A Day of Presence!

November 6, 2017 is Day of Presence in Englewood, NJ

"Did you know that "Day of Absence" is a one act play written by Douglas Turner Ward, the founder of The Negro Ensemble Company"? It tells the story of what happens in a southern town when all of the black and brown people disappear for a day.   Issues within the work still ring true 51 years later.  It is time for us old folks to make it clear to the children that we are "present" and we have their backs. They matter and we care about them. http://www.theasy.com/Reviews/2016/D/dayofabsence.pp

Neighbors and fellow citizens, my name is Ricardo Whilby. I am a long time Englewood resident. The current state of affairs in this town needs to change. The powers that be need a wake up call, and that is where WE THE PEOPLE MATTER come in.

Just think of it, where do we start;

• a failing school system,
• no Equity in Public Education
• no safe haven for children
• an agenda to re-gentrify our town, 
• no low income housing that older Englewood residents that have been here for life can afford, 
• too many broken promises, 
• Politicians with fake zeros in city budgets, 
• the steady rise of our property taxes that only have a upward trajectory from here. 
• no Community Policing
• And no Community Center!

We are being pushed out. Pressure from above and pressure from below. I can remember my father as the owner of Almay's refusing to play the game or pay city officials that would try too extort a God fearing honest small businessman.Today the challenges that face us in this town harking back to pre Civil Rights conditions, and if you don't think so then go back to sleep. Go along to get along until reality reconnects you to that which you already know, but are afraid to confront and deal with.

Jim Crow is alive and well. Discrimination is doing just fine. Systemic racial inequality is on the rise from the white house to city hall. This is why we will rally and march together right here in Englewood to let our voices be heard. We will march as a community to let our children know that they are not facing the issues of the day alone.

We must awaken our corrupted officials by marching. It is time to march as one powerful force to bring the message home. It is also time to MARCH into the voting booth bringing it home to those who have posed as our friends.
We are awake and we are aware.
We are using our power.

The Puppet masters are no more. We the people demand change. We demand accountability. We demand that the corrupt political machine that takes and doesn't give leave our town. We demand the fruits of our labor. We demand good schools, affordable housing, safe streets, equality, fairness, and respect. Lets come together with our individual struggle and collectively work with each other for the greater good and growth for the city.

Join us on November 6, 2017 at 3:30 PM on Herring Field. Tryon Avenue across the street from the Janis E. Dismus Middle School where we will rally and march down Tryon Avenue and up Knickerbocker Rd. to DMHS in support of the students of Englewood. Help us show all Englewood students 
that we are 
"present" and "accounted for" 
in support of them and their education.

We the People, all love Englewood. 

Thank you,
Ricardo Whilby