(WASHINGTON D.C., 12/7/2021) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today offered support for a Friday, December 10 walk hosted by the Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare, the American Indian Society and United Tribes of the Shenandoah to honor World War I veterans buried at historic African-American and Native American cemeteries in Thoroughfare, Va.
Those cemeteries are the resting places of slaves, freed slaves, freedmen/freedwomen, and Indigenous people and are threatened by development.
The walk from Oakrum Baptist Church in Broad Run, Va., to Potters Field and Fletcher-Allen Cemetery is designed to honor Moses Johnson (Potters Field) and Frank Allen (Fletcher-Allen), two WWI veterans buried at Potters Field Cemetery. Walk participants will lay wreaths at their graves to honor their service to the nation and pay tribute to all those buried in the cemeteries.
[NOTE: Historic Thoroughfare is located near Broad Run, Va.]
WHEN: Friday, December 10, Assemble at Oakrum Church At 1 p.m. Walk begins at 2 p.m. to Potters Field cemetery, then to Fletcher-Allen Cemetery. (Elders and the differently-abled will follow the walkers in vehicles.) Return to Oakrum Church.
WHERE: Oakrum Baptist Church, 16419 Thoroughfare Rd., Broad Run, Virginia
PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES: The walk, laying of wreaths and prayers at grave sites
CONTACT: Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare Representatives Frank Washington, 702-812-4174, savehistoricthoroughfare@gmail.com; Shelia Hansen 540-270-3742, shoooty@aol.com
SEE: Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare – A Town Under Siege
https://www.facebook.com/Coalition-To-Save-Historic-Thoroughfare-A-Town-Under-Siege-104115108438832/
The American Muslim community and CAIR stand in solidarity with all those challenging anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, white supremacy and all other forms of bigotry.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes New Tennessee Trial for Black Man Convicted by All-White Jury in Room with Confederate Symbols
BACKGROUNDER:
Thoroughfare is an historic Native American and African American community with roots going back hundreds of years. Originally a Native American community, during the 1800s African-Americans began to settle there and a vibrant mixed-race community was established. Today, Thoroughfare is centered around Oakrum Baptist Church, and the descendants of the founders still call Thoroughfare home.
Recently, The Prince William Board of County Supervisors agreed to purchase a two-acre parcel to preserve the heritage of the Thoroughfare community.
SEE: Prince William Co. approves historic district land purchase for future park
Video: Virginia Group Works to Save Historic African-American, Native American Cemeteries
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Video: Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare – A Town Under Siege
https://www.facebook.com/104115108438832/videos/762944897756999
Video: Community Fights to Save Historic Cemeteries From Development (NBC4)
A small Virginia town fights to save historic cemeteries of former slaves (WTOP)
‘Even in death, they have to fight for a name’ (Prince William Times)
Coalition tries to preserve historic western Prince William cemeteries
In Virginia, a historic Black neighborhood grapples with development (Washington Post)
The race to save African-American cemeteries from being ‘erased’ (Reuters)
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La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com