September 10, 2009
Dear Brothers:
The time has come for Alpha brothers across the country step up to the plate and let our individual and collective voices be heard regarding the U.S. Government’s failure to issue a building permit to begin construction of the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial.
The Washington, DC Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation under the leadership of Harry E. Johnson, Sr., has raised $106 million, has a letter of credit in hand from Wal-Mart and has complied with every recommendation and change from the Department of Interior and the Homeland Security Division. Still there is no permit.
An emotional groundbreaking ceremony took place during our Washington, D.C. Centennial Convention in 2006, with construction scheduled to begin shortly afterward. The monument was scheduled to be erected in 2008. Here it is 2009 and the project is stagnating. It was halted to remove underground wiring. The wires were removed. A security plan was requested. It was submitted. What is the continued delay?
As general president of the fraternity that conceived the memorial and a member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation and its Executive Committee, I am asking each brother who reads this letter to immediately contact both of your U.S. senators and your member of congress in the House of Representatives. Brothers should ask them to investigate this delay.
Further, I ask that you send an e-mail to Secretary Ken Salazar at the Department of the Interior demanding a building permit be issued and construction begin.
Here is a sample letter you may copy, cut and paste into an e-mail or Web form to expedite our concerns:
Dear Senator … Dear Representative … Dear Secretary Salazar:
I am writing you today as a constituent on a very serious matter involving the construction of the Washington DC Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial.
On behalf of my family and my friends, I urge your prompt action in urging the National Parks Service of the Department of Interior to issue a building permit for the construction of the King Memorial. Please do not allow this important monument to one of America’s (and the world’s) greatest citizens to be stalled due to political posturing. We are requesting an immediate investigation of the delay.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Also send a letter to the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar at:
E-Mail:
feedback@ios.doi.govFax: (202) 208-5048
U.S. Mail: 1849 C St., N.W., Washington, DC 20240
Brothers, we have not provided leadership and service to the community for 103 years by remaining silent and we will not start now. When the world needed a voice for getting children from high school to college, we were that voice. When African Americans believed that their vote would not count, we urged them to fight for the right to vote because we knew a “voteless people is a hopeless people.” Now the world is in need of a memorial on the National Mall in Washington to honor a King. Not a king of royalty who looks down on his subjects; but an American King who walked with kings, but never loss the common touch. A King who gave the world a dream of freedom and equality for all people. We know that once the memorial is built, the people will come--and be inspired.
My Alpha brothers, let your voices ring out. Get those e-mail messages and letters faxed and sent today! We want a building permit to “build the dream” and we want it now.
Fraternally,
Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr.
General President
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