WASHINGTON, D.C., June 16, 2022 — A coalition of civil and human rights groups calling on US President Joe Biden to issue an executive order to study the harms of the legacy of enslavement and develop reparations proposals, is installing a 150 x 50 foot Pan-African flag made out of flowers and plants on the Ellipse in front of the White House this week. The groups, which include the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA), The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Color Of Change, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Black Voters Matter, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Human Rights Watch, and other members of the Why We Can’t Wait coalition, will hold a press conference on Thursday June 16, 2022 in front of the installation at 12:30 p.m. ET.
The groups wrote a letter to Biden on May 4 asking that he use his executive authority to order a commission, based on the federal bill H.R. 40, that would study the legacy of enslavement and develop reparations proposals by Juneteenth. Despite having a record level of support with enough votes for passage on the House floor, the bill has stalled in Congress. Members of Congress, including bill sponsor Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, and Rep. Barbara Lee have all joined the call for President Biden to establish the commission.
The first-of-its-kind installation will include a Pan-African flag comprised of red, black and green flowers and mulch on the ground of the Ellipse. The flower garden, created in partnership with a Black, women-owned and DC-based flower collective, is slated to run through the weekend.
WHAT: Juneteenth Press Conference to Support an Executive Order on
Reparations in front of the new, 150 x 50 foot flower and plant installation arranged in the shape of the Pan-African flag
WHO: Amanda Jackson, Color Of Change
Dreisen Heath, Human Rights Watch
Rev. Mark Thompson, Make It Plain
Wisdom Cole, NAACP
Nkechi Taifa, Reparation Education Project
Attorney Adjoa Aiyetoro, N’COBRA
Rev. Aundreia Alexander, National Council Of Churches
Members of Congress
Civil rights organizations
WHEN: Thursday, June 16, 12:30PM ET
WHERE: The Ellipse, 16th Street and Constitution Ave NW, Washington, D.C.
Livestream link here
Thursday, 16 June 2022
Available in
#ReparationsNow Juneteenth Installation
Photos (20)
A coalition of civil and human rights groups hold press conference calling on US President Joe Biden to issue an executive order to study the harms of the legacy of enslavement and develop reparations proposals, in front of a 150 x 50 foot Pan-African flag made out of flowers and plants on the Ellipse in front of the White House this week.
A coalition of civil and human rights groups hold press conference calling on US President Joe Biden to issue an executive order to study the harms of the legacy of enslavement and develop reparations proposals, in front of a 150 x 50 foot Pan-African flag made out of flowers and plants on the Ellipse in front of the White House this week.
Dreisen Heath, Human Rights Watch, speaks at press conference this week held by a coalition of civil and human rights groups.
Rev. Mark Thompson, Make It Plain speaks at press conference this week held by a coalition of civil and human rights groups.
Reparations activists call on President Joe Biden to sign an executive order on reparations on the Ellipse in Washington.
Nkechi Taifa speaks at press conference this week held by a coalition of civil and human rights groups.
Nkechi Taifa speaks at press conference this week held by a coalition of civil and human rights groups.
Rev. Mark Thompson, Make It Plain speaks at press conference this week held by a coalition of civil and human rights groups.
Reparations activists call on President Joe Biden to sign an executive order on reparations on the Ellipse in Washington.
Reparations activists call on President Joe Biden to sign an executive order on reparations on the Ellipse in Washington.
A coalition of civil and human rights groups hold press conference calling on US President Joe Biden to issue an executive order to study the harms of the legacy of enslavement and develop reparations proposals, in front of a 150 x 50 foot Pan-African flag made out of flowers and plants on the Ellipse in front of the White House this week.
Rev. Mark Thompson, Make It Plain speaks at press conference this week held by a coalition of civil and human rights groups.
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