The leader of a Chicago youth mentoring organization is furious after a bus trip to attend the 63rd anniversary of the March on Washington was abruptly cancelled with little explanation.
The Executive Director of I Am A Gentleman, Inc., Jermaine Anderson, says the young men in the program are "devastated and shattered."
"On the day of departure we received a text message, less than two hours away from the scheduled departure time, not to report to our busses because the busses were not being allowed into the city of Washington D.C because of permitting issues," Anderson told WBBM.
"These young men will never forget that they were let down for this moment in history to be in Washington D.C., to stand where Dr. King stood 63 years ago, fighting some of the same oppression that we're still fighting 63 years later."
They had been invited by the National Action Network, founded by Rev. Al Sharpton.
"The young men that we serve are amazing young men from the city of Chicago, but unfortunately, you know, many of the young men we serve come from disinvested neighborhoods, disinvested school systems, disinvested communities, and for them to be let down yet once again by a national organization, it's unacceptable," Anderson said. "We broke the news to our young men and they are completely devastated and shattered that this has happened."
Anderson had been working with the Indiana chapter of the National Action Network on the transportation.
The NAN Indiana chapter President, Terry Price, said he's disappointed, too. He issued a statement reading, in part, "transportation decisions were made at the national/corporate level" of the organization.
The national organization has not responded to a request for comment.
Below are social media posts:
I Am A Gentleman, Inc. is aware of the statement issued by The National Action Network Indiana regarding the cancellation of buses scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C. for the 63rd Anniversary of the March on Washington.
While we acknowledge the explanation provided, our organization and, most importantly, our young men are still left with serious and unanswered questions.
I AM A GENTLEMAN, INC. was invited by the National Action Network to participate in this historic event and has been working with NAN Indiana since June 10, 2026, to ensure our students could take part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
After more than two months of preparation, investment of organizational resources, coordination with families, and tremendous anticipation from our students, we were notified approximately TWO HOURS before our scheduled departure that the buses our young men were scheduled to board would not be traveling to Washington, D.C.
Our young men are devastated.
They deserve more than disappointment. They deserve answers.
When did officials first become aware there was an issue with the necessary permits? Who was responsible for securing them? When were the permits requested? Why was our organization allowed to continue preparing our students and families until just hours before departure?
These are reasonable questions, and we intend to get to the bottom of what happened.
STATEMENT FROM NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK INDIANA
National Action Network Indiana is aware of the media advisory issued by I AM A GENTLEMAN, INC. concerning the cancellation of transportation for young men who were scheduled to participate in the 63rd Anniversary March on Washington.
Because NAN Indiana has been publicly identified in this matter, we believe it is important to correct any misunderstanding about who made the transportation decisions.
NAN Indiana did not make the decision to cancel the transportation or determine that the buses could not travel to Washington, D.C. Those transportation decisions were made at the national/corporate level of the National Action Network.
NAN Indiana was working to support the transportation arrangements and the participation of Indiana and surrounding-area riders. When the transportation situation changed, representatives from the NAN Field Office asked NAN Indiana to delay communicating the full transportation issue while efforts were made to identify an alternative transportation company and find a solution that would allow participants to continue with their plans.
Our chapter made every effort to work within the direction we were receiving while simultaneously trying to protect the interests of the riders and organizations that had entrusted us with their transportation arrangements.
We understand the frustration and disappointment experienced by I AM A GENTLEMAN, INC., its students, families, and chaperones. We share that disappointment, particularly because young people had prepared for what was intended to be a meaningful educational and historic experience.
However, it is important that the public understand that NAN Indiana should not be portrayed as the entity that made the decision to cancel this transportation. We did not.
NAN Indiana acted in good faith, followed the direction provided to us, and continued attempting to identify alternatives even as circumstances were changing.
We will not engage in a public dispute with another organization. We will, however, stand by the facts and protect the integrity of NAN Indiana and the people who worked diligently to make this trip possible.
Our young people deserved the opportunity to experience this historic moment in Washington, D.C. We are deeply disappointed that the transportation circumstances prevented that from happening.
NAN Indiana remains committed to the movement, to our young people, to our community, and to the mission of the National Action Network.
We will continue to work toward solutions, not division.
Terry Price, NAN Indiana President
