City Councilwoman Inez Barron held a rally yesterday to call on the public to pressure other City Council members to select a black person for the role of City Council speaker.

Barron, at the rally at the House of Lord Church on Atlantic Avenue, said, "I'm doing this for the people coming behind me. I'm doing it for my sons, my grandsons. I'm doing it for the people who feel they have been marginalized. No one hears their voice. They're never going to count. I'm doing it to say yes you do.“

According to reports, City Councilman Corey Johnson, who represents the west side of Manhattan, appears to have secured enough support to win the race for speaker.

City Council is slated to vote next month to replace Melissa Mark-Viverito, who is forced out of the speaker role due to term limits.