Join the Vito Marcantonio Forum (VMF) for A Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of Vito Marcantonio that brings the legacy of the progressive seven-term U.S. Congressman home to East Harlem on our 3rd Annual Commemoration of his life and work on Saturday, September 19 at noon (raindate: Sunday, September 20, 2015).

Within a 20-block radius of what was Italian Harlem, Marcantonio was born, attended school, resided, and attended to the day-to-day needs of its residents. As the leader of the American Labor Party and in the House of Representatives, he forged coalitions, advocated for "living wage" standards, decent housing, anti-lynching and anti-poll tax bills, fought for the foreign-born and championed African-American civil rights in the national political arena, until his death in 1954.

At the age of 32, he won his first term in Congress, and would serve East Harlem from 1934 to 1936 and 1938 to 1950; he became the de facto Congressman for Puerto Rico, the defense lawyer for Puerto Rican nationalist Pedro Albizu Campos, and was a strong opponent of the Korean War and McCarthyism.

Known as "Marc" to his constituents, the VMF will link his achievements to significant venues with readings and dramatizations by VMF co-founders and members: Professor Gerald Meyer (Hostos Comm. College), long-time East Harlem residents -- playwright and performance artist LuLuLoLo Pascale and author East Harlem Remembered and other books, Chris Bell; actor and business/cultural consultant Roberto Ragone; writer, translator and independent scholar Gil Fagiani; and producer and events coordinator, Adam Meyer.
Commemorations start at NOON what was once known as "Lucky Corner" on 116th St. & Lexington Ave.

The procession will proceed to significant sites in Marc's life including the former Benjamin Franklin High School (now Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics), East Harlem's first public high school, a reminder of pioneering work of its founding principal, educator Leonard Covello who had taught Marc Italian at De Witt Clinton High School.

Other highlights include his political headquarters, his and Covello's birthplaces; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church; and Our Lady Queen of Angels Elementary School (the church was shut down despite parishioners' protests in 2007) that Pope Francis plans to visit on Sept. 25. Here, Marc's relative, Frank Marcantonio will appeal to the Church to rectify its error of denying Marc a Catholic burial. Self-Identified as a Catholic, Marc was wearing religious medals and a scapular when he died.

Etched on his tombstone in historic Woodlawn Cemetery are the words: "Congressman Vito Marcantonio: Defender of Human Rights," where he is buried just steps from his mentor, former Congressman and Mayor Fiorello La Guardia.

This year, the VMF chose East Harlem as its venue to bring home the message that Marc's devotion to the poor and oppressed reflects that of Pope Francis who has said: "Poverty calls us to sow hope.... Poverty is the flesh of the poor Jesus, in that child who is hungry, in the one who is sick, in those unjust social structures."

Since its founding in October 2011, the VMF has staged a number of events over the past few years, each characterized with cultural and educational elements that emphasize two factors: that the East Harlem-based Congressman Vito Marcantonio is a model for progressive politicians everywhere and that his name and the political world in which he play a central role have been sadly stricken from history books used in classrooms today.

At the 2nd Commemoration at Woodlawn Cemetery, City Council President Melissa Mark-Viverito stated her intention of to name a street after the seven-term Congressman from East Harlem. Additionally, several politicians issued Proclamations naming August 9, "Vito Marcantonio Day : " New York State Assemblymember Robert Rodriguez of East Harlem and B ronx Borough President Ruben Diaz. Supporting public officials include Congressman Charles Rangel, Congressman Elliot E ngel, and M anhattan Borough President Gail Brewer. Detailed, annotated route available upon request. Visit http://vitomarcantonioforum.com/

Upcoming VMF Events during Italian Heritage Month:
Thursday, October 15, from 2:00 to 3:30, @ CUNY's Hostos Community College, Bronx, NY. This will be VMF's 3rd program at Hostos: the focus for this program is Marcantonio and Immigration. Presenting: Prof. Gerald Meyer, LuLu LoLo Pascale, and Roberto Ragone. Room C319 Hostos Community College, 500 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451

Saturday, October 31, from 2:00 to 4:00 @ NYPL's Mulberry Branch Library's Community Room, VMF will present a symposium on Waiting for Yesterday (Bordighera Press), Michael Parenti's memoir of growing up in Italian Harlem. Speakers will include: author Stephen Siciliano and dramatizations by activist, actor and marketing expert, Roberto Ragone and life-long East Harlem resident performance artist and playwright, LuLu LoLo Pascale. Gil Fagiani will Chair. The format encourages audience participation. NYPL Mulberry St., 10 Jersey St, NY, NY 10012

The Vito Marcantonio Forum (VMF) is an educational organization dedicated to preserving the history of the radical political tradition of East Harlem, the cultural backdrop of Italian Harlem and El Barrio and increasing awareness of the American Labor Party that Marcantonio led for years; and the critical role of the Left that rallied to Marcantonio. http://vitomarcantonioforum.com/