African Martyrs Day 2023

Organize an event in your city!

This is a call to build African Martyrs Day events between February 18, 2023 and February 28, 2023.  At the first Congress of the African People’s Socialist Party in September 1981, APSP designated February 21 as “The Day of the African Martyr.” 

Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965 by agents of United States repression and counterinsurgency.  On African Martyrs Day we must lift up those Africans who, in many ways, gave their lives for the freedom of African people.  We must also recognize that all Africans who die under colonialism have been martyred.

Amidst the historical importance of the Hands Off Uhuru Hands Off Africa counteroffensive that we have waged, this year’s African Martyrs Day takes on an even deeper significance.

We must recognize that the July 29, 2022 raids against Chairman Omali Yeshitela and other leaders, homes and offices of the Uhuru Movement, this was done with the full intent of martyring Chairman Omali Yeshitela and other leaders.

We also know that the prison time they would give Chairman Omali Yeshitela would effectively be a death sentence.

Build African Martyrs Day Teach-Ins

Let us push back these deadly attacks on Chairman Omali Yeshitela which come in response to his more than 50 years of relentless struggle for the liberation of African people everywhere.

Federal indictments against Chairman Omali Yeshitela, the other movement leaders labeled “unindicted co-conspirators” and possibly others are looming.  This underscores the urgency of our event.

We call on everyone to use the week surrounding African Martyrs Day (February 18-28, 2023) to hold teach-ins and events on your campuses, in your communities, in your meeting halls and elsewhere in honor of African Martyrs Day and in denunciation of the brutal FBI attacks on Chairman Omali Yeshitela and 7 Uhuru Movement offices and homes that took place on July 29, 2022.”

A variety of events can be held

• Hold Community forums or town hall meetings.  A community forum can be similar to a rally.  They are special public events focused on a particular issue or campaign. Agenda would include speakers or panels addressing this issue and the call to action. Often the discussion portion is longer, taking questions from the audience.

• Hold a film screening which is an open public event with the purpose to show a movie or documentary that addresses issues having to do with a current campaign of the organization or perhaps recognizing a historic figure or historic day in the African Liberation Movement. Brief introduction is made, film is shown, there might be brief presentations or summations, then discussion is opened up and people are called on to take action/join/etc.

• Hold a study: Studies are open public events of small, medium or large groups. Could be held at various types of venues from a small room at the library to a conference room to an auditorium. Brief introductions are done, the study piece that was chosen is read or viewed. Then there might be a speaker summing up the study or a panel discussing it. Then questions are asked of attendees and discussion is carried out. People are called on to take action/join/etc.

• Hold a Community Rally:  A community rally is an open public event with an established program featuring culture, refreshments, keynote speakers, reports from branch committees and open discussion portion.

• The list goes on! Just get active!

Submit your actions to the Hands Off Uhuru website

Resources

• African Martyrs Day Resolution

• Sample Agenda

  • Introduction

  • Overview and read African Martyrs Day resolution

  • Videos/Films/Speakers

  • Discussion

  • Hands Off Uhuru Video and Call to Build the Campaign

  • Adjournment

• Talking Points for actions and events

• Hands Off Uhuru fliers, petitions and other outreach materials

• Films and videos

  • Hands Off Uhuru campaign video

  • “The Murder of Fred Hampton” (1970)

  • “Malcolm X: Make it Plain” (1994)

  • “The Battle of St. Pete” (1996)

  • “Marcus Garvey: Look for me in the Whirlwind”

  • Patrice Lumumba documentary

Submit your event

Fill out this form with information about your event or action.

Your event will then be listed here on the Hands Off Uhuru website.