End Racial Profiling Act of 2007

(fresh from the Washington Post)
Friday, December 14, 2007; Page A25

Anti-Racial-Profiling Bill Is Introduced on the Hill

A black congressman who alleges that he was racially profiled by Chicago police last month pushed yesterday for legislation that would ban the practice.

Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) called racial profiling "one of the most sinister issues that exists in American life."


In November, two white officers pulled Davis over and gave him a traffic ticket alleging that he swerved over the center line, which Davis denied doing. The real reason he was pulled over, Davis asserted, was that he and three other black men were in a car on a deserted street after midnight. "Ultimately, I was actually ticketed because I was driving while being black," he said.

Monique Bond, a spokeswoman for the Chicago police, said the department is still investigating Davis's allegations. She said the department stands by a statement issued by Interim Police Superintendent Dana Starks, who said last month that the department does not condone racial profiling, and that the congressman was "stopped on probable cause and issued a citation for violating a traffic law."

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced the End Racial Profiling Act of 2007, joined by Davis and Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.). The bill would ban federal, state and local law enforcement agencies from using racial profiling, such as "relying, to any degree, on race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion" during investigative activities.

Black Youth Vote! 2007 Civic Leadership Conference PHOTOS!

Here is the link to the album!


http://picasaweb.google.com/jmthierry/BlackYouthVote2007CivicLeadershipConference

Black Women Needed in Breast Cancer Research

Urban Radio Aids in Getting Black Women Registered for Sister Study – But More Needed
Date: Sunday, October 28, 2007
By: Jackie Jones, BlackAmericaWeb.com

The Sister Study, a national study that is examining the impact environment and genes may have in getting breast cancer, is nearing its goal of getting 5,000 black women to participate, but more are needed.

The study needs 50,000 women by the end of the year before research can begin, and researchers want at least 5,000 black women to participate to make the study statistically relevant. As of last week, more than 3,600 black women had signed up, according to Carrissa Dixon, a recruiter for the effort.

“It’s really going great,” Dixon told BlackAmericaWeb.com, adding that about 1,700 black women have signed up since hearing about the study on the "Tom Joyner Morning Show."

“The power of urban radio has definitely been proven in this study,” Dixon said.

Black women are less likely than white women to get breast cancer, but when they do, they are more likely to die -- especially women under 50 years of age.

A study published last June in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported black women under the age of 50 have a 77 percent higher mortality rate from breast cancer than other women of the same age.

The study, led by scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill schools of Public Health and Medicine and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, said that younger, pre-menopausal black women are more prone to an especially aggressive type of cancer.


According to the American Cancer Society booklet, Cancer Facts: Seven Figures for African-Americans 2007-2008, “Factors that contribute to the higher death rates among African-American women include differences in access to and utilization of early detection and treatment, risk factors that are differentially distributed by race or socio-economic status, or biological differences associated with race.”

But it’s not just a matter of access to health care. Even after accounting for income and access to strong health care, “Poorer outcomes among African-American women persist. ... There is also evidence that aggressive tumor characteristics are more common in African-American women than white women.”

Dixon said without data on black women, researchers won’t be able to determine why black women are disproportionately affected at a younger age and why their mortality rate is higher.

“We know there are a lot more women out there who are eligible who have not responded,” Dixon said. “We’re all caught up in the concept of breast cancer research, doing all the walks and the shopping to raise money, but research is not research without data. We've just got tp get further. It’s not enough to write a check to breast cancer. The researchers can’t do anything with that money without data.”

Researchers are looking for women in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, ages 35 to 74, who never have had breast cancer but have a sister who has. The study seeks women from all races, ethnicities, geographic locations, occupations and socio-economic backgrounds.

The study requires participants to answer a questionnaire, provide urine, blood, hair and nail samples, as well as dust samples from home.

Over the 10-year course of the study, researchers will check in periodically to monitor changes in participants’ health, lifestyle and occupation. All personal information is kept confidential.

The Sister Study is not a clinical trial. Participants will not be asked to make changes in their daily lives; there are no test results.

Dixon said the researchers have committed to waiting until they get the numbers of minority women needed for the study, although the deadline for getting 50,000 women signed up is at the end of the year.

“We will probably reach 50,000 before we get the 5,000,” Dixon said. “We’re not going to stop at 50,000. We’re committed to go beyond the 50,000 through the middle of next year, if necessary,” to ensure at least 5,000 black women participate.

Genarlow Wilson freed

Genarlow Wilson released
Georgia Supreme Court rules his sentence was cruel and unusual

By TAMMY JOYNER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 10/26/07
Genarlow Wilson walked out of prison a free man today, ending a case that drew national umbrage over a state law that mandated a long sentence after the youth had consensual sex with another teen.

Wilson was released about 5:30 p.m. from the Burruss Correctional Training Facility in this Monroe County city, hours after the Georgia Supreme Court tossed out his 10-year sentence for having had consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17.

As Wilson, now 21, emerged from the prison escorted by two guards, he broke into a wide grin, embraced his mother Juannessa Bennett, picked up his 9-year-old sister Jiaya —who was 4 when the man's ordeal began—and walked to a podium accompanied by his family and attorney, B.J. Bernstein.

"It feels great" to be free, Genarlow said.

Wilson has served 2 years 8 months of a 10-year sentence. He was convicted in February 2005 of aggravated child molestation. The crime carried a mandatory sentence of at least 10 years with no parole.

The law was changed in 2006 to make Wilson's crime a misdemeanor with a maximum 1-year sentence when it involved teenagers within certain age ranges.

"I'd like for people to learn from my situation .... just to know a few miniutes of fun could be a lifetime of hard times," Genarlow said. "It's a whole new beginning. All I can do is start from today."


The Supreme Court on Friday morning ordered Wilson's release, voiding the controversial 10-year sentence he was serving for having consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17. He is now 21.



The court's 4-3 decision upheld a Monroe County judge's ruling that the sentence constituted cruel and unusual punishment under both the Georgia and U.S. constitutions.



The majority opinion said the sentence appeared to be "grossly disproportionate" to the crime and noted that it was out of step with current law.



Wilson was convicted in February 2005 of aggravated child molestation for having oral sex with the girl at a 2003 New Year's Eve party in a hotel room.



The crime carried a mandatory sentence of at least 10 years with no parole. But the law was changed in 2006 to make Wilson's crime a misdemeanor with a maximum 1-year sentence when it involved teenagers within certain age ranges.



That fueled Wilson's legal appeal on grounds that he'd been unfairly sentenced under a law aimed at older offenders.



"Although society has a significant interest in protecting children from premature sexual activity, we must acknowledge that Wilson's crime does not rise to the level of culpability of adults who prey on children ..." wrote Supreme Court Justice Leah Ward Sears in the majority opinion.



She said that "for the law to punish Wilson as it would an adult, with the extraordinarily harsh punishment of 10 years in prison without the possibility of probation or parole, appears to be grossly disproportionate to his crime."



Justice George Carley, in the dissent, said the 2006 change in the law was specifically written so it would not be retroactive. He said "the General Assembly made the express decision that he cannot benefit from the subsequent legislative determination to reduce the sentence for commission of that crime from felony to misdemeanor status."



Carley said the majority opinion showed "unprecedented disregard" for the legislative intent of the law change and creates the potential for releases of "any and all defendants who were ever convicted of aggravated child molestation and sentenced" under circumstances similar to Wilson's.



Wilson's lawyer, B.J. Bernstein, said earlier Friday that she was elated by the ruling.



"We never turned away from the courts," she said. "The Supreme Court issued a wonderful and just decision. We had faith in this all along -- although it took a little longer than we thought it would."



She said Wilson, once released, will do all he can to encourage teenagers to do the right thing.



"Genarlow is going to be committed to talking and working with young people to spread the message that he made a mistake that night and doesn't want it to happen to anyone else," he lawyer said.



In a statement issued Friday, Attorney General Thurbert Baker said he will "respectfully acknowledge" the state Supreme Court's decision.



"I hope the court's decision will also put an end to this issue as a matter of contention in the hearts and minds of concerned Georgians and others across the country who have taken such a strong interest in the case," Baker said.



Baker's office had appealed the ruling by the Monroe County Superior Court judge who overturned Wilson's felony conviction last summer and reduced it to a misdemeanor. That judge's ruling to resentence Wilson to a misdemeanor, "however well-meaning, was unauthorized under Georgia law," Baker said. "It was for this reason that I appealed, in order to (ensure) a fair and consistent application of the law, not just to Mr. Wilson, but to others similarly situated."



In its majority opinion, the state Supreme Court acknowledged that it rarely overturns sentences on grounds that they are cruel and unusual. But the court also noted it has done so twice before following legislative changes. It also said a review of other states showed that most "either would not punish Wilson's conduct at all or would, like Georgia now, punish it as a misdemeanor."



Wilson's case has drawn national attention.



U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Atlanta) said Friday that the state high court "righted a great wrong, an unbelievable wrong. This young man, each day he stayed in prison, was a day too long."



Lewis said he visited Wilson in prison a few months ago. "His head was on straight. He's smart. He realized he had made mistakes. He said, 'Congressman, I'm a good person. I want to get out and make a contribution.'"



Lewis said he will do all he can to make good on a promise to help Wilson after his release from prison.



The Rev. Jesse Jackson and four state legislators held a press conference at the state Capitol on Friday, at which Jackson called for an end to "over-prosecution" of young black men. "Genarlow is a symbol of a a system that's out of control," he said. "We need oversight for prosecutors who abuse their position."



"It looks like we may be near the end for Genarlow, but let me emphasize there are a thousand -- ten thousand -- Genarlows," said state Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta).



Said state Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan (D-Austell): "I'm proud to say that the stain that was on the state of Georgia has been somewhat removed."



Jackson said a service is planned at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ebenezer Baptist Church to celebrate Wilson's release. He also said that his organization, Rainbow/PUSH, will contribute $5,000 to a college scholarship fund for Wilson already started by African-American members of the Legislature. "We want schools to bid to offer him scholarships," Jackson said.



Wilson was arrested following a party also attended by five other male youths. His sex act with the 15-year-old girl was videotaped by one of his friends.



Wilson was also charged with raping a 17-year-old girl at the party but was acquitted of that charge.



Several months after he was convicted of aggravated child molestation, a felony, and given the mandatory 10-year term, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed legislation making consensual sex a misdemeanor between teenagers who were as close in age as Wilson and the 15-year-old.



The Monroe County judge's decision came last June, and the state's appeal by Baker sent the case to the Supreme Court.



Also last summer, Douglas County District Attorney David McDade offered Wilson's attorneys a deal in which he could plead guilty to another felony and get a sentence including 5 years of jail time with credit for two years served. Wilson and his lawyers rejected the deal.



Joining Sears in the majority decision were justices Carol Hunstein, Robert Benham and Hugh Thompson. Joining Carley in the dissent were justices Harris Hines and Harold Melton.



-- Staff writer Jim Galloway contributed to this report.

A Black Woman's Smile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPBH57BWhpE

Washington Post Article on BLACK AMERICA?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/08/AR2007100801324.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Which Black America?

By Eugene Robinson
Tuesday, October 9, 2007; Page A17

What do Fox News polemicist Bill O'Reilly, nappy-headed radio jock Don Imus, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, the leading Republican presidential candidates, the National Urban League, the NAACP and much of the national media have in common?

They don't see, or don't want to admit, that "black America" is an increasingly meaningless concept -- nearly as imprecise as just plain "America."

Why is O'Reilly under siege? Because he was shocked to learn that there exists in this country an upscale black-owned restaurant with an affluent African American clientele. Four or five decades ago, you could reasonably generalize that "black America" was poor. Today, African Americans control nearly $800 billion in annual purchasing power -- enough to dine occasionally at restaurants that have tablecloths.

Why did Imus get fired by CBS and NBC? Because now there are senior black professionals in both of those companies with the clout to march into top executives' offices and argue that Imus had to go. Also because Al Roker, an African American who happens to be one of the stars of "Today" -- often described as the most profitable show in all of television -- called publicly for Imus's head, or at least his cowboy hat.

Why does Thomas, in his pugnacious autobiography, insist that he's being persecuted for holding views that are somehow off-limits to black Americans? Apparently, it would destroy his sense of his own exceptionalism to acknowledge the many African Americans who share his conservative social views and his ethic of personal responsibility and self-help. (He's right, though, that on the subject of affirmative action, most black Americans do think he's nuts.) Why do the leading Republican candidates simply write off the African American vote, even though there's clearly a growing number of black voters who demographically fit the Republican profile? Hasn't the GOP noticed that here in the Washington area -- we're in the vanguard, but other cities are following our lead -- more African Americans live in the suburbs than in the city proper?


The Democratic candidates haven't really broadened their messages to take into account African American economic and cultural diversity, either. But at least they noticed that there now exists a cohort of black Americans with unprecedented wealth and power -- luminaries who are well worth pursuing for money and endorsements, just like their white counterparts. Hillary Clinton has snagged Magic Johnson, Bob Johnson, Quincy Jones and others. Barack Obama has nabbed Oprah Winfrey, who transcends even the rest of the transcendent.

Why does the National Urban League, an organization for which I have great respect, compile its annual "State of Black America" report in a way that makes the condition of African Americans seem both better and worse than it really is? The 2007 report's painstakingly calculated "equality index" says, for example, that African Americans score 0.57 on the economic scale (full parity with whites would be a score of 1.0). But census data suggest that there's a sizable cluster of educated, middle-class black households that would score much closer to parity with whites, and another large cluster of disadvantaged black households that would lag much further behind.

Trying to encompass all of black America in a few easily grasped numbers is far from a meaningless exercise. But it doesn't point the way toward specific policies for different segments of a diverse population.

Why has the NAACP, once such a potent force, lost so much of its membership and relevance? I would argue that it's because the organization continues to look for a "black agenda" around which we can all unite with the fervor and passion of decades past, when in fact there's a need for multiple agendas.

Why do editors, reporters, columnists and television producers keep only two phone numbers on speed dial for use whenever any news breaks concerning a black person? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they shouldn't call the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton for comment -- I like and respect both, and I value what they have to say. But it's a bit much when those same reporters, editors, columnists and producers then proceed to do stories asking who appointed Jackson and Sharpton as spokesmen for all African Americans.

The problem is that we all say we want an "honest dialogue" about race, but we've been having the same old arguments for years -- affirmative action, inner-city dysfunction, overt and covert racism -- and we seem to be stuck. We need a new language, a new vocabulary and syntax.

Let's start by opening our eyes and recognizing that if there ever was a monolithic "black America" -- absolutely and uniformly deprived and aggrieved, with invariant values and attitudes -- there certainly isn't one now.

YOUNG PEOPLE IN LOUISIANA MOCK JENA 6 with MUD-BLACKFACE

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/1002071jena1.html

THE BLACK CAMPAIGN IS HERE!

View this on LiveDigital

Bobby Jones for BLACK VOTER EMPOWERMENT!

View this on LiveDigital

JENA CASE FAR FROM OVER...

(USA TODAY)
By Abbey Brown, The (Alexandria, La.) Town Talk
JENA, La. — Thousands made the journey to Jena on Thursday to show their support for the "Jena Six." While the day may have remained peaceful during the rallies, the days since have been anything but.
First, it was the two teens who were arrested Thursday night after driving a pickup through downtown Alexandria, where ralliers had gathered, with nooses hanging off the back. Both allegedly had been drinking, and a gun and brass knuckles were found in their truck.

The next day, the FBI announced it was keeping tabs on a neo-Nazi activist in Roanoke, Va., who had posted the names and addresses of the Jena Six on his website proclaiming "Lynch the Jena 6," the Roanoke Times reported. William A. White also listed the phone numbers of the six, urging his readers to "Get in touch, and let them know justice is coming."


INVESTIGATION: FBI looking into website with possible Jena 6 information
White — the leader of a Roanoke-based white-supremacist group — has a penchant for inserting inflammatory rhetoric into racially charged incidents that attract national attention, such as the "Jena Six" case, according to the Times.

The "Jena Six" are the six black teens originally charged with attempted murder in connection with the Dec. 4 beating of white Jena High School student Justin Barker.

Barker was knocked unconscious and then kicked by the defendants, according to court documents. He was treated for three hours in a local emergency room, released and that night attended a class ring ceremony with his family.

Tens of thousands of people from across the nation descended Thursday on Jena to rally around the cause of the group, with specific emphasis on Mychal Bell, the only one of the six to have been tried and remain in jail.

Bell was convicted in June of aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to commit the same — the same charges most of the others now face.

Both of his adult convictions have been vacated, one already being tried in the juvenile court system and the other in limbo until LaSalle Parish District Attorney Reed Walters decides whether to appeal.

Bell's attorneys on Friday were hopeful he would be granted bond, but it was denied.

Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups, described White's actions to the Times as "appalling, but it's not surprising."

Gov. Kathleen Blanco issued a statement Saturday condemning White's website, which she deemed as a threat.

"Harassing families involved in the legal issues in Jena can not and will not be tolerated," she said in the statement. "Public attacks on private citizens done out of ignorance and hatred is appalling, and anyone who stoops to such unspeakable persecution will be investigated and subject to the full penalty of law. I have asked law enforcement agencies to investigate this matter, and as governor I will do everything in my power to put a stop to these cowardly threats to Louisiana citizens."

The Rev. Al Sharpton also issued a statement about the posting of contact information for the Jena Six family members.

"Some of the families have received almost around-the-clock calls of threats and harassment since this website appeared, and to think that some person could actually harm or even continue to harass these families with no effort by law enforcement, will further exacerbate the tensions around this case immeasurably," he said. "Since our massive rally, there have been hangmen nooses found in several cities. The escalation has been met with a stubborn silence by officials in Jena, and we feel the governor must send in state law enforcement to investigate these threats and protect the public."

The actions of the teens in Alexandria, White and the hundreds of others who have been harassing the families are disgusting, the Rev. B.L. Moran said. He said Tina Jones, the mother of defendant Bryant Purvis, has been especially rattled by one threatening caller.

"There have been statements made on these websites saying if (Bell) was released that they'd kill everyone that has anything to do with the Jena Six," he said. "It certainly bothers them. It bothers them enough to get in touch with authorities."

The rallies were held to bring peace and unity, not violence or hatred, he said.

"What they stand for is nooses and murder," Moran said of those threatening the families. "All of this is causing not just Jena and the parish trouble, but trouble all over America. Now when you turn on the TV, you see nooses hanging everywhere. And it all started in Jena."

Alan Bean, director of Friends of Justice, said the actions of the teens in the truck and those making threats represent people trying to provoke fear or anger.

"They are sick individuals trying to get attention for themselves and piggyback on such a peaceful, beautiful event," he said. "They wanted to blemish something that was so completely without incident."

The situation in Jena, Bean said, won't be helped by hurling insults back and forth or, even worse, violence.

"Jena has seen enough violence already," he said.

Sharpton said he and Bell's parents, Marcus Jones and Melissa Bell, will meet Tuesday with U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, to seek federal hearings and intervention.

"At the same time, Mychal's attorneys will pursue state remedies for his immediate release," Sharpton said in his statement. "For a judge to refuse to release him after his conviction was overturned is to hold the system of law in contempt and to further display the raw bias that inspired our involvement and participation in this movement around the 'Jena Six' since early this summer."

Sharpton said he and other civil rights leaders and activists will continue their plans for the next "major effort to protest this continued injustice." Those plans, he said, will be announced after Tuesday's meeting.

Jena 6 Rally in DC!

 
 
 
 

JENA 6 RALLY IN DC!

 
 
 
 


Hundreds of concerned people of all races came out yesterday for the JENA 6 Rally on Capitol Hill.
The speakers were inspirational and captivating. The rally in Jena went well also from what I hear, and now we must continue our fight to include the injustices happening all over America, in addition to the Jena young men. Black Youth Vote is committed to seeking social justice for all, and want YOU to get more involved with this movement!!
To get involved, and run a voter empowerment and voter registration campaign in your community, please call the National Coalition office at: (202) 659-4929, or email jmthierry@gmail.com

Peace, Justice, and Equality!

Florida Voter Reg Law CHALLENGED...

Fla. Voter Registration Law Challenged
By DAVID ROYSE

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A voter registration law wrongly barred thousands of Florida residents from taking part in the 2006 election and should be thrown out, the NAACP and others said in a federal lawsuit filed Monday.

The law prevents voters from registering if their driver's license or Social Security information doesn't match what is on the registration form.

Opponents of the law say it, and similar requirements in a number of states, have caused myriad problems. Legitimate voters have been thwarted for having a maiden name on a driver's license instead of a married name, or because of database input errors that make one digit wrong in a birth date, opponents said.

The lawsuit claims more than 20,000 people had their voter registration slowed down or denied in 2006 because of difficulties in confirming registration data.

The process is also too subject to user error, the lawsuit said. For example, a registration application would be thrown out if a potential voter accidentally reverses a couple of digits in their 13-digit driver's license number, the suit said.

"With the elections approaching, we should be doing everything we can to ensure that eligible citizens can register to vote and have it count, but Florida's draconian registration law won't give many citizens that chance," said Adora Obi Nweze, president of the Florida State Conference of the NAACP.

Secretary of State Kurt Browning, named as the defendant and who oversees Florida compliance with election laws, said officials work to resolve discrepancies, but noted that the matching program is a requirement of the federal government.

"I will reiterate that it is the intention of the Department of State to make sure that every eligible voter in the state of Florida has the means and the opportunity to register to vote and to cast a ballot," he said in a statement.

He concluded, "I have every confidence that Florida is complying with all state and federal laws."

Gov. Charlie Crist said that he wasn't familiar with the lawsuit and couldn't comment.

Plaintiffs in the suit filed in U.S. District Court include the Florida State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition.

The lawsuit asks a judge to prevent the law from being enforced by the end of the year. Dec. 31 is the registration deadline for the 2008 presidential primary.

In 2006, a federal judge barred the state of Washington from enforcing a similar law. That state subsequently agreed to let people whose names do not perfectly match information in other government databases to register — but election officials now flag their names and require additional information before their ballots are counted.

stay focused on the Jena 6! (Chicago Tribune)

In Chicago, civic leaders vow to stay focused on 'Jena 6'
By Antonio Olivo | Tribune staff reporter
September 16, 2007

Black community leaders in Chicago on Saturday sought to keep the spotlight on the racially charged "Jena 6" case in Louisiana a day after a state appeals court there threw out a felony conviction against one of the teen defendants.

Both Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton pledged to continue plans for a demonstration in Jena, La., on Thursday, arguing the overturned battery conviction against Mychal Bell, 17, did not diminish the racial injustice of a case that drew national attention when Bell and five other black teenagers were charged with attempted murder for beating a white teen and leaving him unconscious.

The white student was treated at a local hospital for cuts and bruises, and later released.


Bell remains in jail, and the district attorney overseeing the case pledged to appeal the overturned conviction or bring new juvenile charges against him. The five other defendants are free on bail and await trial, said George Tucker, one of the defense attorneys in the case. Tucker and Bell's parents visited Chicago on Saturday to attract more people to the planned rally.

"It's taken a big toll on us from Day One," said Bell's father, Martus Jones, after a rally Saturday at Whitney High School that drew several hundred people.

The December beating came after several white-on-black attacks in Jena in which white assailants escaped serious charges. Racial tensions had been simmering in town after a black freshman at Jena High School asked a vice principal for permission to sit under a tree on campus claimed by white students as a favorite patch of shade.

The vice principal told the student to sit wherever he wanted. But three white students later hung nooses from the tree, perceived as a threat to blacks in the mostly white town of about 3,000 residents. Those students were suspended for three days.

On Saturday, during a morning sermon inside his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition headquarters on Chicago's South Side, Jackson called the Jena case emblematic of continuing systemic mistreatment of African Americans, who make up the majority of prison populations around the country and suffer from poor health care and underfunded public schools.

"Jena is just a DNA sample of what's happening around the country," Jackson said, arguing that the use of nooses in the rural South should have been treated by local authorities as a hate crime.

"Don't just put your eye on the Jena jail system," Jackson said. "If you can't make it to Jena, go to 26th and California," he said, referring to the site of the Cook County Jail.

Sharpton sought to use the case to spur more action against police abuse in the city's black neighborhoods. He announced plans for a march in the city in the fall.

"There hasn't been a mass march in this city for years," he said. "It's time we bring these issues to City Hall."

----------

aolivo@tribune.com

Court Tosses 'Jena 6' Conviction!

(AP) JENA, La. A state appeals court on Friday threw out the only remaining conviction against one of the black teenagers accused in the beating of a white schoolmate in the racially tense north Louisiana town of Jena.

Mychal Bell, 17, should not have been tried as an adult, the state 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal said in tossing his conviction on aggravated battery, for which he was to have been sentenced Thursday. His conspiracy conviction in the December beating of student Justin Barker was already thrown out by another court.

Bell, who was 16 at the time of the beating, and four others were originally charged with attempted second-degree murder. Those charges brought widespread criticism that blacks were being treated more harshly than whites following racial altercations involving Jena High.

Civil rights leaders, including the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, had been planning a rally in support of the teens for the day Bell was to have been sentenced.

Teenagers can be tried as adults in Louisiana for some violent crimes, including attempted murder, but aggravated battery is not one of those crimes, the court said.

Defense lawyers had argued that the aggravated battery case should not have been tried in adult court once the attempted murder charge was reduced.

The case "remains exclusively in juvenile court," the Third Circuit ruled

Soldiers who signed anti-war op-ed piece die in Iraq

(CNN) -- Two U.S. soldiers whose signatures appeared on an op-ed piece in The New York Times critical of the war in Iraq were among seven Americans killed in a truck accident outside of Baghdad, family members said Wednesday.


Iraqi National Security Adviser Muwaffaq al-Rubaie said Wednesday he will support 2008 decrease in U.S. troops.

Staff Sgt. Yance Gray and Sgt. Omar Mora were members of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Gray, Mora and five other soldiers died Monday when their truck overturned near the Iraqi capital, U.S. officials said.

Gray and Mora were among seven soldiers, mostly sergeants, who wrote the op-ed piece that appeared in the Times on August 19. It called the prospects of U.S. success "far-fetched" and said the progress being reported was being "offset by failures elsewhere."

"Four years into our occupation, we have failed on every promise, while we have substituted Baath Party tyranny with a tyranny of Islamist, militia and criminal violence," they wrote. "When the primary preoccupation of average Iraqis is when and how they are likely to be killed, we can hardly feel smug as we hand out care packages."

Gray, 26, joined the Army out of high school in Ismay, Montana, in 2000, said his father, Richard Gray. Yance Gray is survived by a wife and daughter.

A relative at Mora's family home in Texas City, Texas, confirmed his death but had no other comment.

In their article, Mora, Gray and their comrades wrote that American troops in Iraq are operating "in a bewildering context of determined enemies and questionable allies, one where the balance of forces on the ground remains entirely unclear."

However, they concluded, "As committed soldiers, we will see this mission through."

Another of the signers of the Times article, Staff Sgt. Jeremy Murphy, was shot in the head a week before the article appeared but survived.

Meanwhile, a top Iraqi official said he foresees a decrease in foreign troop levels to less than 90,000 by the end of 2009 as Iraq bolsters and readies its security forces to take over responsibilities now being shouldered by the U.S.-led coalition forces.

The U.S. troop increase this year, dubbed "the surge" by the Bush administration, added nearly 30,000 troops to Iraq. The number of U.S. troops at present is more than 160,000 and the number of other coalition forces is more than 11,000.

National Security Adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, speaking at a Wednesday press conference, told reporters that by next year the number of foreign troops might drop to about 130,000, the pre-surge level, or to 100,000 troops.

"When we reach 2009, we could talk about numbers that are less than 90,000" among the Multi-National Force, said al-Rubaie, who emphasized that such withdrawals would depend on the security environment and troop readiness.

Al-Rubaie made the remarks a day after senior U.S. administration officials said that President Bush is prepared to embrace the recommendation of his top commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, and withdraw as many as 30,000 U.S. troops by next summer.

Woman Tortured in West Virginia: Hate Crime?

Details Emerge in W.Va. Torture Case
By JOHN RABY and TOM BREEN
The Associated Press
Tuesday, September 11, 2007; 11:15 PM


BIG CREEK, W.Va. -- For at least a week, authorities say, a young black woman was held captive in a mobile home, forced to eat animal waste, stabbed, choked and repeatedly sexually abused _ all while being peppered with a racial slur.

It wasn't until deputies acting on an anonymous tip drove to a ramshackle trailer deep in West Virginia's rural hills that she was found. Limping toward the door with her arms outstretched, she uttered, "Help me," the Logan County sheriff's office said.



In this photo released by the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority Frankie Brewster is shown on Sept. 9, 2007, in Logan, W.Va., after she and five others were arrested for holding a Charleston woman captive in a Big Creek home for at least a week. The FBI is investigating whether the beating and sexual assault of this woman was a hate crime. (AP photo/West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority) (AP)


Six people, all white, including a mother and son and a mother and daughter, have been arrested and could face federal hate crime charges in the suspected attack on 20-year-old Megan Williams, who remained hospitalized Tuesday with injuries that included four stab wounds in the leg, and black and blue eyes. Her right arm was in a cast.

"I'm better," Williams told The Associated Press in a voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't understand a human being doing another human being the way they did my daughter," Carmen Williams said Tuesday from the Charleston Area Medical Center. "I didn't know there were people like that out here."

The AP generally does not identify suspected victims of sexual assault, but Williams and her mother agreed to release her name.

A prosecutor said police are investigating the possibility that the victim was lured to the house and attacked by a man she had met online, but Carmen Williams insisted that wasn't the case. "This wasn't from the Internet," she said.

Authorities were still looking for two people they believe drove the woman to the house where she was abused, said Logan County Chief Deputy V.K. Dingess. Deputies also interviewed Williams on Tuesday morning. An FBI spokesman in Pittsburgh, Bill Crowley, confirmed that the agency is looking into possible civil rights violations.

The case is "something that would have come out of a horror movie," Logan County Sheriff W.E. Hunter said.

The home is in a forlorn part of Logan County about 50 miles southwest of Charleston, where the scattered homes are marked by "No Trespassing" signs. An old shed linked to a mobile home by an extension cord is what authorities say became a hellish prison for Williams.

Deputies found her when they drove to the home on Saturday after receiving an anonymous tip from someone who witnessed the abuse, officials said.

The woman was forced to eat rat and dog feces and drink from a toilet, according to the criminal complaint filed in magistrate court based on what the suspects told deputies. She also had been choked with a cord, it alleges. Deputies say the woman was also doused with hot water while being sexually assaulted.

One of those arrested, Karen Burton, is accused of cutting the woman's ankle with a knife. She used the N-word in telling the woman she was victimized because she is black, according to the criminal complaint.

Carmen Williams said doctors told her daughter she may be well enough to leave the hospital within a few days, although a nurse said the young woman's condition was listed as "under evaluation."

"I just want my daughter to be well and recover," Carmen Williams said. "I know the Lord can do anything."

The six suspects were arrested Saturday and Sunday. Frankie Brewster, the 49-year-old woman who owns the home where the suspected attacks occurred, is charged with kidnapping, sexual assault, malicious wounding and giving false information during a felony investigation.

Her son, Bobby R. Brewster, 24, also of Big Creek, is charged with kidnapping, sexual assault, malicious wounding and assault during the commission of a felony.

Frankie Brewster was released from prison in September 2000 after serving five years for voluntary manslaughter and wanton endangerment in the death of an 84-year-old woman, according to court records.

Burton, 46, of Chapmanville, is charged with malicious wounding, battery and assault during the commission of a felony.

Her daughter Alisha Burton, 23, of Chapmanville, and George A. Messer, 27, of Chapmanville, are charged with assault during the commission of a felony and battery.

Danny J. Combs, 20, of Harts, is charged with sexual assault and malicious wounding.

All six remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $100,000 bail each, and all have asked for court-appointed attorneys.

___

Tom Breen reported from Charleston, W.Va.

Reverend Yearwood Gets Attacked on Capitol Hill?

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., is a minister, community activist, and one of the most influential people in Hip Hop political life. A powerful and fiery orator, Rev. Yearwood works diligently and tirelessly to encourage the Hip Hop generation to utilize its political and social voice. He currently serves as President of the Hip Hop Caucus in Washington, D.C. The Hip Hop Caucus is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan, organization that inspires and motivates those born after the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

Rev. Yearwood is known for his activist work as the National Director of the Gulf Coast Renewal Campaign in which he organized a coalition of national organizations and grassroots organizations to advocate for the rights of Hurricane Katrina survivors. More recently, Rev. Yearwood has become an important figure in the peace movement as an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq and the Bush Administration. He was an Officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and recently led a "Make Hip Hop Not War" national tour to engage more young people in the movement for peace.
(taken from Hip Hop Caucus Website)

Kalamazoo Needs Moore!

Visit www.KalamazooNeedsMOORE.com, and help Black Youth Vote's most dedicated leader become elected to her City Commission!

Kalamazoo, Michigan needs Stephanie Moore because she brings a voice of social justice, racial and gender equality, and community upliftment to all of her projects.

Stephanie has worked with Black Youth Vote! and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation for years now, and consistently performs beyond expectations, registering thousands of voters throughout the years.
For more info check out her website, and...
Please contribute to her campaign anyway you can!

KATRINA SURVIVORS TAKE CHARGE!!!!

Public Housing residents from around the country have just taken over the Housing Authority of New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, LA (8/31/07) -- Public Housing residents from around the country have just taken over the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO). The public building that they have occupied has been surrounded by the National Guard, the New Orleans Police, including a SWAT team. It is now two years after Katrina and New Orleans public housing residents are still prevented from returning to their homes. Public housing residents and advocates from Miami, New Orleans, Georgia, Texas, Rhode Island, Chicago, California, and New York have taken over the HANO offices at 4100 Touro St. to demand that public housing, both in New Orleans and around the country, is saved, preserved, and expanded.
Across the country public housing authorities are selling off land, raising rents, firing workers, and leaving countless residents with no place to live. In New Orleans more than 300,000 residents, mostly poor and black, have been denied the right to return to their homes since Katrina hit two years ago.

According to field reports, the Housing Authority building has been locked down and is being surrounded by the National Guard, the New Orleans Police, and Swat. Residents are determined to save their homes and to show that public housing is still a valuable community asset.

The take over of the Housing Authority of New Orleans is a part of the International Tribunal and 2nd Survivor's Assembly, which is being organized by Grassroots Global Justice (GGJ) and is being held to bring charges of racial discrimination and the denial of the right to return.

The Grassroots Global Justice delegation includes representatives from at least six different organizations from around the country including, Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE) in Rhode Island, Fuerza Unida from San Antonio, TX, Community Voices Heard from New York City, Southwest Worker's Union from San Antonio, Project South from Atlanta, GA, and the Labor Community Strategy Center in Los Angeles. The delegation is providing logistical support for the tribunals and working in solidarity with the People's Hurricane Relief Fund, as well as many other organizations and volunteers from around the country.

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ON BEHALF OF THE GULF COAST THIS WEEK!

Greetings All—please circulate the attached widely and encourage your networks to make the calls on Wednesday, August 29th. Other versions will come to you separately for a sustained call movement.



8/29/05 – 8/29/07

2 Years That Will Live In Infamy

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 Years After Katrina, People Are Dying of State and Federal Neglect!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ON 8/29 DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE RESTORATION OF NEW ORLEANS AND THE GULF COAST REGION

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(888) 226-0627



CALL YOUR CONGRESSPERSON

(888) 226-0627

CALL YOUR SENATOR

(888) 226-0627



CALL BUSH!

(202) 456-1111 • (202) 456-1414



AND CALL EACH DAY UNTIL

JUSTICE IS WON

Black Youth Vote! Conference Agenda

Please contact Jordan at jmthierry@gmail.com for more information, or call the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation at (202) 659-4929.

A Day of Presence and Rally in New Orleans for Katrina Anniversary!!

see below also

A Day of Presence in New Orleans for Katrina Anniversary!

Job Openings for Environmental Justice

DEEP SOUTH CENTER for ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
.........
Press Release .....


Job Postings
Seeking Two Professionals
Position: Executive Assistant
Dillard University a historically black, church supported, liberal arts institution, invites applications and nominations for the position of Executive Assistant.
Dillard University seeks an experienced Executive Assistant. This position is responsible for serving as personal assistant to the executive director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) which includes receiving and routing incoming calls, reading and insuring the timely response to all electronic messages addressed to the DSCEJ and to the executive director, maintaining the executive director's calendar, scheduling appointments, arranging business travel accommodations, organizing and maintaining the executive director's files, and updating and maintaining the executive director's curriculum vita. The executive assistant also provides assistance in replying to the various inquiries/correspondences addressed to the executive director by composing the appropriate response letter or electronic mail message.

General office support is also provided and includes office duties such as sorting and routing incoming mail/faxes, organizing and maintaining office files, tracking budget activity for grants awarded to the DSCEJ, ordering and maintaining office supplies, and maintaining all office and personnel files. The executive assistant serves as the budget manager and is responsible for monitoring all budget expenditures. This position prepares and submits all travel expenses and requisitions for reimbursement, and tracks the processing of checks applicable to reimbursements. The executive assistant is also responsible for assisting in the organization of all workshops and preparation of grant proposals.

The candidate for this position must be self-directed, professional, detail oriented and able to make sound, independent decisions. The person may occasionally be required to work in excess of 40 hours per week. Proficiency in Windows XP (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and a minimum typing speed of 60 wpm is required. Experience is preferred.

Educational Requirement: Bachelor's degree required.

Salary is commensurate with experience. Applications and nominations will continue to be accepted and reviewed weekly until the position is filled. Qualified candidates should forward a letter of interest, resume, and the names, addresses and telephone numbers for at least three references to:

Darryl Williams, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, Dillard University, Human Resources Office, 2601 Gentilly Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70122

(504) 816-4240
(504) 816-4833 fax number
dawilliams@dillard.edu
Dillard University is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. Individuals who require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act in order to participate in the search process should notify the Office of Human Resources.


Position: Job Developer/Placement Specialist
Dillard University, a historically black, church supported, liberal arts institution, invites resumes and nominations for the position of Job Developer/Placement Specialist.
Dillard University seeks an experienced Job Developer/Placement Specialist. This position is responsible for identifying employment opportunities and securing job placement for worker training program graduates of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ), including contacting prospective employers, assisting trainees in conducting job searches, scheduling appointments, preparing trainees for interviews, assisting trainees in developing and maintaining resumes, advising program graduates of available job openings, and establishing relationships with key employers and environmental contractors.

The Job Developer must submit regular reports on job development and job placement activities, must maintain a log of all business contacts, must interact with community residents and advisory board members, and must coordinate activities with other worker training program staff.

As key Job Developer for the worker training grants, this position coordinates job activity in the region with other job development personnel at several other sites. The Job Developer maintains records of technical training conducted, notifies the state of pending training sessions, submits documentation to the state for licensing, and prepares and maintains student files, inclusive of certifications conferred within the programs.

The candidate for this position must be self motivated and independent in decision-making. The person must have excellent interpersonal skills and must be able to make presentations in small group settings and conferences. Good writing skills and computer proficiency are required. The person may be required to work in excess of 40 hours per week, will be required to assist in the management of worker training programs, and will be expected to assist in the preparation of grant proposals. Experience in working with the "hard-to-serve" population is preferred.

Educational Requirement: Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred. Salary is commensurate with experience. Resumes will continue to be accepted and reviewed weekly until the position is filled. Qualified candidates should forward a letter of interest, resume, and the names, addresses and telephone numbers for at least three references to:

Darryl Williams, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, Dillard University, Human Resources Office, 2601 Gentilly Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70122

(504) 816-4240
(504) 816-4833 fax number
dawilliams@dillard.edu
Dillard University is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. Individuals who require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act in order to participate in the search process should notify the Office of Human Resources.

DSCEJ

The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) like many other programs at colleges and universities in New Orleans, Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, while physically destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, recognize an even greater need for their services. It is imperative that our current programs are continued, but it is also necessary that we shift our major attention to the destruction caused by this devastating hurricane. The DSCEJ has set up a temporary office at 440 N. Foster Drive in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Website: http://www.dscej.com

Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
Mary Williams
Program Manager for Community Outreach
email: vincent@sylvainsolutions.com
Phone: (504) 816-4005
Mary Williams' direct email: mivorywill@aol.com

College Affordability News Release by Anthony Daniels at the National Education Association

College tuition, both private and public, has been increasing at an alarming rate in the last decade. College nowadays, is becoming out of reach to millions of folks, especially low and medium income Black people.
Check out www.collegeaffordabilityconcernsme.org or www.usstudents.org to learn more about the issue, and support the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 by calling your elected officials and asking for their support! (look to your right for to find their info!)

College Affordability is a top priority on Black Youth Vote's agenda!

THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS CELEBRATES PASSAGE OF STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN COVERING 11 MILLION CHILDREN

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE CBC

H.R. 3162, the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act (the CHAMP Act) will reauthorize an additional 5 million eligible children access to quality health care.

August 2, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Keiana Barrett at (202) 226-8119

WASHINGTON , DC - "Our children are our most precious jewel. As a proud mother and grandmother, I believe every child, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, deserves access to the best health care our country has to offer," said Congresswoman Carolyn C. Kilpatrick (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus. "In addition to aligning vulnerable and uninsured children with health, mental and dental care, the CHAMP Act will ensure that senior citizens receive affordable health benefits."

The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Medicare will significantly reduce the number of uninsured children, namely racial and ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged children. Medicare and SCHIP also will help children obtain vital screening and prevention services that help children stay healthy and mature into healthy and productive adults.

"The CHAMP Act makes an important investment in the health of America," said Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY). "We have made a critical investment in Medicare to ensure the long-term solvency of the program by addressing physician reimbursement rates so that seniors maintain access to the doctors of their choice; expand low-income subsidies; and strengthen safety net provisions in rural areas."

The CHAMP Act was passed in the House by a vote of 225 to 204. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus voted 100% in support of this bill.

"Democrats believe we have an unequivocal moral responsibility to provide for the health and well-being of our children and our elders," remarked House Majority Whip James Clyburn. "As a grandfather whose grandson was born 90 days premature and received top-notch healthcare coverage as he struggled to survive his first days on Earth, I believe all of America's children should have access to the same coverage. I am proud of the work of this body today. The CHAMP Act will provide vital healthcare coverage for the greatest generation and the next generation."

"The CHAMP Act will play an integral role in expanding health coverage for children and will help take this nation one step closer to reducing the racial and ethnic disparities in children's health that leave far too many children without access to health care and in poorer health," said Congresswoman Donna Christensen (D-VI). "The CHAMP Act also takes proactive steps to protect the health and well being of our low-income seniors, people with ESRD and other Americans whose health care needs exceed their means."

"I am proud of this Democratic led 110th session of Congress. Collectively, we are working to build stronger and healthier families and re-enforcing our commitment to America. We have strengthened the tenants of our nation's food stamp program; provided additional resources to Historically Black Colleges and Universities; secured overdue assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers; and now we have dismantled barriers in our health care system," remarked Chairwoman Kilpatrick.

###



www.thecongressionalblackcaucus.com

Autoworkers in Detroit face Changes (NPR Story)

(http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12257721&ft=1&f=5)
Auto Workers Union Preps for Detroit Showdown
by Frank Langfitt


According to the 2007 Harbour Report, which surveys automaker productivity, Japanese automakers continued to outpace their American counterparts in efficiency in 2006. One telling statistic: pre-tax profits per vehicle. While Nissan, Honda and Toyota all earned more than $1,00 on average per vehicle produced in North America, Ford lost an average of $5,234, while GM lost $1,436 and Chrysler lost $1,072. The Detroit Three's higher costs per vehicle are due in large part to their unionized workforce, and the associated health care and pension costs.


Morning Edition, July 20, 2007
· On Friday, the United Auto Workers begins some of the toughest contract talks in the union's seven-decade history. UAW president Ron Gettelfinger will meet with Chrysler on Friday, and with Ford and General Motors on Monday.

The Detroit companies have bled billions of dollars in recent years, and they continue to lose market share to foreign competitors. Fighting for survival, they will be pressing the union for major concessions.

In the past, the UAW would go to the bargaining table with a list of demands and they would usually come out ahead. But these days, instead of demanding more for its members, the union just hopes to protect what it has.

The union has lost more than 60,000 members to company buyouts in the last two years. In May, Daimler-Chrysler actually paid a private equity firm to take struggling Chrysler off its hands.

Things are so bad, nobody calls them the Big Three anymore.

"They're the Detroit Three," says Sean McAlinden, an economist with an auto industry think tank. "Let's face it, Toyota is the No. 2 seller of cars in the United States."

Waning Union Strength

When Detroit dominated the market in earlier decades, the United Auto Workers got great benefits for their members and built a virtual welfare state. Now, the Detroit companies are trying to dismantle it.

At the bargaining table, the companies are expected to try to reduce some retiree obligations. Last year, they spent $11 billion on health care for more than a million retirees and dependents.

McAlinden says those costs are a huge competitive disadvantage.

"Last we checked, Toyota had less than 300 retirees in the United States," McAlinden says.

One plan under consideration is to put the money in a trust fund and let the union run it. Another way the companies might propose to cut costs is to hire more new workers at much lower wages.

Many UAW members are scared.

Brian Henry works at GM's Cadillac plant, where rumors are swirling.

"Everybody's a little shaky," he says, his face still covered in sweat from the hot plant.

Like other workers, Henry is resigned to concessions.

"We've been getting, getting and getting, and we may need to give a little back," he says. "It's as simple as that."

But he also thinks that if the UAW president makes too many concessions, workers will reject the contract.

"There are a lot of old timers here who don't want to give up what they've got," Henry says. "We don't mind giving up some, but if [Gettelfinger] gives up too much, I don't think anything could get ratified."

Tense Talks Ahead

Yet the consequences of that could be even worse, according to McAlinden. He says the companies will just ship jobs to low-cost countries.

"They will have to offshore U.S. production as rapidly as possible. So, I see a massive investment immediately in Mexico, Brazil and China — and very few UAW jobs left by 2011," McAlinden says.

Although the talks begin Friday, the tough decisions won't come until September, when the contract is set to expire. In the final days, bargaining will go round the clock. During breaks, people will rest in their cars, nap on air mattresses or just sleep on the floor.

Tempers will be short.

"There's a great deal of profanity," says Douglas Fraser, who ran the auto workers in the early 1980s and remains in touch with the leadership.

"There are all sorts of blowups, pounding on the table," Fraser says. "One thing I remember is, you pick up all your notes and everything, stuff them in your briefcase as though you're going to walk out. Then, when nothing happens, you have to take them out of your briefcase again."

No one is predicting how talks will turn out this time around, but nearly everyone agrees there won't be a strike. With the union's ranks shrinking, and the companies wounded, a strike could destroy both.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES ON THE HILL AND IN D.C.!

(1) CALL FOR RESUMES -- Thanks for the responses so far!

Anyone looking to work on Capitol Hill, especially recent college grads looking to break in at the entry and lower levels should send their resume, cover letter and writing sample to Marcus.Mason@gmail.com Thanks.



(1) Senate General Counsel

(2) Senate Senior Policy Advisor

(3) House District Chief of Staff (NEW)

(4) House Communications Dir/Press Sec (NEW)

(5) House Committee Press Assistant (NEW)

(6) House Communications Director

(7) House Foreign Affairs/Trade LA

(8) House Trade, Foreign Affairs, Defense LA

(9) House Press Secretary – (D-MD) [STILL ACCEPTING RESUMES]



Job Summary



General Counsel: Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is seeking an attorney to
handle Senate ethics compliance, as well as constitutional and judicial
affairs. An attorney with Hill experience is preferred, but not
required. Salary is commensurate with experience. Interested candidates
should fax cover letter and resume to the attention of Chris Schloesser
on (202) 228-2197 No phone calls.

Legislative Correspondent: Senator Salazar (D-CO) seeks staffer with
wr iting, research and oral communication skills to draft responses to
constituent mail. LC will work closely with Legislative Assistant,
must be motivated and well organized; and must have a strong grasp of
policy, a keen political sense and the ability to balance the competing
interests of a demographically and ideologically diverse constituency.
Applicants without a strong work ethic, ability to work under pressure
and attention to detail need not apply. Previous Hill experience
preferred, but not required. Please send resume and cover letter to
resumes@salazar.senate.gov No
calls or drop-ins.

Legislative Assistant: Senator Salazar seeks policy advisor with strong
writing, research and oral communication skills to handle healthcare,
Medicare, Medicaid, prescription drugs and education. LA must must be
motivated and creative, and must have a strong grasp of policy .
Previous Hill experience preferred. Send resume and cover letter to:

resumes@salazar.senate.gov No drop-in or phone calls.

Policy Advisor - The Senate Democratic Policy Committee seeks a
highly-motivated,team-oriented individual to handle the following
issues: energy, environment, agriculture, and transportation. Applicants
should be detail-oriented, possess strong research, writing and
analytical skills, and have the ability to handle multiple tasks and
deadlines in a fast-paced office. Hill experience is preferred. Please
fax resume and cover letter to Ayo Adeyeye, 202- 228-3432.

COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE – (District Chief of Staff Job Search) Progressive California Democrat searching for a highly motivated individual to serve as the Congressman's representative to constituents and liaison to federal, district, and local agencies. The person hired will be responsible for answering correspondence and verbal communications with constituents and representing the Congressman throughout San Diego County. Preparation of periodic reports, screening active cases, proactive participation in scheduled meetings, and providing responsive feedback to constituents are core requirements associated with the Community Representative position. Candidates should have a thorough knowledge of local, state, and federal agencies; ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment; strong oral and written communications skills; and the ability to work cooperatively and courteously with others. Spanish fluency a plus. Those interested should submit resume, cover letter and salary requirements directly to: District Chief of Staff Job Search, Humberto.Peraza@mail.house.gov; or fax to ATTN: District Chief of Staff Job Search, (619) 422-5963

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR/PRESS SECRETARY — A Northeast Democratic member of the House Leadership seeks an experienced person to handle press and communications operations. Candidates must possess very strong communications and writing skills, political savvy, sense of humor, good attitude, and the ability to work in a fast-paced office. Responsibilities include coordinating day-to-day press operations, overseeing interview requests, writing press releases, talking points and opeds, and content for electronic newsletters. Candidates must be able to work closely with other leadership offices, both Washington and district staff to coordinate press events, as well as quickly grasp various legislative and local issues. Ideal candidate will have strong writing skills and have Hill or related experience. This is not an entry-level position. Minority applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. Please e-mail cover letter, resume, references, and two writing samples (one of which should be a press release) to harjobs@cq.com, Job Referral No. 101. (NEW)





Majority House Committee seeks Press Assistant to become part of three-person press shop. Responsibilities include compiling daily news clips, researching committee issues and relevant news stories, updating media contact lists, staffing press table at committee hearings, and other administrative duties as needed. Position may also include assisting with Web site maintenance. Ideal candidate should possess strong writing and communications skills, knowledge of legislative process, and the ability to take initiative. This is an entry-level press position. Please send cover letter, resume, references and 3 writing samples via email to: press_position@hotmail.com. (NEW)



COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR. Senior New York Democrat and Chair of House Appropriations Subcommittee seeks proactive communications director. Responsibilities include developing and implementing communications strategy; pitching stories nationally and in competitive local market; writing press releases, statements, speeches, op-eds, email updates, and newsletters; planning press events; and managing website, constituent outreach and email program. Candidates must have impeccable writing skills, on-the-record and Hill experience, and strong political instincts. Foreign aid/affairs, appropriations, and New York experience strongly preferred. Salary will be commensurate with experience. Please send resume with salary requirement and two writing samples to lowey.opening@mail.house.gov. No calls, and please note this is not an entry level press job.

Legislative Correspondent Prominent New England Democrat seeks legislative correspondent to manage all incoming and outgoing mail. Job involves close interaction with Member and legislative staff in reviewing and drafting correspondence. Candidates must be highly organized and have excellent research and writing skills. A writing test is required as part of the interview process. Hill experience preferred. Minority applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. Fax Resume, Cover letter and Writing Sample to (202) 225-0182.

Legislative Correspondent/Legislative Assistant ( LC/LA): Representative
Dan Boren (D-OK) is seeking staffer to manage his constituent
correspondence system. Duties in clude managing the constituent mail
program and working with legislative staff to ensure a timely mail
response. Additionally, the LC/LA will handle legislative issues for
the Member, including trade, foreign affairs, government reform, and
labor/employment. Candidate must have excellent writing, research,
and organizational skills. A working knowledge of Intranet Quorum (IQ)
is highly preferred, but not mandatory. Minimum of 1 year Hill
experience required. Interested candidates should submit a cover
letter, resume, and one page writing sample to:
Housedemocrat123@gmail.com. No calls or walk-ins.

Legislative Correspondent : Representative Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) seeks a
high-energy, hard working legislative correspondent to take charge and
manage constituent mail program. The position requires working closely
with the legislative and administrative staff. Good writing and editing
skills are a must. The applicant should be organized and possess good
research and computer skills. Also, the applicant should be able to pay
attention to detail, think critically, and work well under pressure in a
fast-paced office environment. Candidates should have prior Hill
experience. A working knowledge of Capitol Correspondence is helpful
but not necessary. This is a good opportunity to move up on the Hill
career ladder. Please email resume and 3 short writing samples:
AZresumes@mail.house.gov. Please no phone calls.

LA position is opening in the House . Senior Democrat. Position would handle foreign affairs, with trade a top focus. Proficiency in Spanish is required. Great office/Member. Send your best and brightest (or yourself) to efedering@KPMG.com . Confidences assured.


Press Secretary -- Rep. Albert Wynn, MD seeks experienced, energetic professional to run an aggressive communications operation in the Washington office. Responsibilities include drafting press releases, columns, and op-eds; pitching stories to media outlets; responding to media inquiries; and press data research and maintenance. Must have experience managing website content and an aggressive email/direct mail operation. Please send a cover letter, resume, references and two writing samples to ed.hubbard@mail.hou se.gov. This position is not an entry level position. No calls or faxes inquiring about the position.



This e-mail's Off-The-Hill postings include:



Center for American Progress -- Issue Campaigns Manager (NEW)
Center for American Progress -- Iraq Campaign Organizer (NEW)
Center for American Progress -- Online Communications Associate Manager (NEW)
Center for American Progress -- Outreach and Organizing Associate (NEW)
American University's Kogod School of Business (NEW)
Ovations – A United Health Group Company (see attachment "AA+Job")
Magic Johnson Enterprises (Beverly Hills, CA)
Political Development Group (Still Accepting Resumes)


Issue Campaigns Manager



The Center for American Progress has an immediate opening for Issue Campaigns Manager for Campus Progress, the Center's comprehensive effort to strengthen progressive voices on college and university campuses nationwide and to empower new generations of progressive leaders. The Issue Campaigns Manager is responsible for selecting and providing support to student-run grassroots campaigns; planning and managing national grassroots, lobbying, and media issues campaigns; overseeing Campus Progress's grassroots network and organizing; managing contacts with external organizations and building and working in issue-based coalitions; and acting as a spokesperson for Campus Progress in written materials, in public forums, and with the news media. The Issue Campaigns Manager also will participate in planning and implementing Campus Progress conferences and events and in the editorial work of our web publication, CampusProgress.org.

< http://www.americanprogress.org/aboutus/jobs/aboutus/jobs/index.html/files/issue_campaigns_manager_cp.pdf> Full description in PDF



Iraq Campaign Organizer



The Center for American Progress has an immediate opening, as a six-month contract position, for an Iraq Campaign Organizer for Campus Progress. Campus Progress is the Center's comprehensive effort to help young people make their voices heard and to empower new generations of progressive leaders. The Iraq Campaign Organizer will be responsible for managing student training programs, supporting campus and local activism campaigns by students, assisting with the organization of rallies and events, writing articles and web materials, speaking about the issues at events and with the media, and advancing Campus Progress' grassroots and coalition work to change course on the war and work for peace and security.

< http://www.americanprogress.org/aboutus/jobs/aboutus/jobs/files/iraq_campaign_org.pdf> Full description in PDF



Online Communications Associate Manager



The Center for American Progress has an immediate opening for an Online Communications Associate Manager to work closely with the Online Communications Manager in coordinating and operating all aspects of Campus Progress' online presence. This includes an online magazine, campaign websites, event calendars and announcements, community of blogs, an email marketing program, and web video.

< http://www.americanprogress.org/aboutus/jobs/files/OnlineCommManagerCP.pdf> Full description in PDF



Outreach and Organizing Associate Manager



The Center for American Progress has an immediate opening for an Outreach and Organizing Associate for Campus Progress. The Outreach and Organizing Associate for Campus Progress will work under the direction of the Issues Campaigns Manager and Deputy Director to coordinate all aspects of Campus Progress efforts to connect with students, student groups, student publications, faculty, national and regional organizations, and others —in order to involve them in the work of Campus Progress and the Center, and to work as partners for common goals.

< http://www.americanprogress.org/aboutus/jobs/aboutus/jobs/files/OutreachOrgAssocMgr.pdf> Full description in PDF





Keisha Senter

Deputy Director, Campus Progress

Center for American Progress

1333 H Street, NW - 1st Floor

Washington, DC 20005

(202) 741-6256 (w)

(202) 344-6093 (c)

www.campusprogress.org





Director of Corporate Relations and Career Services



About American University's Kogod School of Business

American University's Kogod School of Business is among the best business schools in the Washington, D.C. area, and is the school of choice for interdisciplinary business education. Kogod offers graduate and undergraduate business degrees with unmatched opportunity to integrate business education with other AU disciplines such as international services, law and public administration. Kogod's dual degrees, strong co-curricular programs, endowed scholarships, leading research and comprehensive career services attract high quality students and faculty. Visit www.kogod.american.edu



About Career Services

The Kogod School of Business Career Services department works with prospective students, current students, and alumni. Career Services also works closely with recruiters and partners to schedule interviews and campus visits, to engage them in student consulting projects, to establish internships, and much more.



Director of Corporate Relations and Career Services Position Requirements

Masters degree in business or business-related discipline is preferred; a minimum of six years of relevant business experience is required.
Knowledge and experience in corporate relations, career services, and career management. Knowledge of student career development is preferred.
Knowledge of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast markets preferred.
Proven experience in leading people in organizations and managing relationships required.
Strong interpersonal skills required, along with the ability to work effectively with academic administrators, corporate executives, faculty, staff, alumni, and all University constituents. Ability to communicate and listen effectively.
Demonstrated experience in successful coordination with multiple departments/areas of business, and/or programs.
Demonstrated appreciation for and experience working with a diverse audience.
Description

The Director of Corporate Relations and Career Services serves as the corporate relations liaison and career services officer for the Kogod School of Business. The director has lead responsibility for career development and placement services including internships, consulting practicum, and career management education for both undergraduate and graduate business students. Additional responsibilities include coordination of employer outreach and recruiting relationships and management of career-related websites, career placement tracking and reporting, career assessment tools/software, and special events as applicable.



This position reports directly to the Kogod School of Business Dean and manages at least five full-time staff members as well as graduate assistant(s) on an as-needed basis. The Director of Corporate Relations and Career Services manages the corporate relations and career services budget of more than 150K (not including salaries); and develops and manages the corporate relations and career services strategy for more than 1500 students per year.



The Director of Corporate Relations and Career Services coordinates and collaborates with the Dean's direct reports which include the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Director of Development, Director of Marketing and Communications, Assistant Dean for Budget Administration, Associate Dean for Administration, and the Assistant to the Dean.



Specific Responsibilities Include (but are not limited to):

Responsible for the development, management, and execution of the overall corporate relations strategy in order to maximize the School's relationships with individual constituents as well as corporations.
Execute marketing tactics as they relate to the corporate relations strategy in order to increase job and internship placement statistics, as well as to increase visibility and credibility of the School.
Responsible for the development, management, and execution of the overall career services strategy.
Establish and manage set of career management and career development activities and educational programs for undergraduate and graduate students related to career services including internships and career placement. Maintain ongoing coordination with Kogod department leaders.
Responsible for career services systems and tools including the career services web site. Maintain, monitor and measure ongoing placement statistics.
Attendance at and active participation in recruiting events and welcome receptions. Lead networking receptions.


This is a tremendous opportunity for a well-organized, results-oriented professional in an exciting academic environment. Please include Position Number 6168, Kogod School of Business Director of Corporate Relations and Career Services, on your documentation and submit your cover letter and resume to:



American University

Human Resources

4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW,

Washington, DC 20016-8054



Telephone 202.885.2591

FAX number 202.885.1737

or e-mail careers@american.edu





Ovations – A United Health Group Company
This position is responsible for performing a wide variety of administrative duties in a manner which will ensure the proper functioning of the unit and enhance the productivity and effectiveness of assigned staff. This position works under the broad direction of one or more higher level staff members. The work performed is done with little direction at the initiative of the incumbent in concert with priorities set independently by the incumbent. The work involves dealing professionally with highly confidential information which, if inadvertently released, could cause significant financial harm or legal exposure for the company. (SEE ATTACHMENT)






Executive Assistant (See Attachment)

Reporting to: EVP of Communications & Branding

Location: Beverly Hills, CA



Position Summary:

The executive assistant will provide overall administrative support to the EVP of communications & branding. This includes working on behalf of brand management, business development, web development, media relations and marketing. As such, the position will also function as a part of the small in-house communications & branding team and will work on behalf of existing Magic Johnson Enterprise properties and assets, new partnerships, as well as with the Magic Johnson Foundation.



Washington , DC based Democratic fundraising and campaign management firm seeks ambitious employee to support and manage contracts with Democratic Congressional Representatives, including Democratic Leadership and Members of the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Other clients include Leadership PACs, candidates for political office, and 501c(3) organizations.

Political experience necessary, campaign finance and fundraising experience strongly desired. Candidate should be familiar with FEC rules and regulations, possess a high attention to detail and strong organization skills. Creative team players who desire opportunity to work on special projects from concept to launch are encouraged to apply. Responsibilities will include administrative, research and consultancy tasks such as: general office duties, managing call time, direct mail, event planning, scheduling, strategic planning, donor research/cultivation/solicitation, PAC fundraising.

Strong client relations skills, good humor and strong work ethic required. Proficiency in internet research MS Word, Excel, and Access based databases required. Position offers strong benefits including, health, PTO and retirement plan. Salary commensurate with experience. Please send your resume to lwy.pdg@gmail.com

Women and minorities encouraged to apply. EOE.

Marcus Sebastian Mason

The Madison Group, LLC

1730 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20036

(202) 296-8686 (main)

(202) 296-3323 (fax)

mmason@madisongr.com

THATS ALL FOR THE JOB POSTINGS. GOOD LUCK!