Rev. Dr. Al Sharpton 50th Birthday Party

Oct 3, 2004

Milieu Restaurant, NY, NY

Rev. Dr. Al Sharpton celebrated his birthday in style, at the Milieu Restaurant in the heart of Chelsea, with over 500 guests and celebrities who made appearances, helping Rev Al Sharpton celebrate his 50th birthday. Among the celebrities were Director/Producer Spike Lee, entertainers Foxy Brown and Van Cleef, Senator Daniel Paterson, Senator Carl Andrews, Senator Kevin Parker. Also to attend were Russell Simmons, P Diddy, Godfather of Soul James Brown, and many, many more people.

This was a high level event, with lots of close friends and acquaintances of Rev.. Sharpton’s. People came from as far as Arizona, such as Jarrett B. Maupin II, President of the Pheonix Chapter of the National Action Network who looks like the Rev. Al Sharpton. He told Liberty News Online he is a national representative for Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network with over 300 members and growing. He said “I would never miss this for the world, that’s why I traveled all the way across country along with my family and friends.”

The restaurant was beautiful, with lots of appetizers and cocktails served, and nice totebags given to folks as they left.

A little about the birthday boy, Dr. Rev. Al Sharpton.knows about politics the way some great New York party bosses have. He also has an understanding of how press works, which is almost as good as many city editors. Rev. Sharpton’s surrogate father once told him: “you can’t set your sights on nothing little--you got to go for the whole hog.” Sharpton has followed his father’s advice with his Presidential run this year, his Mayoral candidacy in 1997, and his Senatorial campaign in 1992. “The Rev.”, as he is affectionately called by his closest friends and supporters, has rejuvenated the Civil Rights movement while raising the bar for political participation for people of color.

Rev. Dr. Al Sharpton’s mentors have included Adam Clayton Powell, R., James Brown, Godfather of Soul, civil rights leader and Rev Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Sharpton has emerged as one of the most significant political and civil rights leaders in America.

In his book, written with Karen Hunter, Al on America, Sharpton says that “Presidential politics has become too narrow. It has become an exclusive club for white males, of certain income of a certain age. People are living in fear and we have to break that cycle and offer them more than words.” He also states “I ran for president to finally put the issues concerning most Americans on the front burner…I speak for the people and the working class.”

By leading 1,600 people in civil disobedience protest arrests, Rev. Sharpton made his record speak for itself when an unarmed Amadeu Diallo was gunned down in the vestibule of his home by four NYC Police Officers who put forty-one bullets into him. Rev. Sharpton was followed to jail by politicians of every racial, ethnic and political line. Reverend Sharpton has spoken out about racial profiling, police brutality another other forms of injustice, having gained nationwide attention as a result of vigilance. His human rights work has taken his travels to Sudan, The Middle East, Europe, Bermuda and many other places. He visited slave camps and talked to thousands of women and children who were left without loved ones. He visited Israel and Palestine, met with Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Palastinian Leader Yassir Arafat, calling for peace between nations that are at war. Sharpton also visited Cuba, where he met with President Fidel Castro, and Jamaica as a guest of Prime Minister, P.J. Paterson of Montego Bay.

Rev. Sharpton visited and three celebrated Latino elected officials from New York visited Puerto Rico in 2001 to protest the U.S. Naval bombing exercises, a practice that endured for over 60 years. After visiting with hundreds of Puerto Rican citizens who have suffered physical and mental infirmities as a result of the bombing exercises, Sharpton and the other members of the “Vieques Four” led the protest at the U.S. Navla Base there. They were subsequently arrested, tried before a federal judge, and weeks later, Reverend Sharpton was sentenced to ninety days in prison—the longest sentence—for the groups activism. He fasted while in jail, and influenced the local mayoral election. Ultimately, Dr. Rev. Al Sharpton was able to influence President George W. Bush to address the issue and order the Navy to end their exercises in 2003.

Sharpton’s stance on behalf of the disenfranchised has taken him, in his own words, “from the streets to the suites,” In 1999, in a united voice with African-American advertising agencies and marketing and media outlets, he launched the “Madison Avenue Iniative” (MAI) The Madison Avenue Initiative, a program that Sharpton founded in 1991—worked to insure that corporations and other businesses with advertising outlets around the country dealt even-handedly with agencies, media outlets and publications run by people of color. Sharpton’s work with MAI has targeted over the years many major corporations, including PepsiCo, Colgate Palmolive nad Microsoft, to namne few, who have subsequently extended their advertising dollars to reach more African Americans and Hispanic communities. MAI has closely scrutinized federal-government advertising contracts and has been moved into cable industry regulation.

Within the past decade, Reverend Shaprton’s harshest critics have become some of his closest allies and supporters. Those once shunning his outspoken position on issues affecting people of color, now crowd his rallies, loudly chanting their encouragement. The pundits harshly spoke of politicians who visited Sharpton’s headquarters which is being re-opened this year to “kiss the ring” of the leader who was recognized by Coretta Scott King, widow of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., as the future leader of the civil right movement. Within a few short years, with the help of the community, he has opened almost 40 National Action Network chapters around the country.

Reverend Shaprton’s historic run as a Democratic Candidate for President of the United States produced and undeniable fact: He was hands-down the most skilled debater at every single sanctioned debate, winning the pundits over with is wit and skill. When Senator John Kerry was nominated, the Democratic Candidate, Reverend Sharpton withdrew his candidacy to offer his support, and since then has been a surrogate for Kerry by registering voters across the United States.

Reverend Sharpton has built a resume in television and spent this year as a correspondent for CNBC TV, providing political community on a range of shows. As he climbs, he hopes to inspire others to reach for the stars, and through his own reality show on Spoke TV called “I Hate My Job.” Reverend Sharpton mentors everyday people to improve their lives. He has made cameos on “My Wife and Kids”, “Girlfriends” and more. Reverend Al Sharpton has been married to single Kathy Jordan Sharpton for 25 years. They have two daughters named Dominique and Ashley, and live in New York.

We at Liberty News Online would like to thank Marvet Britto, President of the Britto Agency, who handled the event planning, and who did a wonderful job, along with her staff members, and Brad Zeifman from the Susan Blond, Inc., public relations company. For more information about Reverend Al Sharpton or the National Action Network, please visit the National Action Network, at http://www.commondreams.org/news2002/0430-01.htm.

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