ATLANTA — On Feb. 20, members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. united for A.C.T.I.O.N. to Advocate, Communicate, Train, Influence, Organize, and Network during their annual AKA Day at the Capitol. Their aim was lobby legislators to uphold the values and quality of life endowed to individuals, families and communities.
Our American democracy relies on everyone’s participation in the political process. With “Pink Boots on the Ground” under the leadership of South Atlantic Regional Director Sharon Brown Harriott, State Reps. Karen Bennett, Carolyn Hugley, Dar’shun Kendrick and Sen. Horacena Tate, close to 300 members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority gathered under the Georgia State Capitol’s Gold Dome to beckon the attention of elected officials to issues that are important to constituents. Through solidarity, the organization stressed the importance of organizing and participating in the political process. The recent transfer of power in Washington has created uncertainties which threaten and pose imminent risks to affordable healthcare, immigration, and equitable and quality education. Amid a number of highly controversial presidential cabinet confirmations, millions of people are engaging in grass roots movements in unprecedented outpouring of protests.
Members encouraged officials to resist the repeals of benefits of the Affordable Health Care, threats to access to quality and equitable education and attacks against human rights and social justice.
Congressman John Lewis was also in attendance to speak to sorority members and encouraged them to “get into good trouble” and follow the lead he and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. set forth during the civil rights movement.
Georgia has over 5000 members in both graduate and undergraduate chapters. The 2017 “AKA Day at the Capitol” Pink Boots on the Ground calls for grass roots action to resists repeal of benefits of Affordable Health Care, access to quality and equitable education and attacks against human rights and social justice.
— Submitted by the Nu Zeta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at Georgia Southwestern State University