http://pbcommercial.com/sections/news/local/coalition-rallies-black-farmers-remembers-civil-rights-leader.html
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7:54 pm - June 12, 2013 — Updated: 8:15 pm - June 12, 2013Coalition rallies for black farmers, remembers civil rights leader
Dale Charles, state chair of the Arkansas NAACP, speaks during the rally held on the steps of Pine Bluff City Hall as part of the remembrance of the death of Civil Rights leader Medgar Evers and to garner support for the plight of black farmers Wednesday. (Special to The Commercial/William Harvey)By Michael S. Lee
Of The Commercial StaffA coalition of groups gathered on the north steps of City Hall Wednesday to rally in support of the continuing search for justice by black farmers and black employees of the United States Department of Agriculture and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassination of civil rights leader Medgar Evers.
The coalition brought together Arkansas Delta Agricultural Enterprise Cooperative Inc., the Independent Black Farmers and the USDA Coalition of Minority Employees.
Organizer Michael McCray said that Pine Bluff was chosen as the site of the rally in part because a major class-action discrimination lawsuit was brought against the USDA by local employee Beverly Burkett.
"Ms. Burkett worked for the USDA in Pine Bluff and Star City," ADAECI board member Irma Preston said. "On June 4, 2013, she was ordered to clear out her desk and to leave her office and not come back and was placed on administrative leave. This came after she filed a discrimination lawsuit against the USDA. This is an example of how the USDA retaliates against its employees. The struggle for justice is very much alive and well. Such practices shall not be tolerated."
Members of the Independent Black Farmers group came from as far away as Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma and Mississippi to get their message out.
Black farmers lawsuits
Black farmers filed suit against the USDA in the late 1990s alleging systemic discrimination based on race that in some cases led to the confiscation of farms by the federal government.
"There is a false perception out there that all of the black farmer cases against the federal government have been settled but that is not true," McCray said. "Many of them fell through the cracks and are still fighting to this day for justice."
When asked if allegations of widespread fraud within the Pigford I and Pigford II class action discrimination lawsuits filed on behalf of black farmers against the USDA were distracting from legitimate grievances, McCray said that this was true to some degree.
"There is no truth to anyone trying to discredit the legitimate complaints of many black farmers against the federal government," McCray said. "There is always some fraud in class-action suits like this and believe me, the crooks should go to jail. That also includes those within the government who have done wrong."
Muhammad Robbalaa is a farmer from southeast Oklahoma.
"When it comes to the discrimination that we are fighting against, some of us are still talking about it as a matter of civil rights but we should be calling it an issue of human rights," Robbalaa said. "Farmers were the first people that God praised. If not for the farmers, nobody would be fed. Black folks need land. Without land we are a stateless people and that makes us slaves. Farming is in our blood. Black farmers have not had any justice. We can't farm if the USDA doesn't treat us right. They have put us out of farming."
Leroy Smith is a farmer from Cary, Miss.
"I have been dealing with discrimination by the USDA since 1991," Smith said. "I am a Vietnam veteran and have served my country in the National Guard. I love this country like anyone else so why is it that I have been discriminated against simply because of the color of my skin? I never thought that I would still be having to deal with this type of thing."
Smith said that he attempted to file for a USDA farm loan in 1992 after starting a small farm the year before, and was denied after he was told the agency had no copy of his tax return.
"I tried to file again in 1993 and was denied again," Smith said. "In 1994 I filed a discrimination claim against the USDA."
Smith said that he had 1,740 acres of farm land in 1993 and ended up losing all of it due to the actions of the USDA.
"I filed for bankruptcy in 2005 and the judge discharged my debt," Smith said. "But three years later, the USDA sent me a collection letter on those debts. This was just harassment and discrimination."
Federal attention sought
Smith said that he wanted to see President Barack Obama show more leadership on the issue.
"The President says that the buck stops with him so why won't he straighten out this mess?" Smith asked. "We want the President to send someone from the White House to discuss these issues with us. Why doesn't he settle it?"
Michael Stovall from Town Creek, Ala., and Robert R. Binion from Clanton, Ala., are farmers who lost their land due to what they allege are discriminatory actions taken by the USDA.
"I was the fourth plaintiff in the first Pigford lawsuit," Binion said. "I used to have 1,000 peach trees and 30 acres of watermelon. We are independent because others have let us down. We need to come together as blacks and Muslims and any whites who agree with us to make sure that this gets settled once and for all."
Ferrell Oden of Birmingham, Ala., owned a catfish and beef cattle farm before USDA actions allegedly resulted in the loss of his business.
"I filed a discrimination suit after a two and a half year investigation," Oden said. "The settlement the USDA offered me was not a fair settlement but the judge told me and my attorney that the USDA did me a favor and that I should be thankful that I was discriminated against. When I refused the offer the USDA sent the Alabama Department of Human Services to close me down. It didn't work. The judge told me I was entitled to injunctive relief but denied it because they said I was going to enter into a financial windfall with the settling of the lawsuit. It amazed me that the judge thought this discrimination would end up being a good thing for me."
Evers remembered
Dale Charles, state chair of the Arkansas National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, spoke about the life and assassination of civil rights leader Medgar Evers in Jackson, Miss., on June 12, 1963.
"Medgar Evers served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II, yet he found upon returning home that his skin color was still a deterrent," Charles said. "He was working to achieve voter registration for African Americans at the time he was assassinated. Today we are here to pay homage to Medgar Evers as well as to the black farmers who are long overdue to get their justice in a court of law in America. We know that fight with the USDA is not easy and that is long standing. We must continue to fight and have the fortitude and courage that Medgar Evers had attempting to bring equality to all Americans."
Jaleel Muhammad of the Nation of Islam spoke of his group's support for the goals of the black farmers.Rules for posting comments
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Thanks!Linda Epstein
Showing posts with label whistleblowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label whistleblowers. Show all posts
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Coalition rallies for black farmers,remeners civil rights leader
Sunday, July 1, 2012
War On Whistlblower's,Women,Freedom of the Press,Americans
I ask You, why would the USDA pay out so many tax $(your tax$) to fight against their employees that do wrong?
Why would they allow sexual harassment of the women in the Forest Service? Why Fire a Native American Woman/Mother/Fire Fighter, because she was accosted on the job, when she turned in a complaint and then went Washington DC on her own dime, to tell Senator Grassley at the Whistleblower Summit
held last week in the Senate Judiciary Room 226. She was Retaliated and Fired yesterday!
God Given Rights, Human Rights, Civil Rights, American Rights, Native American Rights,Freedom
Of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Constitutional Rights, Bill of Rights, There is a War on All of our Rights, even the rights to hold a job with out fear of being raped, being Retaliated and Reprized against.
The Coalition of Minority USDA Employees and Farmer's, and Are Standing Up for these Women Whistleblowers who took part in the Whistlebower Summit and 10th Anniversary of the Passing of the NO FEAR Bill.
Sec of Ag Tom Vilsack refused to meet with these Women while they were in Washington DC on their own dime and time, some of the women has complaints that are decades old, and should be resolved immediately!
Poster Child for the Women For Region 5 Forest Service and Award Winner of a Pillar Award given by event sponsor Pacifica Radio for her Courage to be a Whistleblower at the No Fear Whistleblower Summit. Upon her return to California Ms Dabeny was Retaliated and Reprized Against, She lost her Job with USDA Forest Service Region 5, Yesterday.
As a witness to her testimony at this Summit last week and a Whistlblower myself, I Demand that President Obama and his Administration Prove that he doesn't t have a War On Women and a War on Whistlblower's and bring these Women back to Washington with their Mediator's Coalition of USDA Minority Employees and Farmer's and do a Fair and Equitable Settlement
with these Women Whistlblower's who took part in the Summit looking for Redress of the Wrongs Committed against them.
by: melissa seaver of Scottsburg, Indiana c/o Landrightsnfarming
Monday, May 7, 2012
FW: Check out OpEdNews - Article: Whistleblowers Unite to Fight Obama's War ...
FYI: If You want a great compilation of what has been going with the Good Fight against the USDA and the Administration foe its Blatant Abuse(s)against Farmer's, USDA Minority Employees,Socially Disadvantaged,Defrauded,Elderly,Handicapped,WOMEN,and the Oppressed : What You Will Find Is:Efforts To Force Light Upon: Land Theft, Physical Abuses(Sexual Harassment, and Rape of Female Employees) Retaliation against (Physical and Mental Abuses towards )Farmers and their Families For using their Rights for Due Process, EEOC, and Civil Rights Complaints with the Collaboration,Collusion and Coercion, between inter-agencies, and inter- government(Federal,State,and Local Levels) .While a Few try to help victim's tell the Truth of what is happening and shedding light on the subject(s) and these here are just a few of the instances across the Country. some have been imprisoned and some have"died" trying to get the help they were entitled. Some are still fighting The Good Fight for what is Right.Hats off to these brave people doing the Good Work Fighting The Good Fight, Shedding the Light And Asking For Accountability for "Those" Who Plan and those who Act or Have Acted In Unlawful Towards People, their Jobs, Homes, Farms, Families, & Their Lives, Hindering , Their Basic RightsAfforded them By The Constitution, The Bill of Rights, and Our Creator authorized Rights To :Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness.-Melissa Seaver- LandRightsNFarming-Native Farm Wife m. Jerry Seaver Sr.-Descendant of these Great AmericansGeorge Mason IV "founding father, Father of the Bill of RightsPocahontas(Matoaka) Lady Rebecca Rolfe m. John RolfeSquire BooneChief Great Eagle, Chief Red Bird,Chief Powhatan " Wahunsanocock" m. winanuske Nonoma
Sent: 5/6/2012 10:01:12 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Check out OpEdNews - Article: Whistleblowers Unite to Fight Obama's War on Wo
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Requesting Interviews Concerning Farm Service Agency Fraud Waste and Abuse?
Anyone who has something to contribute to an article concerning Fraud Waste and Abuse by the Farm Service Agency of the USDA or any alphabetical soup Sister agency, administration, organization,etc.
please email : landrightsnfarming.seamom89@gmail.com
please email : landrightsnfarming.seamom89@gmail.com
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Re: FINAL-- Looks Good
On Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 11:18 AM, <LawrLCL@aol.com> wrote:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TUESDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2011LAWRENCE LUCAS, 856/ 910-2399LESA DONNELLY, 530/ 365-3456MICHAEL STOVALL, 256/ 690-1752"FILIBUSTER FOR JUSTICE"USDA COALITION OF MINORITY EMPLOYEES & MINORITY FARMERSOn Tuesday, October 4, 2011, a group of peaceful law abiding American citizens, consisting of present and former U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) employees, minority farmers and advocates, will gather to "Filibuster for Justice". The event will take place in front of USDA: "The Last Plantation", between 12th & 14th Streets SW, Jefferson Drive (on the mall side), and Washington DC. The kick-off will begin at 12:00 noon.The daily demonstration is being conducted because the now Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, who was appointed by President Obama, has for more than two years refused to meet with the group to discuss their more than twenty-five "civil rights issues and concerns." The USDA Coalition of Minority Employees (The Coalition) and minority farmers are requesting Secretary Vilsack to immediately meet and properly address the decade long racism, sexism, sexual assaults, bullying, racial epithet (hangman's nooses, use of the "N" word, the justifying of a monkey doll award to Black employees), reprisals, intimidation, hostile work environment, and other widespread abuses against USDA employees and minority farmers.The group will ask President Obama to promptly intervene and bring this long history of widespread discrimination to an end and not continue to "put a bandage on a cancer". We want USDA top officials held "accountable", and the USDA Office of Civil Rights....administration and process, put in "receivership."The filibuster will also petition Congressional Oversight Committees and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, to exercise their fiduciary and other responsibilities to end abuses at USDA. President after president, congress after congress, republicans and democrats, have far too long silently observed USDA's behavior from a distance, at the pain and suffering of USDA employees and minority farmers. Despite requests made by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa and The USDA Coalition of Minority Employees, the Senate Agriculture Committee has failed to hold full committee hearings."We will "Filibuster for Justice" daily and non-stop, in front of USDA, until this administration brings this plantation culture at USDA to an end," said Lawrence Lucas, President, of the USDA Coalition of Minority Employees."He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it".Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.This is not a political event....nor designed to target any political party or candidateEND
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Freedom of Speech,Censorship,Opressions of Freedom,Don't Tread On Me!
Freedom Of Speech, Violating A Funeral of a Soldier(a funeral is not for the dead, but for the family of the dead to grieve) every soldier is someones, child,brother,sister,dad,mom,uncle,aunt,grandpa,grandma....When you die, you are asking for these people to come to your [childs] funeral, and heckle you while you grieve and to pretend you are doing it in the name of God, how foolish you are!
Censorship, freedom of speech,right to farm,Your rights, end when they tread on my rights, or the rights of your neighbor.
The soldiers and the press they do a job, the soldier to keep your freedoms, and the press to inform you of news for or against those freedoms, to live in a free way!
When you take the live links or access away from the people to be informed you are
violating that freedom of speech and the right to be aware of situations that effect themselves.
Oppression, Is not your right because, it treads on me, and your neighbor, therefore, you will see more fights in the Courts, the Senate, Congress, and elsewhere that freedom can prevail.
The Watchers will be watched, and the people have always been noted to be a peaceful
revolutionary people that is how we won our Independence in the first place!
Push only comes to shove when you push out of bounds to begin with, by overstepping
your authorities and being despicable!
Censorship, freedom of speech,right to farm,Your rights, end when they tread on my rights, or the rights of your neighbor.
The soldiers and the press they do a job, the soldier to keep your freedoms, and the press to inform you of news for or against those freedoms, to live in a free way!
When you take the live links or access away from the people to be informed you are
violating that freedom of speech and the right to be aware of situations that effect themselves.
Oppression, Is not your right because, it treads on me, and your neighbor, therefore, you will see more fights in the Courts, the Senate, Congress, and elsewhere that freedom can prevail.
The Watchers will be watched, and the people have always been noted to be a peaceful
revolutionary people that is how we won our Independence in the first place!
Push only comes to shove when you push out of bounds to begin with, by overstepping
your authorities and being despicable!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
FW: new Ex order, marshal law
Hey People...
Things are starting to heat up and it's time to pay very close attention to what's going on not only in Government but also in what the local police and sheriff's departments may try and do, watch out for road blocks or checkpoints and if you can stockpile fuel, food and ammo do so. Remember the de facto government is not your friend, it never was and never will be. Be peaceful in all interactions you have with any of the de facto as they will use any excuse to lock you, the dissident, up without benefit of trial and for as long as possible. Make sure you tell family and friends where you are going and how long you're going to be there, call in often to let them know your status. We can get through this if we use our heads, keep a low profile and be ready to move as one if the time comes, pay attention to who is in your neighborhoods as strangers are not your friends.
Russ
-------- Original Message --------
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 12:56:18 -0800
From: cornmash008@yahoo.com
Subject: Fw: new Ex order, marshal law
To: mompookie@hotmail.com; wolf567a@gmail.com; restore_it_now@yahoo.com; forever2again@centurylink.net; eddie_messer@yahoo.com; Soldiersaint@sbcglobal.net; bornedaneagle@yahoo.com; itconstitutional@aol.com; rudithomas1011@yahoo.com; terri4truth@gmail.com; drterrylyn@yahoo.com; tonykeyhorses@yahoo.com; abonnie@pacbell.net; angusfarms@hotmail.com; addinquir@aol.com; poolworld90@yahoo.com; henjowil@gmail.com; jimstrees@yahoo.com; justice0927@sbcglobal.net; mentor2@gmail.com; michaelkohnen@hotmail.com
Things are starting to heat up and it's time to pay very close attention to what's going on not only in Government but also in what the local police and sheriff's departments may try and do, watch out for road blocks or checkpoints and if you can stockpile fuel, food and ammo do so. Remember the de facto government is not your friend, it never was and never will be. Be peaceful in all interactions you have with any of the de facto as they will use any excuse to lock you, the dissident, up without benefit of trial and for as long as possible. Make sure you tell family and friends where you are going and how long you're going to be there, call in often to let them know your status. We can get through this if we use our heads, keep a low profile and be ready to move as one if the time comes, pay attention to who is in your neighborhoods as strangers are not your friends.
Russ
-------- Original Message --------
| Subject: | FW: Post |
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| Date: | Mon, 28 Feb 2011 09:32:40 -0800 |
| From: | |
| To: |
Ok guys. This is getting real now. Put your seat belt and look at this executive order done fri 8pm that missed the media. We are under martial law and he used Libya as the alibi which is no threat. It was Wisconsin and the unions. We are seated for the play to begin. This is act one and we had the curtain call Friday 8PM and the curtain is being drawn up this week. Obama is calling all the governors in for a meeting using some emergency powers he gave them in Jan. They are beyond scared. Source is Whitehouse website (I know they are accomplished lairs but you get the point <smile>: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/02/25/executive-order-libya The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release February 25, 2011 Executive Order--Libya EXECUTIVE ORDER BLOCKING PROPERTY AND PROHIBITING CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS RELATED TO LIBYA By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) (NEA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, find that Colonel Muammar Qadhafi, his government, and close associates have taken extreme measures against the people of Libya, including by using weapons of war, mercenaries, and wanton violence against unarmed civilians. I further find that there is a serious risk that Libyan state assets will be misappropriated by Qadhafi, members of his government, members of his family, or his close associates if those assets are not protected. The foregoing circumstances, the prolonged attacks, and the increased numbers of Libyans seeking refuge in other countries from the attacks, have caused a deterioration in the security of Libya and pose a serious risk to its stability, thereby constituting an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, and I hereby declare a national emergency to deal with that threat. I hereby order: Section 1. All property and interests in property that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person, including any overseas branch, of the following persons are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in: (a) the persons listed in the Annex to this order; and (b) any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State: (i) to be a senior official of the Government of Libya; (ii) to be a child of Colonel Muammar Qadhafi; (iii) to be responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, or to have participated in, the commission of human rights abuses related to political repression in Libya; (iv) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of the activities described in subsection (b)(iii) of this section or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; (v) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or (vi) to be a spouse or dependent child of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order. Sec. 2. All property and interests in property that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person, including any overseas branch, of the Government of Libya, its agencies, instrumentalities, and controlled entities, and the Central Bank of Libya, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in. Sec. 3. For those persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, I find that because of the ability to transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render those measures ineffectual. I therefore determine that for these measures to be effective in addressing the national emergency declared in this order, there need be no prior notice of a listing or determination made pursuant to section 1 of this order. Sec. 4. I hereby determine that, to the extent section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) may apply, the making of donations of the type of articles specified in such section by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of this order would seriously impair my ability to deal with the national emergency declared in this order, and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided by sections 1 and 2 of this order. Sec. 5. The prohibitions in sections 1 and 2 of this order include but are not limited to: (a) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; and (b) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. Sec. 6. The prohibitions in sections 1 and 2 of this order apply except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the effective date of this order. Sec. 7. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the United States that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited. (b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited. Sec. 8. Nothing in this order shall prohibit transactions for the conduct of the official business of the Federal Government by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof. Sec. 9. For the purposes of this order: (a) the term "person" means an individual or entity; (b) the term "entity" means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization; and (c) the term "United States person" means any United States citizen or national, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States. Sec. 10. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any of these functions to other officers and agencies of the United States Government consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order. Sec. 11. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to determine that circumstances no longer warrant the blocking of the property and interests in property of a person listed in the Annex to this order, and to take necessary action to give effect to that determination. Sec. 12. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to submit the recurring and final reports to the Congress on the national emergency declared in this order, consistent with section 401(c) of the NEA (50 U.S.C. 1641(c)) and section 204(c) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1703(c)). Sec. 13. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. Sec. 14. This order is effective at 8:00 p.m. eastern standard time on February 25, 2011. BARACK OBAMA THE WHITE HOUSE, February 25, 2011.
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 12:56:18 -0800
From: cornmash008@yahoo.com
Subject: Fw: new Ex order, marshal law
To: mompookie@hotmail.com; wolf567a@gmail.com; restore_it_now@yahoo.com; forever2again@centurylink.net; eddie_messer@yahoo.com; Soldiersaint@sbcglobal.net; bornedaneagle@yahoo.com; itconstitutional@aol.com; rudithomas1011@yahoo.com; terri4truth@gmail.com; drterrylyn@yahoo.com; tonykeyhorses@yahoo.com; abonnie@pacbell.net; angusfarms@hotmail.com; addinquir@aol.com; poolworld90@yahoo.com; henjowil@gmail.com; jimstrees@yahoo.com; justice0927@sbcglobal.net; mentor2@gmail.com; michaelkohnen@hotmail.com
--- On Tue, 3/1/11, Meredith <meredith2729@yahoo.com> wrote:
|
FW: JPMorgan Fighting 10,000 Lawsuits: FILE! FILE! FILE!
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 12:29:30 -0800
From: cornmash008@yahoo.com
Subject: Fw: JPMorgan Fighting 10,000 Lawsuits: FILE! FILE! FILE!
To: terri4truth@gmail.com; rudithomas1011@yahoo.com; drterrylyn@yahoo.com; tonykeyhorses@yahoo.com; restore_it_now@yahoo.com; eddie_messer@yahoo.com; bornedaneagle@yahoo.com; abonnie@pacbell.net; Soldiersaint@sbcglobal.net; poolworld90@yahoo.com; henjowil@gmail.com; jimstrees@yahoo.com; angusfarms@hotmail.com; addinquir@aol.com; meredith2729@yahoo.com; mompookie@hotmail.com
--- On Tue, 3/1/11, Private Attorney General <justice0927@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
|
Sunday, February 6, 2011
FW: Open Letter: To Tom Vilsack, USDA Secretary of Agriculture,Feb 4, 2011
From: LawrLCL@aol.com
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2011 01:22:02 -0500
Subject: Fwd: Open Letter: To Tom Vilsack, USDA Secretary of Agriculture,Feb 4, 2011
To: angusfarms@hotmail.com
Sent: 2/4/2011 6:41:49 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Open Letter: To Tom Vilsack, USDA Secretary of Agriculture,Feb 4, 2011
The Honorable Secretary Thomas J. VilsackUnited States Department of Agriculture1400 Independence Avenue, SWWashington, DC 20250February 4, 2011AN OPEN LETTER TO SECRETARY VILSACKDear Secretary Vilsack:In May 2008, Lawrence Lucas, President of the USDA Coalition of Minority Employees (The Coalition) and I testified before congress for the Committee of Government Oversight and Reform, Adolphus Towns, Chairman. Our testimonies addressed egregious civil rights violations of women and others, especially in the Forest Service. In April 2009, I sent you a letter advising of serious and pervasive civil rights violations occurring in the Forest Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). I shared my concern about the long-term obstructionist officials that would undermine your new Civil Rights Initiative. In July 26, 2010, I sent you a similar letter also discussing the dysfunctional USDA civil rights program. During that time, I've sent dozens of emails to your staff advising of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, work place violence and other abuses. Little-to-no action has been taken to address these issues.From September 2010, through December 2010, The Coalition participated in several meetings with your staff, including Chief of Staff Karen Ross; Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan; Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Joe Leonard; Under Secretary Harris Sherman; Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary Doug O'Brien; HR Deputy Director Billy Milton; Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell; Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Edward Avalos, and others, to discuss civil rights problems and solutions. In addition, in October 2010, Lawrence Lucas provided your staff a letter with twenty-five civil rights issues and a formal request to jointly develop solutions and resolve the identified problems. In November, 2010, I provided Karen Ross a letter identifying incidents of harassment, discrimination, workplace violence, stalking, threats, intimidation, retaliation, and workplace bullying, in addition to matters of high level officials engaging in waste, fraud, and abuse.I think it is evident that the Coalition has diligently attempted to communicate issues, concerns, and solutions to USDA during your tenure as Secretary of Agriculture. And yet, to this date we have seen little-to-no correction of these problems. Employees we identified in 2008, 2009, and 2010, are still being harassed and retaliated against. Not one offender has been held properly accountable. Repeat offenders continue the abuse. Many employees have still not been allowed mediation of EEO complaints. ADR resolving officials use retaliation tactics such as demotions and coerced retirements. Policies and procedures are used to the benefit of favored sons and daughters, and the detriment of others. High level officials abuse their authority for personal gain. There has been no visible "Transformation" that you have promised us.The Coalition has appreciated your staff meeting with us to discuss issues. Yet, there has been no visible action as a result of the meetings. Of particular concern has been the Coalition's discussions with Joe Leonard. The past two meetings were unproductive and actually quite disturbing due to Dr. Leonard's unprofessional behavior. The January 2010 meeting had been predetermined to be a discussion of the twenty-five action items prepared by The Coalition. Lawrence Lucas, Ron Cotton, and I attended. The meeting was reduced to raised voices and insults from Dr. Leonard. He started the meeting by stating he would not discuss our issues and concerns, flatly refusing to speak with us if I participated in the meeting via tele-conferencing. He focused on why The Coalition would not give him credit for "his" accomplishments. Our few meetings with Dr. Leonard have been non-productive and lacked substance. We do not believe this behavior is representative of your desire to work in cooperation and partnership with The Coalition. Unfortunately, Karen Ross insisted that we continue to work with Dr. Leonard despite the inability to have a productive meeting. I believe intervention is necessary to correct this matter.Of greatest concern, and one of the main reasons for writing this letter is the recent alleged investigation conducted by your staff and the Forest Service. In December, Billy Milton advised Lawrence Lucas, Ron Cotton, and I, that you, Mr. Secretary had directed him, via Pearlie Reed to conduct an investigation based on my allegations of serious Forest Service civil rights violations. I was asked to speak with an investigator. I agreed and gave a sworn, signed affidavit discussing multiple incidents, employee names, and examples of dysfunctional personnel/civil rights processes. In my affidavit I stated that there were numerous other employees waiting to speak with an investigator, yet I was the only person interviewed. The investigator said he was told that my affidavit would be used to start a personnel misconduct investigation. During the week of January 10, 2011, new investigators interviewed some of the employees identified in my affidavit. However, an investigation was not conducted. It was an informal inquiry. Unlike myself, employees were not placed under oath and did not provide signed affidavits. Employees were not permitted to see or confirm the statements made to the investigator. Many employees informed me that they were not allowed to provide information regarding their issues. Statements in my affidavit were read to the employees and they were asked to confirm whether my statement was true. This is highly unconventional. A few weeks before the inquiry, Mr. Milton told me the agency was waiting to complete the upcoming "investigation" to determine how to settle one woman's EEO case. He reiterated this during the December 20, 2010, meeting with Harris Sherman and Tom Tidwell. However, when the investigator interviewed the woman she was told it was, "just an inquiry" and she did not want specific details. It is readily apparent that there was little motivation by your staff to gather substantial and factual information about the alleged Forest Service civil rights violations.On more than one occasion Mr. Milton characterized the Forest Service investigation as being directed by you because you were serious about the Transformation, very concerned about the continual civil rights problems and complaints in the Forest Service, and you wanted an investigation based on my allegations as a first step to correcting the problem. If this is true, your staff did not follow this direction. Not permitting employees to provide statements undermines the entire investigative process. Reading my sworn statement to employees to check its veracity is an investigation of me, not the employees' complaints. This action is not unlike the situation that occurred in 2010, when top Obama officials in your administration (one, said to be Pearlie Reed) falsely charged five African American women in the Office of Civil Rights with divulging information regarding farmer cases. During the investigation, a substantial number of questions were asked about their relationship with Lawrence Lucas, i.e. an investigation of Mr. Lucas. These incidents are too similar to go unnoticed. It is not unreasonable to question why I, a non-employee was asked to provide a sworn statement with hearsay information, but the complainants themselves were not permitted to give sworn statements or discuss the civil rights violations they incurred or observed first-hand.Prior to the inquiry, Billy Milton had been amiable, communicative, and told me I could call him with any questions or concerns. So I contacted Mr. Milton on February 1, 2011, to gain insight on the inquiry matter. Unfortunately, Mr. Milton was hostile and rude from the beginning. He implied I was lying when I told him employees were not permitted to discuss their issues and were instead asked to verify my statement. He told me the investigation was not my concern and abruptly hung up. His attitude convinced me that little good will come of the inquiry.Mr. Secretary, I am now compelled to insure you are provided with accurate information regarding the civil rights violations of USDA employees, and the waste, fraud, and abuse committed by some of your officials. We will provide you a substantial number of notarized affidavits from Forest Service employees. It is my hope that someone in the Obama administration will understand the disturbing situation and see that action must be taken to address USDA's widespread civil rights problems.While we have been coming to the meetings with your staff in good faith to discuss problems and identify solutions, it is evident that some of your staff's intentions have been nefarious. Apparently, their goal is to undermine our attempts to assist you with your Transformation to make the USDA a place of respect, dignity, and equal opportunity for all employees. Mr. Secretary, as I stated in my 2009 letter, officials who are obstructionist make your work harder. They create Shirley Sherrod scenarios. If the Forest Service situation is not addressed, it is quite possible you will have another Sherrod situation on your hands in the near future. In fact, at this point it seems inevitable.On a more positive note, I have seen a glimmer of action occurring in Region 5. Mr. Moore has recently taken steps (albeit baby steps) to correct a couple of egregious situations. He has also requested our assistance to work with him on some important issues. I am hopeful he will receive your support to continue in this direction. My reasonable concern is that certain personnel may undermine our efforts. I ask for your oversight on this situation.Secretary Vilsack, for almost two years The Coalition has been requesting a meeting with you. I think it has become more important than ever to meet and resolve the identified problems. Please feel free to contact either Lawrence or me if you wish to discuss matters in this letter.Sincerely,/s/Lesa L. DonnellyVice-President, USDA Coalition of Minority Employeescc: The White HousePresident Barack ObamaValerie JarrettSenator Charles GrassleyLawrence Lucas, President, USDA Coalition of Minority EmployeesRon Cotton, Senior Advisor, USDA Coalition of Minority EmployeesKathleen MerriganKrysta HardenPearlie ReedHarris ShermanDr. Joe LeonardEdward AvalosTom TidwellCoalition Membership
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