1199SEIU Pres. George Gresham is an honorary co-chair and the Union and its members will lend support throughout the marcher’s journey.

With a press conference held Monday in the penthouse of 1199SEIU’s Manhattan headquarters, the Justice League NYC - a task force of advocates, artists, and experts dedicated to reform of the adult and juvenile justice systems - announced the April 13 kickoff of the historic, youth-led March2Juctice, a 250-mile walk from New York City to Washington, D.C. The March is an event put together by young leaders raising their voices against police violence and militarization, and inequities in the juvenile justice system.

“Black people being profiled in this Northeast corridor is a very serious issue,” said March co-chair Tamika Mallory. “And it’s very important with this March that we connect the dots.”

The Justice League NYC was created under the umbrella of The Gathering for Justice, an organization created by the actor/singer/artist Harry Belafonte which is dedicated to non-violent societal change. Belafonte along with 1199SEIU Pres. George Gresham are honorary chairs of the March2Justice.

The March begins with an April 13 kickoff event on Staten Island in New York and proceeds through four states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. It ends in Washington D.C on April 21 with participants delivering a Justice Package that includes three pieces of legislation: the End Racial Profiling Act, the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act and the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. Along walkers will be supported by churches, community organizations, and coalition partners, including 1199SEIU. There are events planned at several sites including Newark and Trenton, NJ.

“This is a moment for action,” said Pres. Gresham in his remarks. “To see so many young people at this time putting their time and effort into this. Their putting their bodies on the line. They’re not just looking for something to do.”

“When I think about how much funding goes into education compared to how much funding we put into prisons,” he continued. “It’s time for fair-minded people to stand up.”

Numerous elected officials and community leaders also lent their support at the event including NAACP New York State Conference President Hazel Dukes, Rep. Yvette Clarke, State Senator Gustavo Rivera and NYS Assembly member Michael Blake. In his remarks Blake recalled his father, who worked in housekeeping at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.

“We have to keep marching because justice still hasn’t come yet,” he said. “When I think about justice it isn’t just us. It’s labor and electeds coming together. Injustice ends when we say definitively that this is our time.”

For more information about the March2Justice or to learn how you can participate in any of the events log on to march2justice.com