Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
OCHO RIOS, St. Ann:
FORMER CHAIRMAN of the United States Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman Charles B. Rangel has vowed to continue his fight to have the government of the United States (U.S.) fully exonerate National Hero Marcus Garvey of criminal charges.
For years Congressman Rangel has been championing a move in the US Congress to have the government clear Garvey's name of fraud charges, for which he was convicted in the U.S. in 1923. Garvey spent two-and-a-half years in prison and was deported to Jamaica on his release.
MAMMOTH TASK
Congressman Rangel said that while it has been a mammoth task to get Garvey's name cleared, he remains fully committed to its success, especially with mounting evidence of the National Hero's honesty now coming out.
"In Harlem he was an anchor, a source of inspiration and he wasn't treated all that good in Jamaica, but I am glad to see that all over the world his honesty is being restored and I will continue to do all that I can to ensure that he is exonerated," Congressman Rangel stated.
He made the comments while speaking in an interview with The Gleaner at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Resort on Saturday night.
Congressman Rangel arrived in the island on Saturday as a special guest of the St. Ann Homecoming Committee and was guest speaker at Saturday night's Homecoming Awards Banquet. He left the island yesterday.
During his brief stay, Congressman Rangel visited the Marcus Garvey statue in St. Ann's Bay where he made a floral tribute and also visited the National Hero's official birthplace at 32 Market Street, also in the parish capital.
The former chairman of the powerful Congressional Black Caucus said his visit to Jamaica at this time is like a reunion with the people of his second home and that he was very proud to be part of the St. Ann Homecoming Celebration.
Co-ordinator of the St. Ann Homecoming Committee, Mrs. Norma Walters said the celebration was timed to coincide with the Garvey birthday activities and proceeds from Saturday night's banquet will go towards the establishment of a Marcus Garvey Reading Room in St. Ann's Bay.
The Marcus Garvey Reading Room, aimed at preserving the heritage of Garvey through the study of his teachings, is being spearheaded by Custos of St. Ann Radcliffe Walters.
