In what has been a series of unfortunate events in the past year and a half, a growing number of African American youth, and now in a more recent set adults, have been the target of police officers to a seemingly much to frequent deadly extent. On Saturday, August 23rd, 2014, Phi Beta Sigma teamed up with National Action Network, in an effort to create a united front against the heavily blossoming trend of police inequality and brutality. The March for Justice, as its been titled, included  6 busses of activists, both young and old, in the Staten Island area of New York City. 

Alpha Delta Chapter President, Sherland Kellman (shown above to the far left), has been one of the leading participants in the attempt to buck this trend. The march, which included members of the Phi Beta Sigma from across the city, as well as other organizations and multiple groups of NAN members, was in Staten Island due to the recent police brutality case which lead to the death of Eric Garner. Mr. Garner's case gained national recognition, due to the fact that it was considered to be a case of excessive force captured on video. Notable audible is the man gasping for air and stating " I can't breathe".
The march and protest was a peaceful one, in support of Mr. Garner's family, the entire group was chanting "no justice, no peace! no racist police!" and of course "I can't breathe". The march started from the location of Eric Garner's death to the Staten Island Yankees' stadium with Bro. Rev. Al Sharpton leading the way.

- Brother Cabril DeAbreu

For more than a short period of time, the New York City area has been missing a presence. In community service, in awareness, on campuses, and in class rooms. However, the efforts of many of the chapters of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc's NYC undergraduate chapters may finally be paying dividends. Chapters Like the Alpha Delta Chapter (CUNY: City College), Xi Epsilon Chapter (Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus), Theta Gamma Chapter ( New York City Wide),Alpha Alpha Phi Chapter (Medgar Evars College), and Lambda Rho Chapter(St. John's University), have united in an effort to increase the positive message of "Culture for Service & Service for humanity". These gentlemen, all very engagable, have increased presence in class rooms, wheter through educational outreach, or as the Alpha Delta chapter has established for the Fall of 2013, tutoring services. The brothers of the chapter, invite students out to recieve help, from graduates members, who have experience in the specific fields which may be causing students difficuly. If you attend a community service event, don't be surprised to see one of these young gentlemen present. They are like volunteering. In awareness, their increased presence has been a sight for sore eyes. Students have been coming in the bunches to find out about programs offered, volunteer activites or about the newly Revived New York City Step Team.

To find out more about Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc in your NYC school, visit PBSAD.org, or email the [email protected]. They'll point you in the right direction.

- Brother Cabril DeAbreu.

Larry Miller joined the reporting team at ABC 33/40 in February.  He's excited to call the "Magic City" home and looking forward to his adventure in the Southeast.  

Larry comes to us from Southern Oregon where he anchored the morning news for KOBI-TV.  He covered big stories like the disappearance of Kyron Hormon, the largest wildfire in Oregon's history, and the Tsunami that hit the Oregon-California coast. 

Prior to working in news, Larry worked as an Educational and Training Specialist for Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (P.A.A.R). He worked primarily with high school and college men on sexual violence prevention. Larry also led the organization's 'Got Consent?' campaign.  

He has a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from Point Park University. 

He is also a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and the National Association of Black Journalists. 

In his spare time, Larry loves running! So, don't be surprised if you see him jogging in your neighborhood. If you have any good story ideas, feel free to send him an email.

http://www.abc3340.com/story/21532021/larry-miller

The Honorable Congressman John Lewis will join members, such as Jonathan A. Mason, Sr. and Reverend Al Sharpton, of his Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. brotherhood to commemorate the historic “March On Washington” 50 years later.

Washington, DC — Members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc (PBS) are invigorated by their passionate return to Washington, D.C to celebrate the 50th Anniversary March for Jobs and Freedom.

On Saturday, August 24, 2013, Honorable Congressman John Lewis will join his Sigma Brotherhood members, such as Jonathan A. Mason, Sr., International President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Reverend Al Sharpton, Founder of National Action Network to commemorate the historic “March On Washington” 50 years later. The campaign aptly called “Thunder Back” is a clarion call to Phi Beta Sigma Men nationwide to travel to the nation’s capitol to commemorate one of the largest gatherings of African Americans and reignite the fight for human rights and justice for all people.

In tribute to the courageous Freedom Riders of 1963, Phi Beta Sigma men and their supporters will board buses in seven major cities and travel to Washington D.C. to march with citizens from around the nation. The cities where buses will be boarded are Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, New York and Philadelphia.

“I am honored Congressman John Lewis, the only person living who spoke from the podium at the first March On Washington 50 years ago and Hank Thomas, an original 1963 Freedom Rider, are participants in our ‘Thunder Back’ initiative,” said Jonathan A. Mason. “Though we have accomplished many of the objectives Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of 50 years ago, our work is not yet done. Thus, we return to Washington, DC to march for jobs, justice and equality!” Mason added.

As the leading proactive community services organization, PBS through its Thunder Back campaign is encouraging its chapters to reach out and recruit Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. sisters, Sigma Beta Club members and extended campus and community supporters to be participants in the historic celebration.

Sigma brothers and supporters can participate in three key events: (1) Town Hall Meeting on Friday, August 23, 2013 at 2168 Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room, located at 45 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. Program starts at 4 pm. The Town Hall Meeting includes speakers Congressman John Lewis, Jonathan A. Mason, Sr., International President, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Mary Breaux Wright, International President, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Dr. Ivory Lyles, International Director of Social Action, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Hank Thomas, an original Freedom Rider and Dr. Anthony A. Samad, Author/Scholar/Columnist; (2) Civil Rights Breakfast Sponsored by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Sigma Sigma Chapter at The Club @ Bolling Air Force Base, located at 50 Theisen Street, NW, Washington, D.C. The breakfast begins at 7:45 am on Saturday, August 24, 2013 and features a conversation with Civil Rights Pioneers Congressman John Lewis and Dr. Cordy Tindell (C.T.) Vivian, President, Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Tickets cost $50 per person and (3) The 50th Anniversary March on Washington On Saturday, August 24, 2013. Sponsored by the National Action Network and Southern Christian Leadership Conference, The March begins at 10:00 AM at Lincoln Memorial, located at 2 Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW, Washington, D.C.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., established in 1914 on Howard University, is a global organization with over 450 chapters and 150,000 members. To learn more, visit www.phibetasigma1914.org

source:
Ron Carter
[email protected]

The brothers of the Beta Epsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. had a service date for their 2013 Sigma Week celebration. Attached is the video from this event, and it looks to be worth a watch. The Beta Epsilon Chapter is located in the South-Western Region, @ Langston University , in Langston, Oklahoma and was  Chartered May 6th, 1947.

The brothers of the Alpha Beta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc, got together a step show, a little earlier this year. The Alpha Beta Chapter, was chartered in 1927, and holds the distinction of being the first BGLO established in the state of Mississippi. In a collaborative effort boasting Greek unity, amongst the organizations on the campus, the video contains members of a ton of organizations, including: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc, founded Jan 15th, 1908, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated , founded Jan 5th, 1911, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc, founded Nov 17th, 1911, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc, founded Nov 12, 1922, and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. Founded Sept 19th, 1963.

When hundreds of members and supports of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity meet in Las Vegas on April 11 for the first day of their 2013 Leadership Conference, awareness will be brought to a situation rarely addressed in the Black community: sex trafficking.

The San Diego chapter of Phi Beta Sigma has recently partnered with San Diego-based non-profit Nu(me)r.a.l.s. to launch a new campaign, “Gentlemen Don’t John,” pushing men of color to speak about the realities of sex trafficking. “John” is a commonly used term to identify men who solicit prostitutes.

The growing number of Black and African American women sold into sex trafficking made it imperative to spread awareness about this growing epidemic, according to Nu(me)r.a.l.s. Executive Director and Founder Chida R. Warren-Darby. Nearly 40 percent of the girls trafficked in the United States are African American and more than 48 percent of the pimps are Black.

During the first day of the four-day conference, the two organizations will sponsor a town hall meeting on sex trafficking and its impact on the Black community. Panelists include Khalifa King, CEO and founder of Harmonious Solutions, a nonprofit that provides therapy and general counsel to minority communities, and Black sex trafficking survivor and advocate Leah Albright-Bryd.

The event will mark the first time Albright-Bryd has returned to Las Vegas since her friend Bridget, who she coerced into prostitution and sex trafficking, was murdered in the city. Albright-Byrd has since founded an organization, Bridget’s Dream, in her friend’s honor to help rescue young girls from the business.

Warren-Darby said that as she began mentoring girls in the San Diego area, the theme of sex trafficking continuously emerged.

“Trafficking kept coming up and initially I didn’t think it was happening here. When you hear trafficking you think of some place abroad like Taiwan,” said Warren-Darby. “I met a lot of survivors. Kids are being pimped in schools. Families are pimping kids.”

She said she then knew she had to use her organization as a platform to address the growing problem.

During the town hall meeting, Warren-Darby said she hopes to inform Black men about the realities of prostitution and sex trafficking.

“It’s supply and demand. We can’t stop them from soliciting prostitution, but we can hope to bring awareness,” said Warren-Darby.

She said she looks for King to address sex trafficking and prostitution and the Black male psyche during the discussion.

Warren-Darby is critical of the rap culture and its violent and sexually explicit lyrics, which she said create numbness to the seriousness of prostitution and sex trafficking.

“Our music culture plays a big role. Unfortunately there are parts of our culture that promote pimping and gaining status and finances through sex,” said Warren-Darby. “It’s like the Pied Piper. You listen to the beat because it sounds good and it brings a numbness to the issue.”

Warren-Darby’s comments comes on the heels of rapper Rick Ross facing criticism from Black community leaders, social critics and fellow rap and hip-hop artists for his song “U.O.E.N.O,” in which he raps about drugging a woman’s champagne and having sex with her while “she ain’t even know it.”

Ross on April 4 apologized about the lyric on Twitter, stating, “I don’t condone rape. Apologies for the #lyric interpreted as rape. #BOSS.”

http://www.afro.com/sections/news/afro_briefs/story.htm?storyid=78012