From: <LawrLCL@aol.com>
Date: Tue, Feb 15, 2011 at 12:09 AM
Subject: Fwd: COALITION SUPPORTS BLACK FARMERS, WASHINGTON DC ,15 FEBRUARY 2010
To: landrightsnfarming@gmail.com, landrightsnfarming.seamom89@gmail.com
COALITION SUPPORTS BLACK FARMERS, WASHINGTON DC , 15 FEBRUARY 2010Statement - Lawrence C. Lucas, President, USDA Coalition=of Minority Employees
I am here today to offer my and The Coalition of Minority Employees (The Coalition) ongoing support for Dr. John W. Boyd and the Black farmers of this Nation. While The Coalition works primarily with USDA employees, not farmers, we embraced the cause of the Black farmers fifteen years ago. At that time, I promised Dr. Boyd that whenever he needed the Coalition (as long as I was president), that the Coalition would support the farmers. I have waited for years for this settlement, yet it is "bittersweet." As I watched the news the night that the settlement was signed, I had a very empty feeling. We've fought all this time, but we still have not solved the institutional bigotry and racism that minorities – not just African Americans, but women farmers, Native American farmers, as well as Hispanic farmers – are still suffering at the hands of the USDA.
Despite President Barack Obama's signing landmark civil rights legislation into law on December 8, 2010, providing $1.15 billion to 75,000 Black farmers, Black farmers seeking justice for decades of discrimination still face significant hurdles. Confusion over the settlement and the claims process could leave thousands of Black farmers out in the cold.
On February 15, 2011, 1 p.m. at the National Press Building, Dr. John W. Boyd, President and Founder of the National Black Farmers Association, will offer an update on how the settlement is moving ahead, including a look at the cases of individual farmers with an eye toward next steps to propel progress. The settlement is designed to remedy decades of discrimination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
We are now compelled to insure that the press is provided with accurate information regarding USDA's civil rights violations and the waste, fraud, and abuse committed by some USDA officials. It is my hope that someone in the Obama administration will understand the disturbing situation and see that action must be taken immediately to address USDA's widespread civil rights problems involving employees and farmers.
