Steps to Support Ella Baker Day

1. Sign the Petition - see links below
2. Spread the Word - Join our Facebook Page -- Follow us on Instagram, and spread the word on your social networks
3. Host Your Own Ella Baker Day
4. Start an Ella Baker Day petition in your state

Join the Movement! Put Ella Baker Day on the Calendar

​Sign the Petition and Spread the Word

If you would like to start a petition in your state, please contact us!
We currently have petitions running in Maryland, New York, South Carolina, and Virginia (see below).

We also now have a federal petition to create a national holiday.

Proclamation to Create an Ella Baker Day in the U.S.

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Did you know President Biden opened his 2020 Democratic National Convention Speech with a reference to Ella Baker? He quoted Ella Baker and said: "Ella Baker, a giant of the civil rights movement, left us with this wisdom: Give people light and they will find a way."

Sign this petition at:​ www.change.org/p/president-of-the-united-states-create-a-holiday-in-honor-of-ella-baker

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WHEREAS, Ms. Ella Jo Baker, 1903-1986, served this great nation as a leader, educator, and activist on behalf of underprivileged communities; and

WHEREAS, Baker was the granddaughter of enslaved Africans; and

WHEREAS, Baker strongly advocated that the common (wo)man, not solely recognized leaders, are the backbone of this country; and

WHEREAS, Baker is a model for working across party lines and ideological differences to build strong, effective coalitions; and

WHEREAS, Baker dedicated her life to serving those less fortunate by participating in a broad base of organizations including but not limited to the American Federation of Labor, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the New York Public Library, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and the Voter Education Project; and

WHEREAS, the United States Postal Service honored Baker with a postage stamp as part of a special issue commemorating Civil Rights Pioneers; and

WHEREAS, numerous historical and other scholarly texts have documented Baker's lifelong participation in social movements; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting to recognize Ms. Ella Jo Baker as one of our nation’s greatest unsung heroes, as loved and appreciated by all those who had the opportunity to work alongside her, as an eternal believer in the potential, dignity, and importance of all people, and as an honorable and dedicated citizen; and
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WHEREAS, April 16th marks the weekend that Ella Baker helped the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) come to fruition;
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NOW, THEREFORE, we, the residents of the United States, do suggest the recognition of April 16 as Ella Baker Day in the United States of America and call the attention of all our citizens.

Proclamation to Create an ​Ella Baker Day in
​New York

Sign this petition at: www.change.org/p/andrew-cuomo-create-ella-baker-day-in-new-york

​WHEREAS, Ms. Ella Jo Baker, 1903-1986, lived much of her life in Harlem and served both this great nation and New York as a leader, educator, and activist on behalf of underprivileged communities; and

WHEREAS, Baker was the granddaughter of enslaved Africans; and

WHEREAS, Baker strongly advocated that the common (wo)man, not solely recognized leaders, are the backbone of this country; and

WHEREAS, Baker is a model for working across party lines and ideological differences to build strong, effective coalitions; and

WHEREAS, Baker dedicated her life to serving those less fortunate by participating in a broad base of organizations including but not limited to the American Federation of Labor, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the New York Public Library, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and the Voter Education Project; and

WHEREAS, the United States Postal Service honored Baker with a postage stamp as part of a special issue commemorating Civil Rights Pioneers; and

WHEREAS, numerous historical and other scholarly texts have documented Baker's lifelong participation in social movements; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting to recognize Ms. Ella Jo Baker as one of our nation’s greatest unsung heroes, as loved and appreciated by all those who had the opportunity to work alongside her, as an eternal believer in the potential, dignity, and importance of all people, and as an honorable and dedicated citizen; and

WHEREAS, April 16th marks the weekend that Ella Baker helped the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) come to fruition;
​
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the residents of New York, do suggest the recognition of April 16 as Ella Baker Day in New York and call the attention of all our citizens.

Proclamation to Create an ​Ella Baker Day in Virginia

Sign this petition at: www.change.org/p/please-support-the-creation-of-an-ella-baker-day-holiday-in-virginia

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​WHEREAS, Ms. Ella Jo Baker, 1903-1986, is a native Virginian and has served both this great nation and the Commonwealth as a leader, educator, and activist on behalf of underprivileged communities; and

WHEREAS, Baker was the granddaughter of enslaved Africans; and

WHEREAS, Baker strongly advocated that the common (wo)man, not solely recognized leaders, are the backbone of this country; and

WHEREAS, Baker is a model for working across party lines and ideological differences to build strong, effective coalitions; and

WHEREAS, Baker dedicated her life to serving those less fortunate by participating in a broad base of organizations including but not limited to the American Federation of Labor, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and the Voter Education Project; and

WHEREAS, the United States Postal Service honored Baker with a postage stamp as part of a special issue commemorating Civil Rights Pioneers; and

WHEREAS, numerous historical and other scholarly texts have documented Baker's lifelong participation in social movements; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting to recognize Ms. Ella Jo Baker as one of our nation’s greatest unsung heroes, as loved and appreciated by all those who had the opportunity to work alongside her, as an eternal believer in the potential, dignity, and importance of all people, and as an honorable and dedicated citizen; and

WHEREAS, April 15th marks the weekend that Ella Baker helped the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) come to fruition;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, do suggest the recognition of April 15 as Ella Baker Day in the Commonwealth of Virginia and call the attention of all our citizens.

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Proclamation to Create an Ella Baker Day in South Carolina

Sign this petition at: www.change.org/p/henry-mcmaster-create-a-holiday-to-honor-ella-baker-in-south-carolina

​WHEREAS, Ms. Ella Jo Baker, 1903-1986, spent much of her life organizing in the South and has served both this great nation and the Commonwealth as a leader, educator, and activist on behalf of underprivileged communities; and

WHEREAS, Baker was the granddaughter of enslaved Africans; and

WHEREAS, Baker strongly advocated that the common (wo)man, not solely recognized leaders, are the backbone of this country; and

WHEREAS, Baker is a model for working across party lines and ideological differences to build strong, effective coalitions; and

WHEREAS, Baker dedicated her life to serving those less fortunate by participating in a broad base of organizations including but not limited to the American Federation of Labor, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and the Voter Education Project; and

WHEREAS, the United States Postal Service honored Baker with a postage stamp as part of a special issue commemorating Civil Rights Pioneers; and

WHEREAS, numerous historical and other scholarly texts have documented Baker's lifelong participation in social movements; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting to recognize Ms. Ella Jo Baker as one of our nation’s greatest unsung heroes, as loved and appreciated by all those who had the opportunity to work alongside her, as an eternal believer in the potential, dignity, and importance of all people, and as an honorable and dedicated citizen; and

WHEREAS, April 16th marks the weekend that Ella Baker helped the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) come to fruition;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the residents of South Carolina, do suggest the recognition of April 16 as Ella Baker Day in New York and call the attention of all our citizens.

Proclamation to Create an Ella Baker Day in Maryland

Sign this petition at:www.change.org/p/larry-hogan-create-an-ella-baker-day-in-maryland

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​WHEREAS, Ms. Ella Jo Baker, 1903-1986, spent much of her life organizing in the South and has served both this great nation and the Commonwealth as a leader, educator, and activist on behalf of underprivileged communities; and

WHEREAS, Baker was the granddaughter of enslaved Africans; and

WHEREAS, Baker strongly advocated that the common (wo)man, not solely recognized leaders, are the backbone of this country; and

WHEREAS, Baker is a model for working across party lines and ideological differences to build strong, effective coalitions; and

WHEREAS, Baker dedicated her life to serving those less fortunate by participating in a broad base of organizations including but not limited to the American Federation of Labor, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and the Voter Education Project; and

WHEREAS, the United States Postal Service honored Baker with a postage stamp as part of a special issue commemorating Civil Rights Pioneers; and

WHEREAS, numerous historical and other scholarly texts have documented Baker's lifelong participation in social movements; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting to recognize Ms. Ella Jo Baker as one of our nation’s greatest unsung heroes, as loved and appreciated by all those who had the opportunity to work alongside her, as an eternal believer in the potential, dignity, and importance of all people, and as an honorable and dedicated citizen; and

WHEREAS, April 16th marks the weekend that Ella Baker helped the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) come to fruition;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the residents of Maryland, do suggest the recognition of April 16 as Ella Baker Day in Maryland and call the attention of all our citizens.