New-York tribune., 1920-08-03
$4,000 Pledge
Sacred Blood
To Free Africa
Marcus Carvey Proclaims
World Wide Movement
to Redeem Native Land
to People of His Race
3O-Day Convention Open
Madison Square Rings
With Enthusiastic Cheers;
Greetings to De Valera

Fifteen thousand negroes pledged
their sacred blood" for the liberty and
freedom of Africa at the bchest of
their leader, Marcus Garvcy, at mass
meeting in Madison Square Gar
der last night. From the lofty
galleries, from the rafters and from
tho floor of the arena, the pledge came
in rising crcscendo of noise that
gradually developed into e shrek,
drowning out the strains Of the new
negro national anthem" Ethiopia!
thou land Of our fathers"
Standing on an improvised platform,
attired in a Gorgeous robe of purple,
gold and green, Garvey worked the
5000 members of his race to the fever
pitch by his oratory.
"Thc hour has come" he shouted in
a shrill voice, ''for the 40O,000,000 ne
groes to claim Africa as their home.
Africa shall be the home of the black
peoples of the earth. We pledge our
sacred blood on the fields of Africa for
our liberty and our freedom"
Beside him, in gilttcrl:.g raiment and
beturbaned head, stood Denyki, ma
tive Prince Of Lagos, whose impassive
face lightened up momentarily when
Garvey declared the negroes would tell
England, Italy, France and Portugal
"to get OUT
From all parts Of the world came the
$4,000 delegates who packed the gar
den. They came TO help frame the new
Bill of Rights at the thirty-day con-
vention which opened yesterday under
the auspices Of the Universal Negro
Improvement Association.
Their behavior clearly demonstrated
that to them Garvey was the very per-
sonification of their desire. When he
was introduced by Miss Henrietta Vim
ton Davis, the international organizer
of the movement, the $4,000 rose to
their feet and greeted their leader for
iv minutes of enthusiastic cheering.
This was repeated q moment later
when Garvey shouted:
THE time has come for our people
to organize for the next great war that
will decide the fate of the world, the
war between the occidental and orien-
tai civilizations for supremacy, which
will be survival Of the tittest. That
time will be opportune for the negroes
to draw the sword for African redemp-
ton. The hour has come when Africa
shall become the domain Of the black
peoples of the world"
Frequently throughout his speech
Garvey, waving his purple enshrouded
arm, mentioned Belgium, carefully
slurring over the word, and each time
a series of shrill Kisses surged through
the vast nall from the assembled null
ttude, interspersed with cries Of
"Congo."
Before getting urGcc way with his
address Garvey read two telegrams,
one from Louis Michel, a Jewish law
yer Of Los Angeles, expressing sym
pathy with the movement and declar-
ing that there would be no peace in
the world until Palestine was ruled by
the Jews and Africa by the negroes;
and the other to Eamon de Valera,
which read as follows:
"Twenty- FIVE thousand negro delegates
assembled in Madison Square Garden
in mass convention, representing 4OO,-
100000 negroes of the world, send you
greetings as President Of the Irish Re-
public. Please accept sympathy of ne
groes of the world for your cause. We
believe Ireland should be free, even as
Africa shall be free for the negroes of
the world. Keep up the fght for free
Ireland"
Enthusiasm was the prevailing note
of the convention. 1t even went to the
extent of bringing the entire crowd to
its feet to sing the virtues OF the negro
steamship line that some colorcd gen
ius had set to Jazz music.
The tedious wait while the delegates
were arriving was relieved by pro-
gram of music. The other speakers
we're the Rev. DR.. J. W. Eason. chap
lain general Of the movement. and
Miss Davis. Police reserves were sta
toned outside and inside the building