A group of Haitian-Americans alarmed by the recent and unfounded attacks on Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, have launched Haitians for Harris. The group joins several other self-identifying groups that have launched in support of the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris as she seeks the presidency along with her running mate, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, candidate for Vice President.
In addition to voter education; where to vote, how to register, and absentee and mail-in balloting information, the group will infuse general education and information about Haiti, its role on the world stage and the many who came here in search of a better life and those who have risen to prominence in the arts, politics, sports, education, and the sciences. The group will also encourage members to donate to and volunteer for the Harris/Walz campaign.
“We could not pass up the opportunity to educate people about their Haitian-American neighbors and to get Haitians to come together for a good cause”, said Liz Johnson, a founding member. “Haitians and Haitian-Americans have greatly contributed to the United States. We have also been terribly impacted by the game of political football that has played out since Haitians declared their independence in 1804. We thank everyone who contributed to raising awareness of the plight of Haiti, Haitians, and Haitian-Americans!”
HAITIANS FOR HARRIS V3 – 1
Haitians for Harris is a grassroots campaign formed out of an imperative to refocus the attention of the electorate to helping Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz win the White House in November. Too many people, including the media have allowed themselves to be led down a rabbit hole of rumors – which has caused considerable harm – not just for the people of Springfield, Ohio, but throughout the Haitian diaspora. Haitians for Harris plan to refocus by contributing helpful voter information as well as history and facts about Haitians and Haitian-Americans, which number in the hundreds of thousands in the U.S. The group will also encourage members to donate to and volunteer for the Harris/Walz campaign.
Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’oon. ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we are returning’. [The Noble Qur’an, 2:156].
Omar Abdul Kharem returned to the Creator on September 11, 2024, at the age of 97. He was born in New York City on August 16, 1927, the son of Isabelle O’Neil and Sidney Grant. He spent much of his life living in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn, eventually settling in Yonkers. He was surrounded by art, theater, and music, with household visitors the likes of Fats Waller, as well as many other artists.
As a young man, while in service for the Army Air Force segregated unit, Omar traveled the United States during segregation, as well as serving in the Pacific. This experience had a profound and lasting effect on him. While on the island of Guam, he began to study music and learned to play the clarinet. Once discharged he continued his studies at the Hartnett School of Music in NYC, also studying the Conga drum. Music, from his childhood introduction through his later studies, would remain a lifelong love and influenced his work as a jazz musician and composer.
In the late 1950s, Mr. Kharem became interested in photography, which became his major focus, though music remained ever-present in his life. He spent many years working as a freelance photographer. His work has been published in The New York Times, The Village Voice, Panorama Magazine, on album covers, and many publications of the work of African American photographers.
Having many friends in the then thriving Jazz world Mr. Kharem had a unique opportunity to perform with and photograph some of America’s great Jazz musicians as they improvised and played in clubs, lofts, and other venues. He photographed John Coltrane, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Ron Carter, Betty Carter, Archie Shepp, Alice Coltrane, Charles Moffett, Jackie McLean, Lee Morgan, Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman, Eddie Mathias, Billy Harper and many others. The list is long.
His love for music and photography enhanced each other. When he turned 90 years old Omar and his jazz band finally recorded many of his own original beautiful straight-ahead jazz compositions he wrote over half a century ago. He was honored when, back in the day, John Coltrane performed one of his original compositions at a club.
Influenced by Cartier-Bresson, Al Hicks, Eugene Smith, and Gordon Parks, photography became a true art for Mr. Kharem. His black-and-white images documenting NYC during the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s evoke another time, another era which urge you to look further into the subject before you. Whether it’s a portrait of someone young or old, a candid street scene, or a shadow falling on a building, the power of his imagery is always thought provoking. Omar worked with Gordon Parks, both men pioneering African American artists, who documented civil rights, poverty and African American culture through photography and other artistic expressions.
Mr. Kharem’s work has been exhibited at galleries and museums throughout NYC, including The Studio Museum of Harlem, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Red Ring Gallery, The Blue Door, The Brooklyn Museum, MINT, The Middle Collegiate Church Gallery, The 4th Street Photo Gallery, Kenkeleba Gallery, Hey Check This Out Gallery, The Jazz Forum, among many others. Again, the list is long.
In his personal life, Omar was a very unique and interesting person. With most people, with whom he interacted, Mr. Kharem offered the knowledge and insight he had gained through his life experiences and personal study. Often this knowledge pertained to the value of quality art and creativity, political awareness around issues of racial injustice in society, and deep philosophical explorations about the nature of time and reality. He was a deep thinker. He was also imaginative. He loved science fiction and all kinds of books on various topics. He loved language too, and spoke English Spanish, and much Arabic. Omar studied Islam and accepted Islam as his faith early in life.
His creativity had few limits. In addition to his more known endeavors of photography and Jazz composition, Omar rode his bike throughout the City and climbed trees in the parks. He also wrote poetry, and worked on inventing his own language at one point!
Omar was a very humorous man, known to make funny faces and “mess with people” with joking and wordplay. He had a loud and hearty laugh that equaled his smiling eyes. He enjoyed sweet things, quiet conversation, old movies, and tennis. Omar lived simply and was never focused on material possessions or notoriety. He was a one-of-a-kind individual who did not have predictable personality traits and did not assimilate into standard cultural behavior patterns. He was always his true self and unique. He had a strut like no other and was always, hands down, the coolest cat in the room.
There were so many decades of change during Omar’s almost century-long life and he experienced so much. He was loved by so many and has left us with the gift of his vision, for us to see what he saw during his life through his photography and through his music. He will be greatly missed and we will celebrate his time in this world and all that he gave to everyone he encountered.
Omar Kharem leaves behind many family and friends.
Mary Grant (deceased), Marion Bunce-Kharem, Linda Mendelson, his children, Haroon Kharem (Audrey Kharem), Mohammad Kharem, Nafisa Kharem, Leila Kharem (Percy Thomas), and Ahmed Kharem (Christina Kharem). Omar’s legacy includes many Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, and Great Great Grandchildren: Omar Kharem (Tanya Kharem) & children Mary (Kiara) Destiny (Londynn and Logan). Jeremiah Kharem & children: Shamiah, Maia, Jeremiah Jr, Daniel Kharem (Sarah Tempson-Kharem) and their children Nasir, Adrian, Malachi, Maliah, Kelli Chappelle (Mitchell Chappelle) and their children Alanna, Xavier and Khalil, Chloe Wozniak (Max Katzenberg) and their children David and Liev Ian Wozniak, Fiona Wozniak and Sean Wozniak, Jasmine Brumley-Taub (Brett DiPillo) Li Mansur Kharem, Maya Kharem, and Amal Kharem.
And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith – We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds’. [The Noble Qur’an, 52:21]
We pray Allah reunites us with our loved ones in His Eternal Gardens of Paradise. By the will of Allah, we shall all meet again. Ameen.
The family of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. has issued a scathing statement following a grand jury’s decision not to indict Detective Steven Conn in the shooting death of Jarrel Garris in New Rochelle, New York.
In their statement, the Chamberlain family expressed deep disappointment with the outcome, drawing parallels to their own experience and the broader pattern of police violence cases across the nation. They criticized the familiar refrain of “insufficient evidence” used to justify the lack of charges against officers involved in fatal shootings.
The family took aim at what they describe as a “universal playbook” used by officers to justify their actions, particularly the claim of fearing for one’s life. In this case, they noted Detective Conn’s assertion that he needed to protect himself and others. However, the Chamberlains argue that video evidence contradicts this narrative, showing the detective “approaching and escalating the situation, not retreating or de-escalating.”
The statement also lambasted the recommendation by the Attorney General’s office for the New Rochelle Police Department to upgrade its training and policies on use of force. The family dismissed this as “nothing more than an insult – a slap in the face of justice.”
Broader criticisms were leveled at the New York Attorney General’s office, with the family accusing it of consistently failing to hold law enforcement accountable. They urged voters to remember this pattern of inaction when the Attorney General seeks re-election.
The Chamberlain family’s statement concludes with a call to action, asserting that systemic injustices will persist unless there is a demand for accountability at all levels of the justice system.
This case has reignited debates about police accountability and the effectiveness of grand juries in cases involving law enforcement officers. As community tensions rise, local officials and activists are calling for increased transparency in the investigation process and a reevaluation of police use-of-force policies.
STATEMENT FROM THE FAMILY OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.
Once again, another family hears the heartbreaking, all-too-familiar words of countless victims of state-sanctioned violence: “After an exhaustive investigation, the grand jury has determined there is not sufficient evidence to charge the officer.” This time, it’s the family of Jarrel Garris. The officer’s playbook is universal, with rehearsed language designed to justify any act of violence: “I feared for my life,” it was a very fluid situation or in this case, Detective Conn’s claim that he needed to protect himself and others. But the truth is plain to see the video reveals the detective approaching and escalating the situation, not retreating or de-escalating.
The rule of law, which should serve as the foundation of a fair society, is non-existent here. This officer was not held to the same standard that we, as citizens, are bound to follow. The Attorney General’s recommendation that the New Rochelle Police Department “upgrade its training and policies” regarding the use of force is nothing more than an insult a slap in the face of justice. Year after year, the New York Attorney General has failed to hold law enforcement accountable, and we must remember this failure when she seeks re-election. The systemic injustices will only persist if we do not demand accountability at every level.
In a scathing statement released Wednesday, a national organization of Black law enforcement professionals expressed a vote of no confidence in New York State Attorney General Letitia James, citing her handling of a police shooting case in New Rochelle.
The organization, Blacks In Law Enforcement of America (BLEA), took issue with the Attorney General’s office’s decision not to bring charges in the 2023 shooting death of Jarrel Garris, an unarmed Black man who was experiencing a mental health crisis when New Rochelle police killed him.
“Once again, our elected officials and law enforcement leadership have failed to address police encounters with Black men, particularly those struggling with mental illness in the state of New York,” said Damon K. Jones, New York Representative of BLEA.
The case has reignited debates about police use of force, especially in situations involving mental health crises and racial disparities in law enforcement outcomes.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
According to police reports and body camera footage, Mr. Garris was involved in an altercation with New Rochelle police officers in early 2023. The encounter ended fatally when Detective Steven Conn shot Mr. Garris, who was unarmed at the time.
Detective Conn claimed he fired his weapon because he believed another officer’s gun was at risk. However, body camera footage revealed that the other officer immediately stated she still had possession of her firearm, a discrepancy that BLEA says raises serious questions about the justification for the use of deadly force.
The Attorney General’s office, after investigating the incident, declined to bring charges against Detective Conn. Instead, it recommended that the New Rochelle Police Department “upgrade its policies” — a suggestion that BLEA finds woefully inadequate.
“This recommendation fails to address the root causes of these tragic incidents and inappropriately shifts the burden of policy development onto local departments without proper guidance or standardization,” Mr. Jones stated.
Calls for Systemic Reform
BLEA’s criticism extends beyond this single case. The organization points out that despite the submission of independent reviews from every police department in New York following George Floyd’s death in 2020, Attorney General James has not proposed comprehensive state-wide policies on police use of force when encountering individuals with mental illness.
To address these concerns, BLEA is calling for several sweeping reforms, including:
State-wide standardized training on de-escalation and mental health crisis response
Clear, uniform guidelines on use of force in mental health emergencies
Increased funding for mental health response teams
Greater accountability in investigations of police-involved shootings
A comprehensive review of current law enforcement policies and practices across New York State
Broader Implications
The BLEA statement comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of policing practices nationwide. While New York has seen the appointment of more Black officials to positions of power in recent years, including Attorney General James herself, BLEA argues that this representation has not translated into meaningful change.
“We live in an age of Black representation at all levels of government, yet we have still failed to find solutions and hold law enforcement accountable for shooting unarmed Black people,” Mr. Jones said. “Instead of giving us justice, these representatives have become co-conspirators in a system that continues to fail our communities.”.
As debates over police reform continue to shape policy discussions nationwide, the Garris case and BLEA’s response highlight the ongoing challenges in addressing systemic issues in law enforcement and criminal justice. With calls for action growing louder, how state and local officials will respond to these demands for comprehensive reform remains to be seen.
(Photo above – Left to Right Honorees: Chan C Class Davis, Kim Osorio, Ivie Ani, Judith Robert-Lewis, Miguel Sizzla Kalonji Collins, Carol Dunkley, Karen Mitchell, & Judge Reginald Johnson)
The 4th Annual Unlabelled Awards Show on September 12, 2024, at 296 9th Avenue, New York City, was an unforgettable evening celebrating unsung heroes. Hosted by the legendary Lenny Green, a longtime icon of syndicated radio on WBLS, with decades of experience and an unforgettable presence on the airwaves. The night was filled with glamor, purpose, and heartfelt recognition. Guests were welcomed with rum punch, and Saxophonist Stanford set the tone with soulful melodies. This event was the air that fills your lungs when you take a deep breath—a night that felt vital, invigorating, and filled with the energy of community and service.
Honoree: Little Mackenzie [Black Westchester]
The evening opened with Lenny Green’s heartfelt words about the importance of service, followed by powerful presentations. Maxine Greaves awarded Dr. Oskar Jacunski the Courage to Care Award for his dedication to health, while Elliee Balleh presented Little McKenzie with the Unsung Hero Award for her extraordinary bravery.
Antwon Gutierrez honored Chan Davis with the Conquest Award, recognizing his transformation from a fugitive to a filmmaker. Pamela Hallman-Johnson, unable to attend due to illness, was represented by her husband, who accepted the Preceptor Award from Kendal McFarlene on her behalf. He delivered touching remarks about her service to the community and her deep commitment to education.
Marsha “Chi Chi Vogue” Williams stunned with a fashion show before receiving the Designer Award from Gigel Williams, while Karen “True Indian Hair” Mitchell received the Entrepreneur Award from Attorney Benjamin Pincewski.
Judith Roberts-Lewis was honored with the Heart of Heroes Award by Mar-Khelia Stephenson for her work in education, followed by Bruce Moskowitz receiving the Gifted Hands Award from Dr. Augustine Moscatello.
Ivie Ani was presented the Journalist Award by Antoinette Isama, and Kim Osorio received the Powerhouse Media Award from Sunshine Smith-Williams.
Honoree: Miguel Sizzla Kalonji Collins [Black Westchester]
The evening concluded with Senator Kevin Parker honoring Judge Reginald Johnson with the Civic Engagement Award, and Mariam Walters presenting Miguel “Sizzla Kalonji” Collins with the Music of Excellence Award for his contributions to reggae.
Special acknowledgments were given to Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie, Legislator Collin D. Smith, and Mayor Eric Adams for their support and proclamations. The Unlabelled Awards was a true celebration of service, resilience, and those who make success possible from behind the scenes.
Diddy Taken Into Federal Custody After Grand Jury Indictment
Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested late Monday, the U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, said in a statement. Details of the charges weren’t immediately announced by prosecutors, but the hip-hop mogul has faced a stream of allegations by women in recent months who accused him of sexual assault.
“We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time,” Williams said in a statement.
Combs was arrested in a Manhattan hotel lobby and is in federal custody, said a person familiar with the arrest who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, issued a statement saying: “We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
The criminal charges are a major but not unexpected takedown. The federal investigation of the 58-year-old Combs was revealed when Homeland Security Investigations agents served simultaneous search warrants and raided Combs’ mansions in Los Angeles and Miami on March 25.
His defense attorney Aaron Dyer the day after the raids called them “a gross use of military-level force,” said the allegations were “meritless,” and said Combs was “innocent and will continue to fight” to clear his name.
Stay tuned to Black Westchester for more on this developing story
Black Westchester presents The People Before Politics Radio Show Episode 407 With ya host Damon K. Jones and AJ Woodson giving you that Real Talk For The Community since 2014
Black Westchester presents the People Before Politics Radio Show every Sunday night, 6-8 PM, simulcasting live on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube and archived on BlackWestchester.com. Giving you that Real Talk For The Community since 2014.
To support the Black Westchester and the People Before Politics Radio Show, which provides the News With The Black Point Of view and gives you the real talk for the community for free, make a donation via PayPal at www.PayPal.me/BlackWestchesterMag. In the words of Ray Charles, “One of these days, and it [might not be] long, You’re gonna look for [us], and [we’ll] be gone.” Support independent, Black-free media!
“Since 2021, our salad bar has been inspired by the desire to create a healthy, fresh, and vibrant space in the community where nutritious food is accessible to all. As a Black-owned business, we’re passionate about promoting wellness through high-quality ingredients and offering a welcoming atmosphere where people can gather, enjoy delicious salads, and feel empowered to make healthier choices. Our mission is to blend cultural flavors with fresh, locally sourced produce, offering fresh salads and sandwiches that are both wholesome and full of flavors,” Britney Francis shared with Black Westchester.
I first came across this cozy eatery two blocks east of City Hall in downtown Mount Vernon when someone I knew was coming out of it as I passed by. They raved about it so I had to stop in and was impressed by the variety of salads, pressed sandwiches, fresh ingredients, and flavorful combinations. It was definitely a healthy alternative to the many fast food, pizza, Chinese food, soul food, and Jamaican restaurants in the city.
I always get the Jerk Ceasar Salad with shredded carrots, cucumbers, strawberries, and tomatoes with dried cranberries topped with their House Yardie Sauce. I also love the Spinach Patties but you got to get there early because they always sell out. And yes they have vegan options. Also check out their jerk Chicken, Rasta, or Salmon Taco Plates or Jerk, Seared Salmon or Rasta Sandwiches or Rice Bowls. Or grab a Peppa Shrimp, Stew Chicken, Beef, Fish Vegetable, or Spinach patties, they have something for everyone, and you will not be disappointed.
I strongly recommend this Black-Owned Business, stop by and tell them Black Westchester sent you.
Address: 5 E Prospect Ave, Mount Vernon Tel: (929) 508-7316 – IG: tosstandpresst/ Mon & Sat 9am-6:30pm, Tues-Fri 9am-8:00pm
Close to 100 individuals came from all over the county to El Patio (159 Gramatan Avenue, Mount Vernon), Thursday evening to celebrate the 32nd birthday of County Legislator Tyrae Woodson-Samuels.
“I want to thank all of my family and friends who came from far and wide to help me bring in my birthday and celebrate another year of life with me. It was a great evening and I truly appreciate all of the love and support shown!” Tyrae shared with Black Westchester.
It was a who’s who including County Executive George Latimer, Deputy CE Ken Jenkins, Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services and former Westchester Department of Corrections Deputy Commissioner Louis Molina, Former Mount Vernon Mayor Ernie Davis, Mount Vernon Councilmenbers Cathlin Gleason, Danielle Brown, Jaevon Boxhill and Derrick Thompson, MV Comptroller Darren Morton, Greenburgh Councilwoman Joy Haber, Westchester Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association (COBA) President Neil Pallone, Mount Vernon High School Assistant Principle Kelvin Manuel, Mount Vernon Democratic City Committee Chair Mary L. Graves, Former Mount Vernon Councilmembers Roberta Apuzzo and Steven Horton, Mount Vernon City Clerk, Tanesia M. Walters, J.D., M.P.A., CEO Westchester Community Health Center (formerly Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center) Judith Watson, Former Mount Vernon City School District Trustee Brenda L. Crump, Lynn C. Frazer-McBride and Mary Kingsley (current Chair of the Rotary International Club in Mt. Vernon), MV Recreation Commissioner Kathleen Walker-Pinckney
“Tremendous support for Majority Leader and NY State Committeeman Tyrae Woodson-Samuels. I am proud to join with his County colleagues, local officials, business leaders, and members of the Mount Vernon community who came out to celebrate Tyrae’s birthday,” Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins shared With Black Westchester.
Tyrae became the third youngest Westchester County Legislator in history after a successful election on November 3, 2020. A 28-year-old native of Mount Vernon, Woodson-Samuels brings a record of hands-on government, activist, and business experience to a campaign that promises to pursue a “practical progressive” agenda for the county.
Most recently, Woodson-Samuels served as Deputy Director of Constituent Services for veteran Democratic Congressman Eliot Engel, leading his Westchester County community response and working with residents and public officials on issues that included immigration, gun safety initiatives, Federal funding, military, and veteran’s affairs, healthcare, Social Security and senior issues, and regional environmental concerns.
A longtime community activist committed to representing underserved communities of color and improving Mount Vernon, Woodson-Samuels has been a board member of the Shamoya McKenzie Foundation, Fleetwood Neighborhood Association, and the Community Service Associates Soup Kitchen. He is a legislative committee member of the Westchester Black Democrats, and serves as Caucus of Color chair for the Westchester Young Democrats, in addition to leadership roles with the local NAACP and as a mentor in President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, working with dozens of young men in the city of Mount Vernon.
In the business community, Woodson-Samuels consulted local businesses, became a licensed real estate salesperson, and formed The Woodson-Samuels Group, LLC. Local sports fans will remember Woodson-Samuels as the first African-American quarterback in Iona Prep history, where he led his team to an undefeated 12-0 record, winning Iona’s only CHSFL AAA State championship and earning Journal News Player of the Year, First Team All-State, and First Team All-County honors. He was also captain and a top sprinter in Section 1 for Iona’s track & field team.
A product of Mount Vernon public schools, Woodson-Samuels attended historic Hampton University where he majored in political science and became a teacher’s assistant working with special needs children.
Black Westchester salutes Tyrae Woodson-Samuels the future of Black Politics.
Cupcake Cutie Boutique (8 South 6th Avenue) provided the delicious Red Velvet birthday cake, (pic of Cupcake Cutie Boutique owner Miesha Stokely and the birthday boy, Tyrae Woodson-Samuels above).
Crowds of cheering students and fans lined the streets and schools of Mount Vernon on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, as the city and school district celebrated Rai Benjamin. The three-time Olympic gold medalist and native of the city was honored with a motorcade, Mount Vernon High School Hall of Fame dedication, and ceremony at Memorial Field.
The day started with a meet and greet at Mount Vernon High School, complete with gold medal cookies baked by culinary students. Administrators and council members spoke with Rai and his family to show their appreciation for him for the impact he has made on the community.
“It feels pretty good,” said Rai. “I mean, it’s good to be celebrated and to have gotten this far with everyone in this room that nurtured me to this point. I’m feeling really excited about it and I’m really happy. It’s just a testimony to having the hard work that I put in come to fruition. It’s very nostalgic being here.”
Afterward, guests made their way over to the Hall of Fame, where Rai received a space with other notable alumni such as Dick Clark and Ken Singleton. Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith and MVHS Principal Dr. Pauline Pearce gave tribute to Rai in their speeches before revealing the newest addition.
“Today was a very historical day. It was the Rai Benjamin Day in Mount Vernon. We gave Rai a hero’s welcome via a motorcade that passed by all 16 school buildings and the district office. He received cheers from the jewels of our district – our children. The excitement and pride were evident as Rai is one of Mount Vernon City School District’s shining stars. Yes, he is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and a silver medalist. Furthermore, he is the fastest 400-meter hurdler in the whole world. However, what is particularly noteworthy is that he was an exceptional student. This status has a tremendous impact on our school community. I am certain that many of our students are calling Rai their favorite athlete. To this end, he is a hero to the Mount Vernon community and an exemplary role model. Subsequently, the district placed Rai in our Hall of Fame and we named our track in his honor. He certainly is worthy of these recognitions,” Dr. Smith shared with Black Westchester.
“As I talked to the teachers who had you, they had some very important things that they wanted to share with me,” said Dr. Pearce. “One of the things that they talked about was your humility. They talked about the fact that you were in with every one of your peers and you made sure that you were available to help anyone who needed help. That is something we want our children to aspire to be.”
Once Rai received his spot on the Hall of Fame, he made his way onto the motorcade with his family, friends and coaches to head over to the MVHS track, where they announced the new name of the track as Rai Benjamin Track.
“What an amazing day here,” said JB Smoove, actor and MVHS alum. “We are celebrating Rai Benjamin, we call him King Benjamin. This is an extension of what’s possible if you work hard and achieve your dreams. He has inspired so many young people here and showed that all their dreams are possible. I am here because I want to support him. Now, when I come back, I know that that track was just dedicated to this man. I am looking forward to his dreams, his achievements, and all of the seeds he just planted into the mind of these young people.”
While at the track, Rai took photos with students and signed autographs before getting back on the motorcade to travel through the City of Mount Vernon and stop at all 16 schools, The Doles Center and City Hall.
Many of Rai’s loved ones and friends attended the ceremonies and rode in the motorcade as well, celebrating as it passed through the city.
“It’s a lot,” said Jeanette Mason, Rai’s mother. “I never imagined this day would come or happen. He’s been honored in such a way; he’s inducted in the Hall of Fame. I remember coming to Mount Vernon High School and seeing all of these famous actors and athletes on the Hall of Fame, and I did not imagine this happening or even the field being named after him. I’m just so happy. It’s a great accomplishment for him. It’s something I can’t even process, I can’t put it into words.”
As the motorcade wound through the city, students and teachers cheered from in front of their schools. Students waved handmade signs that were created in art classes throughout the District. They understood the importance of Rai’s accomplishments and were inspired that he was from their hometown.
“This is inspiring to me because students from small towns like Mount Vernon often get overlooked because they are not from big cities,” said Tristan Crawford, an eighth-grade student at Mount Vernon Honor Academy. “Rai Benjamin shows us that we can do anything!”
Before the visit, seventh-grade Mount Vernon Leadership Academy students also watched the race.
“My favorite part about watching the race was when he jumped over the last hurdle,” said Cinsir Vasquez, a seventh-grade student at MVLA. “I feel excited to see a celebrity who has been all around the world running for us.”
Bystanders watched as the motorcade passed their homes and waved to the Olympian. The motorcade finally stopped at Memorial Field, where the plaza leading into the field was renamed as Rai Benjamin Plaza.
Marcus Green, Rai’s coach at MVHS, stood before the crowd at Memorial Field and recognized the impact that Rai has made on the city.
“I had the opportunity to ride around in the back of the motorcade and watch as we proceeded through the city, and I saw some amazing things. I saw some young people light up when this young man came by. I saw young people cheering and high-fiving each other running along, trying to keep up.”
Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard recognized the groups of dignitaries at Memorial Field, which included Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, New York State Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, Mount Vernon City Council President Cathlin Gleason and City of Mount Vernon Comptroller Darren Morton.
“It was a beautiful day in the City of Mount Vernon as we collectively celebrated our HOMETOWN GOLD MEDAL OLYMPIAN Rai Benjamin,” Mayor SPH shared with Black Westchester. “We are so proud of his accomplishments and equally humbled by the man and humanitarian that he is. He is an amazing A Mount Vernon and a role model for our youth.”
Rai received a key to the City of Mount Vernon and proclamations from the City of Mount Vernon, Westchester County conferred by Deputy County Executive Jenkins, and the State of New York conferred by Assemblyman Pretlow. As the ceremony closed, the mark that Rai Benjamin has made on his hometown was clear, and it will last for the next generations with the Rai Benjamin Track and the Rai Benjamin Plaza at Memorial Field.
“Congratulations to Mount Vernon’s own, 3-time Olympic Gold medal winner Rai Benjamin. Westchester County is proud to join with Mt. Vernon in recognizing this tremendous achievement representing excellence on the world stage, DCE Jenkins shared with Black Westchester.
Mount Vernon City Court Judge Lyndon Williams, who is a former County Legislator who fought for almost two decades for the restoration of Memorial Field through four Mount Vernon Mayors and two County Executives, told Black Westchester when he looks at the field now, it was well worth the fight.
“It’s a proud day for Mount Vernon to celebrate Rai Benjamin. We celebrate his success as an Olympic Gold Medalist as well as his humility, character, and persistent drive to succeed. He is a role model for young people to emulate,” Williams shared with Black Westchester.
