Young Democrats of America celebrate 50th Anniversary of the March On Washington

Young Democrats of America celebrate 50th Anniversary of the March On Washington

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tomorrow, the Young Democrats of America (YDA) will commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the March On Washington and call for the continued struggle for a more perfect union.

YDA President, Atima Omara (VA,) and Black Caucus Chair, Randy Ra Shad Gaines (SC,) issued the following statements:

“As an African American woman, I know that I owe much to the brave men and women, both Black and white that fought for equality” said Atima Omara, president of the Young Democrats of America.  “However, the fight is not over.  Inequality still exists in our country and groups are again trying to restrict the voice of African Americans and other people of color at the ballot box. We cannot and will not let progress be rewound.” 

    Omara is the organization’s first African American president in its 81 year history.

    “It has been 50 years since Rev. King gave his famous ‘I Have A Dream’ speech and America has come a long way to improving the lives of African Americans,” said Randy Ra Shad Gaines, chair of YDA’s Black Caucus. “However, African American unemployment is disproportionately high; they are still underrepresented in elected office, in college class-rooms and in top skilled jobs while being overrepresented at the lower end of the economic scale. Rev. King’s dream continues and we work to make it a reality every day. As we work to move The Dream over the next 50 years, we do understand that as America grows and evolves that The Dream does also. Our Dream must be inclusive and bring all races, colors, creeds, and backgrounds to the table of brotherhood. ”