Jonathan A. Mason, Sr. (left) and Dr. Benjamin Chavis (right). Mason shakes Dr. Chavis hands after presenting him with the keys for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Headquarters, which will serve as the National Mobilization Headquarters for the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March.
Washington, DC — In a move symbolic of its commitment of service to humanity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. (PBS) International President, Jonathan A. Mason, Sr. turned over the keys to office space in the community service organization’s headquarters to Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis to serve as the National Mobilization Headquarters for the 20th Anniversary Million Man March. In 1995, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.’s international corporate offices served as the official headquarters for the inaugural Million Man March. Twenty years later, Dr. Chavis, a member of Phi Beta Sigma, is proudly returning to 145 Kennedy Street, NW, Washington D.C. (PBS Headquarters) to assist with organizing the historic gathering.Scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 10, 2015, “Justice or Else!” The 20th Anniversary Million Man March will focus on “justice” for individuals of every ethnic background.
“We are once again proud to announce our commitment to the Million Man March. Twenty years ago, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. stepped forward and offered our headquarters as the staging location for the historic march,” said Jonathan A. Mason, Sr.“ Today, we celebrate the march’s milestones and reinforce our ‘I Am My Brother’s Keeper’ initiative, as we wholeheartedly support the Million Man March 20 years later,” Mason enthusiastically added.
Since celebrating its centennial in January 2014, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. has paid homage to its founders by leading the charge on several national issues. The service based fraternity has been a leader in eradicating hazing among fraternities and sororities; participated in the National Day of Protest in wake of the suspicious killings of young African American males; hosted a Prayer Vigil and Youth Summit in Ferguson, Missouri in response to the Michael Brown killing; issued a statement supporting racial tolerance in the aftermath of the senseless killing of nine congregants at Emanuel AME Church in Charlestown, South Carolina and hosted REAL TALK, a panel discussion which featured some of the nation’s top thought-leaders on the topic of securing the future for the next generation of boys and men of color.
Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. remarked, “20 years ago Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. made the historic decision to provide its headquarters building on Kennedy Street NW in Washington, DC as the national office of the Million Man March. We are once again grateful to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity for continuing its national leadership role by providing their resolute support of the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March. The best way to celebrate Black history is to make more history.”
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. members from across the nation will journey to Washington, DC on October 10th to stand together in support of equal justice for all people.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., founded on January 9, 1914 at Howard University, is a global organization with over 450 chapters and 150,000 members. To learn more about PBS, visit www.phibetasigma1914.org
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