Join MXGM as we commemorate 30 years of Black August resistance with several community educational events, solidarity with the 3rd annual commemorative activities for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and our 11th annual Hip Hop Benefit Concerts. All proceeds from the concerts go towards Political Prisoners and the Legal Defense Fund of the SF 8 (for more information visit www.thejerichomovement.com or www.freethesf8.org)

Our Action Theme for 2008 is “Resisting imperialist intimidation, terror, and displacement from the Gulf Coast to the Continent.” 

Community Educational Events

Thursday, August 14th (New Orleans)

Panel Discussion “Political Prisoners and the Wrongly Incarcerated”
Critical Resistance Southern Regional Office  - 930 N. Broad St.
6:30 pm
Panelists will include Robert King Wilkerson, Mwalimu Johnson and others. Moderator: Truth Universal. Co-Sponsored by Critical Resistance.

Thursday, August 21st (New Orleans)

In Honor of George Jackson
Film Showing “Deacons For Defense”
George & Leah McKenna Museum of African American Art   - 2003 Carondelet Street.
6:30 pm
A film showing and discussion. The story tells a true story of Louisiana resistance in the 1960s. The Deacons for Defense and Justice was a black organization established to protect civil rights workers against the Ku Klux Klan.

Friday, August 29th (New Orleans)

Third Annual Katrina March and Commemoration (New Orleans)
9 a.m. Healing Ceremony at the 9th Ward Levee Breach at Jourdan & N. Galvez
March goes to Hunter’s Field
12:30 p.m. Commemoration Program at Hunter’s Field
For more information visit katrinacommemoration.ning.com 

Friday, August 29th (Oakland)

Katrina Commemoration and Community Forum (Oakland)
6 - 9 pm
Eastside Cultural Center  - 2277 International Blvd.
In Solidarity with the peoples’ of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast and their demands for the Right of Return, a Just Reconstruction, and Self-Determination. In collaboration with Eastside Arts Alliance, Final Fridays Films, Huaxtec, Katrina Solidarity Network (Bay Area), and Right to the City.

Hip Hop Concerts in Commemoration of Black August

Sunday, August 17th (Oakland, CA)

In Honor of Marcus Mosiah Garvey
Eastside Cultural Center  - 2277 International Blvd.
Featuring Bicasso of the Living Legends, Truth Universal from New Orleans, Jahi, Kiwi, Virtuous, Kween, Khalil Anthony, Jelani Lateef and Sizwe the Spear of the Nation.
Doors open at 6 pm, Show starts at 7 pm
Tickets $15
For more information contact mxgmoakland@gmail.com

Thursday, August 28th (New Orleans)

Tipitina’s  - 501 Napolean Ave.
Featuring Mos Def and Venezuelan Afro-folklorico group Eleggua, Truth Universal, Sunni Patterson, Gabrilla Ballard, and Sess 4 5.
Doors open at 9 pm, show starts at 10 pm
Tickets $20 presale; $25 at the door
For more information contact 504.586.7432

Saturday, August 30th (New York, NY)

Nokia Theatre in Times Square  - 1515 Broadway
Featuring EPMD, Bilal, Immortal Technique, Smif N Wessun, Black Moon, Marley Marl, Shadia Mansour, DJ Scratch, DJ Evil Dee, DJ OP and DJ K-Salaam, Special Guest KRS-ONE and other surprise guests.
Doors open at 8 pm
Tickets $30 presale; $35 at the door
For more information visit www.blackaugust.org>
For more information visit www.mxgm.org or www.blackaugust.com.

MXGM Presents:

Black August Benefit

Mos Def
Sunni Patterson
Truth Universal
Sess 4-5
Gabrilla Ballard
Venezuelan Hip-Hop Group: Elegguae

Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 10:00 PM CDT (Doors open at 9pm)
Click here for tickets to Tipitina’s (Uptown)

The Black August Hip Hop Project strives to promote human rights though supporting and influencing the global development of Hip Hop culture.  By facilitating exchanges between international communities where Hip Hop is a vital part of youth culture, we promote awareness about the social and political issues that affect our global communities.

Our vision is to bring culture and politics together and to allow them to naturally evolve into a unique Hip Hop consciousness that informs our collective struggle for a more just, equitable and human world.

Since August of 1998, Black August has held annual New York City events at Tramps, Bowery Ballroom, Synod Hall, BBKings, New Age Caberet, and the Brooklyn Café —-selling out eight shows! The project has featured artists such as Erykah Badu, David Banner, Common, dead prez, Fat Joe, the Roots, Jean Grae, Les Nubians, Chuck D, Gil Scott-Heron, Dave Chapelle, Tony Touch, Black Thought, The Roots, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, La Bruha, Imani Uzuri, Jeru and the Coup.

Internationally, Black August has facilitated 8 international delegations of artists and activists to Cuba (1998, 1999, 2000, and 2003), South Africa (2001), Tanzania (2005), Brazil (2004, 20060 and this year to Venezuela (2007).

In addition to the shows, the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement has held political education workshops with the participating artists and anyone interested in learning about the cultural and political issues at the core of Black August. The annual cultural events coupled with the political education workshops and international exchanges have helped reinvigorate the Black August tradition.

Our Demands: REINVEST in Strong Communities & Community Control (Real Democracy)

End/ Divest from

• Criminalization, Arrests & Incarceration of public housing residents, homeless residents, day laborers, youth of color, etc.
• School to prison pipeline

Build Up/Invest In

• Divert money from policing and incarceration to Housing, Mental Health, other health services, community-controlled programs and spaces, etc.
• Education! Retrain school cops to be counselors/Hire more teachers/Buy more books
• BRING OUR PEOPLE HOME!!! Infrastructure and resources for people displaced by Hurricane Katrina to guarantee the Right to Return to their homes in the Gulf Coast.

How can you be part of this National Day of Action?

Organize a Local Action in Your City or Town on August 29, 2008 - making connections between these demands and your local struggles!

If you live in New Orleans, Miami, Boston/Providence, New York, DC Metro/ Alexandria, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Oakland, link up with your Right to the City Region to plan your local action.

If you live in another area, organize your own action! Please contact the Right to the City Alliance (info below) to let us know what you are planning. In conjunction with this day of action, Right to the City is working to bring organizers/community members from New Orleans to different cities throughout the Alliance during the 3rd Anniversary, to further build bonds of solidarity.

For more information or to connect with other Right to the City orgs in your area, contact:

Valerie Taing, National Organizer, Right to the City Alliance: vtaing@righttothecity.org or call 212.473.3032, or visit www.rightothecity.org.