SHARPTON UNDAUNTED BY FIRE

n Saturday, the irrepressible Rev. Al Sharpton delivered a positive message over WLIB and WWRL radio on his regularly scheduled program, "Live from the House of Justice." However, due to the fire that broke out early Wednesday morning at the National Action Network's(NAN)headquarters, the Action Rally went out over the airwaves from a temporary home at the Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church at 126^th and Madison Avenue.

Rev. Sharpton began the broadcast by thanking the many churches that after the fire, without delay, offered NAN space to hold its rallies. He chose Metropolitan Methodist because of its close proximity to NAN's headquarters. He said, too, that Rev. Darden told him that NAN can stay as long as it needs and that the church doesn't want anything for it; this is their contribution to the rebuilding effort.

Rev. Sharpton thanked many other people as well, beginning with the officers and members of NAN, particularly those here in New York City. He also said that when he reached the House of Justice, after being called back to town from a campaign stop, the first thing that struck him was the scores of concerned people standing out in the street in the freezing weather. Then came all the calls of support. Almost immediately, Dennis Rivera, President of 1199/SEIU, the Healthcare Workers Union, called to offer office space. "And just about everybody you could think of called," stated Sharpton, "Jesse Jackson, the King family, and others." He was also told that singer Stephanie Mills plans to do a concert to raise money for the House of Justice.

Rev. Sharpton noted, too, that after the fire right away there were people who started saying, "Isn't it a coincidence that the day after you file as a presidential candidate, we have a fire." And he told his listeners that he is much more interested in "firing up the dialogue in this country" than he is in chasing any of the theories about the cause. "It would take more than a fire to quell our desire to give new leadership and direction to this country," he commented. "I think this is a test, but it will also give us the energy and determination to go on and not only rebuild the House of Justice, but rebuild politics in this United States."

He stated that the investigators had said there is no evidence of foul play, but they're ruling nothing out. "I'm waiting for a written report," said Sharpton. "There are others who are investigating. I'm not an investigator; I am an organizer and activist. And I am determined that whenever and wherever we meet, we're going to use the space and time we have to continue moving forward."

He observed that some people use fear as an escape, saying, "Rev. Al, this shows it's dangerous if you run. They're going to try to intimidate and dig at you." But Sharpton's response is, "Well, to me, it's dangerous if I don't run. They've been digging on me all my life, and we've been in danger all our lives." And he added, "The question is not what you risk if you step up; the question is what you risk if you don't."

NAN is gratefully accepting any and all contributions. You can send them to the National Action Network at PO Box 667, New York, NY 10035. For further information call (212) 987-5020.

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Donna Lamb can be reached at dlamb@gis.net.

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