Fathers march in support of children

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A group of parents took their message to the streets on Monday. Fathers went on the march in downtown Buffalo, fighting to get the best education for their children.

At the Aloma Johnson Charter School, around 300 students and about 100 dads and volunteers marched through the Fruit Belt neighborhood as part of the annual "Million Father March."

Gary Chatman said, "We're just trying to stress the need for fathers at home and how important they are. We want their support, we want them here not just today but yearround."

Monday was not only an opportunity to recognize the fathers, but also tell them how they can positively impact the lives of their children and the lives of children in the community who don't have fathers of their own.

"We're stressing the needs of fathers being involved. As you know, in the black community we have a lot of issues with children being raised without a father in the home. I actually came up without a father in the home, so I know the feeling. We want the kids to understand that they can make it and there are people that are supporting them and caring about them, whether that be their grandparent, father, uncle or whoever is in their life. As long as there's a male figure," Chatman said.

Similar marches were held coast-to-coast.