a course forward for the UNIA-ACL.
The Meeting of the Minds was a tremendously successful series which was conceived, coordinated and supported by the interdivisional energies of general members and officers across the globe. Undoubtedly the last minute effort of some Parent Body members to discourage members from attending the New York Conference only spurred more into action in order to save this great association. 
After ten hours of deliberation, the conference representing a majority of divisions was resolved to press forward in carrying out the work of the association in earnest and to empower the 1st Assistant President-General to exercise his consitutional duty in resolving the pressing issues of constitutional violations and abuse by some leaders within the Parent Body.
Issues brought to the forefront were those of membership development and fraternal growth; support for the constitution of 1918 with amendments of 1938; positive utilization of technology and the development of sustainable economic projects within the ACL; the need for resolution and reconciliation of the charges brought against high officials of the Parent Body. The conference was followed by a wonderful Mass Meeting at which guests and visitors were treated to the musical talents of Brother Jahiti Matuda as well as the oratory of New York Councilman Charles Barron. The event was deliciously catered by the 404 Black Cross Society and visiting members were treated to the exquisite hospitality of the member owned Harlem Landmark Hotel. At the end of the conference the following Resolution was drafted to be sent out to all Divisions for their support and approval: Whereas, no person in the association is above the law, as demonstrated at the 1922 trial of the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey before the Bar of Convention, Whereas, charges have been properly (duly) placed upon the President-General and Third Asst. President-General, Whereas, there is no Deputy Supreme Potentate to conduct a trial charging the President-General with Constitutional violations, 
Whereas, the President-General would automatically, for the obvious conflict of interest, have to recuse himself from determining the outcome of his own trial,
Whereas, the historic precedent of the 1926 Emergency Convention called by Four President of UNIA-ACL Divisions, served as the Convention Bar to try the Acting President-General, We, have resolved to grant 1st Asst. President-General, Alfred Rowe Tutu, the necessary 'authority' to 'appoint or conduct' an independent investigation into the charges of "Abuse of Office" and "Constitutional Infringement of the Membership" currently placed and those that may be forthcoming. We also resolve to grant full authority to the 1st Assistant President-General, Alfred Rowe Tutu, to Convene an Emergency Convention in order to redress the state of the Association and to carry out Judicial Proceedings on the current and duly placed forthcoming charges against the President-General, Redman Battle, and 3rd Assistant President-General, Alvin Ricks.
FREEDOM'S JOURNAL Vol.1 |
