About Us
The Gathering for Justice (The Gathering) was founded in 2005 by the late great activist and entertainer Harry Belafonte to shift our society toward racial justice through definitive criminal justice reform.
Led by Carmen Perez since 2010, The Gathering mobilizes communities nationwide for systemic change. We partner with artists and cultural leaders to support the movements for racial, social, and criminal justice through policy advocacy and grassroots organizing in local, state, and national communities.
THE BELAFONTE LEGACY
The Gathering upholds and embodies Mr. Belafonte’s lifelong passion for social justice. He founded The Gathering in 2005 in response to the brutal handcuffing and arrest of a 5-year-old Black girl, Jaiesha Scott, for being “unruly.”
Justice for Jaiesha meant justice for all racialized youth. . Mr. Belafonte tirelessly fought for a more just and equitable society for all until his passing in 2023 at 96 years old.
And now, we’re keeping up his fight.
The movement for racial, social, and criminal justice is under attack, and Mr. Belafonte’s work is more important now than ever before.
Unlawful arrests and hateful rhetoric threaten to divide and destroy our communities. Our leaders are actively fighting against equity in our jobs and schools. And the systems historically underserved families depend on are being stripped away.
First, The Gathering was his vision.
Now, it’s our mission.
In these times, we remain committed to racial, social, and criminal justice, ethical and accountable public safety, an end to child incarceration, and our intergenerational movement for progress and equity.
Our methods are simple. We use Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolent resistance as a tool for lasting change, leading with compassion and empathy. We bring the most impacted communities to the table to foster systemic healing and create a collective path toward systemic justice and equity.
Our tools are creative and rooted in the community. We are inspired by Mr. Belafonte’s use of art as a tool for social change by leveraging the arts, the entertainment world, and justice-oriented thought leadership to influence public thinking, popular culture, and policy.
Our approach? Authenticity. We believe that change begins with us. We proudly uphold Mr. Belafonte’s legacy of mentorship and investment in the community. As his mentee, our President Carmen, shared:
The Gathering was incorporated in January 2015 and in April 2015 was awarded its 501C3 non-profit status.
OUR HISTORY
From day one, The Gathering has provided a safe space for dialogue and cultural exchange, bridging gaps between generations of activists, community members, formerly incarcerated individuals, street organizations, and academics from all communities and cultures. To facilitate these conversations, we partnered with The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the youth divisions of Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the NAACP, and the Congress on Racial Equality, among others.
… these Gatherings revealed one fundamental truth:
this fight belongs to all of us.
And that message of inclusivity, that work of uncovering our common ground – that is our best work.
And that work continues on, more important than ever before, today. Will you join our fight?