Dear Members of NCOE

This message comes to invite you to join OUR TIME TO BREAK SILENCE CAMPAIGN agreed upon at the fall Haley Farm gathering.  As you may remember, this title comes from the groundbreaking speech: Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence that was delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 1967.   Drafted by NCOE co-founder, Vincent Harding, their words remain true almost 50 years later: “A time comes when silence is betrayal. “   We are 50 years later  “bursting with a sense of injustice, frustration, and anger.”

The National Council of Elders is resolved to join with others to once again break this deadly silence.  We will organize group readings of Dr. King’s speech on April 4, 2017. Some groups may choose a different date or additional actions.  We support these modifications.   We ask schools, churches, civil rights groups, labor organizations, museums, community organizations and others to join in building this movement to break silence, promote dialogue and engage in nonviolent direct action.

We need YOU.  Attached is an online version of a promotional brochure and a link to a short video.  Please invite endorsers and send us their names. NCOE is building a website specifically for the campaign to provide educational and organizing resources, serve as a platform for sharing information about actions, calendars, forms, etc.  We need your suggestions, support and donations.  For details go to:

Visit Us Here!

Download the Brochure

In service,

National Council of Elders Leadership Team

Shea Howell

Gloria Aneb House

Frank Joyce

Gus Newport

Kathy Sanchez

Aljosie Aldrich Harding

Respond to: ncoe@projectsouth.org

Or Aljosie Aldrich Harding, email@aljosie.com