Bishop Long as a metaphor: Why together we must break the silence on abuse...

I have struggled for a couple weeks with how I would approach this subject... You see, I have strongly felt a check in my spirit, a calling to speak out on a crisis within our community, but I just hadn't found the words. But now I have... This is not about Bishop Eddie Long - This is about us, and all the bishop long's we've tolerated in an indefensible silence.

Now with regard to Bishop Eddie Long, I don't know if he is guilty or innocent. Truthfully, I didn't know anything about him prior to these recent accusations so my point here is not to cast aspersions upon him. The justice system will ferret that out... But we've been too silent for too long about the sexual victimization of young girls and boys within our community. And I for one, will not remain silent any longer.

Rather than deal with Bishop Long the Reverend, I'd like to take a look at Bishop Long as a metaphor. Consider a man held in high esteem. Well regarded, and well known. A man holding a position of influence and one who used that influence to serve as a mentor to youth within our community... But even as he made his positive offerings to the community, he was victimizing the very children he purported to mentor.

This is not an isolated incident. This is not an uncommon anecdote. Too many children within our community are subject to acts of sexual molestation or abuse and we as a community need to speak out about it.

Through our work and my contact with youth, I am alarmed by the vast number of children who harbor terrible stories about the times their trust was betrayed and their innocence attacked. I have been equally pained to learn of the men, most of well repute, who selfishly scar the lives of our youth. These stories are scattered all around us; unchecked, unchallenged, they are our collective secret...

But no more.

Now I certainly realize, that this is a complicated psychological issue, and certainly not one that could be easily solved with a public awareness campaign. But I also know that the first real step to making a change is that Somebody has to stand up and say "Enough". We need to stand up for the safety and well-being of our children. No more young girls should have to endure this. No more young men either... Our Juvenile detention facilities and jails are filled with former victims of abuse: people who've struggled unsuccessfully to process and deal with their victimization. Our relationships are suffering, our family units are in free fall, and the monsters remain among us.

Now I don't know how this fits into the work of the NAACP. Our mandate is very clear and our mission is unambiguous. We are an organization that is dedicated to protecting people from the effects of bigotry, prejudice, and discrimination. I am as proud to be a part of that work today as I have ever been. But I also recognize a greater mandate. That we are ALL called to stand up and be protectors of our children and of those who can not protect themselves. And on this count, we are falling short.

I am a Civil Rights Warrior. But we can not be so concerned with defending our civil rights that we neglect to stand up for our children's Human Rights.

That is why a couple weeks ago I sat down with Pastors Reuben Eckels, Micheal Tyson, and Kevin Graham, along with NAACP Youth Director Kenya Cox, and TKAAM Executive Director Prisca Barnes, to have a conversation about how we could begin a community dialogue around the issue of ending the abuse. I don't know what form the campaign will eventually take - but I know its time to say "Enough".

If you have suggestions, ideas, or just want to be a part of the change - please drop me a line either by email or on Facebook, and let's end the silence...

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The American Constitution Society releases new brief on SCOTUS decisions that undermine Civil Rights Enforcement

Over the last three years, this blog has attempted to sound the alarm about the Supreme Courts shift away from the enforcement and the intent of Civil Rights Legislation. With a series of subsequent decisions, the Courts have continuously raised the legal thresholds and pleading standards until we now have a system where litigants in Civil Rights cases must meet a nearly insurmountable burden of proof just to avoid dismissal or summary judgement.

By requiring plaintiffs in Civil Rights or discrimination cases to essentially prove the plausibility of their claims at the time of pleading and PRIOR to discovery, the courts have created a standard in which only the most egregious, most obvious, and least sophisticated acts could successfully be prosecuted.

It has become easier to coat various forms of discrimination with the appearance of propriety, or to ascribe some other less odious intention to what is in reality discriminatory behavior. In other words, while discriminatory conduct persists, violators have learned not to leave the proverbial “smoking gun” behind. ~ Third Circuit Court

The American Constitution Society has released a brief which details the Supreme Courts construction of new and onerous legal standards in the Twombly and Iqbal cases which undermine Civil Rights enforcement by limiting plaintiffs access to the courts.

Click HERE to download the report

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Sign the Petition: Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour should free the Scott Sisters

Known as the “Scott Sisters”, Jamie and Gladys Scott were convicted in a 1994 armed robbery which yielded $11, a crime in which they have consistently denied any involvement. Both sisters were sentenced to double-life sentences and have remained imprisoned since their convictions, despite the fact that they were convicted primarily on testimony from three teenagers reportedly coerced by the County Sherriff’s office. One of the witnesses has since recanted his statement and acknowledged that the Scott Sisters are innocent.

The Scott sisters did not have the resources to adequately defend themselves in court or to pursue the case through the appellate system [1]. The sisters did not testify at their trial and no one testified on their behalf. They were represented at trial by Firnist Alexander, a local attorney who was disbarred two years later for demonstrating a "lack of diligence" and a failure to communicate with clients.

In a letter to Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, NAACP National President and CEO Benjamin Jealous has requested a pardon for the Scott Sisters based on several grounds. In addition to the legitimate questions regarding the accuracy of the testimony against the Scott Sisters and the questionable manner in which it was obtained, Jealous citeed the fact that their sentences were excessively severe given the nature of the alleged crime.

“It is a travesty that in the state of Mississippi, the lives of two Black women are valued at little more than 11 dollars,” said Jealous. “From the outset, the measures in which the Scott Sisters were convicted were questionable and pattern themselves after dubious criminal justice trends in Mississippi and nationwide. We intend to pursue justice to the fullest extent for the Scott Sisters, and will continue our push for criminal justice reform throughout America.”

The NAACP also expressed concern over a history of questionable judgments by Marcus Gordon, the judge who presided over the Scott Sisters’ case. In 1964, Judge Gordon granted bail to the KKK murderer of three civil rights workers.

In addition to the pardon, Jealous’ letter asked that Governor Barbour grant a “compassionate medical release” to Jamie Scott in light of her current medical condition. Scott lost renal function in both of her kidneys and cannot survive without a transplant; her sister and several others have agreed to be a donor but the the Department of Corrections has refused to allow any tests to determine donor compatibility.

Click HERE and Sign the Petition!

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Remembering Freedom this 9-11

The year was 1991... I was a Spec 4 in the United States Army serving out a tour at Aviano Air Base in Northern Italy. Our unit was deployed to Diyarbakir Turkey to serve as a part of a mission called "Operation Provide Comfort". Our job was to fly sorties into Iraq and rescue the Kurdish refugees who had taken refuge in the mountains. We would go into Iraq, load dozens of Kurdish refugees into our CH-47 helicopters and fly them back across the border to waiting medical facilities and camps which were being operated by the French and other participating nations.

Within our tent city, there were Americans, Germans, Dutch, French, and Spanish troops, all being hosted by the Turkish Government on a Turkish Air Base. All working together to save the lives of Kurdish people from the war that had engulfed their country.

I was perhaps the only Muslim soldier in that tent city, or so it seemed, and that made me quite a curiosity for the Turks. When word spread that there was an American Muslim soldier on the base, I was invited to accompany our Turkish hosts to meet various members of the Turkish Military. I was even assigned a driver so that if I ever wanted to go to the local mosque, all I would have to do was ask, and my transportation would be arranged.

Over time, I developed a number of close friendships. One family in particular, Dohan and his son Oshgur, who worked on the base selling carpets and other various souvenirs, would cook or purchase dinner for me every night during my last month or so in country. Hadji, a local jeweler who had moved to Diyarbakir from Istanbul, crafted a beautiful engagement ring for me to give to my then girlfriend, and sold it to me for a mere pittance. And of course there was Hanif, the taxi driver, who would always show up to eat dinner with us, and who would offer - almost every night - to sneak me off the base to go hang out downtown  if I wanted...

While I never tipped off the base with Hanif, I was able to make a few short trips downtown during the course of my stay. I was able to visit and attend prayer at the Grand Mosque in Diyarbakir (One of the oldest in all of Turkey). And while I was still quite the curiosity, the warmth and welcome was undeniable. Perhaps the most contentious moment came when I was thrust into a spirited "debate" with some young men who claimed and believed that Vanilla Ice was the 'Best rapper in America'.    

We were at war - But we weren't filled with hatred. We knew who we were fighting... And we knew it wasn't everybody; it wasn't a war against Middle Easterners, it wasn't a war against Islam...

But of all of my experiences during the war, there is one that stands out above all... One moment that offered me a clarity that I will always cherish...

One day I was able to visit a mosque across the border into Iraq. It was very small and there were probably 10 to 15 men inside offering prayers... After making wudhu, I settled near the rear of the room, dressed in BDU's and began offering my prayers. Though I tried to remain completely focused, I couldn't help but notice that a man sitting maybe 10 feet to my right front was turned completely about and staring at me. I wasn't fearful, he wasn't giving off those kind of vibes, but it seemed to be a far more intense curiosity than I'd experienced at either of the Turkish mosques I'd attended.

When I finished praying, the man came and sat right beside me, knee to knee. He introduced himself and extended his hand. He was a local Doctor who lived and worked in the area. We shook hands and I introduced myself as well. After introducing myself, he looked at me inquisitively and asked, "Are you an American?" 'Yes', I replied... Then he asked, "then how can you believe in God?"

...

I've often thought back to that moment and that question... Far more frequently as of late, because it made clear something that I hope to never forget. You see, he had come to believe that we as American's were a bunch of Godless savages. Not because he was a hateful or terrible person; but because he was misinformed and his ignorance was manipulated to serve the interests of others. JUST AS MANY OF US have come to believe that Muslims are Godless savages... It doesn't mean we are terrible people or hateful bigots; but we are also misinformed. And just as Saddam's regime manipulated the ignorance of many, fomenting an anger and divisiveness that he was able to bend to his service, we here are subject to the same manipulations, the same distortions, and the same divisiveness, deployed with the same design of providing short-term political benefit to the unscrupulous. Even in our self-righteousness, we are still the same.

Now I won't bore you with the standard fare; platitudes about how the majority of Muslims are peaceful people or any of that... Because the truth is, some Muslims are certifiable saints, and some are assholes. Some are great examples of humility and piety, and others are plum crazy. And the same can be said for all people - that we all are, simply, people... "Muslim" is not a category for a different type of human, neither is "Christian" or "Jew". We are just people who differ in our beliefs about events that transpired thousands of years before our births. We adhere to different religious traditions and follow different paths that we each hope will lead us to the same divine affirmation of the one Holy God. And that's ok...

While encouraging that young Doctor to reject the distortions and manipulations he was being fed, I made a personal commitment to do the same. So this 9/11, I will celebrate my freedom. Not Dr. Laura's freedom to say 'nigger', not the Phelps' freedom to protest funerals or burn the flag, not Pastor Jones' freedom to burn the Qur'an, nor New Yorker's freedom to build or protest a community center...

This 9/11, I celebrate my freedom from Fear. I celebrate my freedom to reject the childish notion that the whole world is comprised of 'good guys' and 'bad guys'. I have no need for a Boogeyman. I am not afraid of your totems. I refuse to hate others because you say I am hated. I choose to exercise my freedom to see people as individuals. I choose to exercise my freedom to love and to worship with whomever and however I please.

19 evil men attacked our Nation on 9/11 killing 3,000 Americans... but their hatred shall not infect my heart. They may have changed the landscape in New York, but they will not change my character.

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Angel Alert: Immediate need for Legal assistance...

Imagine for a moment that your teenage daughter wakes up in the morning and leaves for school just as she had hundreds of times before. And imagine learning that on that particular morning, your daughter, the 4.0 student, never actually makes it to class... In fact, she doesn't come home after school either. Frantically you search about, trying to find out where she'd gone,  and you find out that a man - one who had served time for for having improper relations with a minor, had been released from his incarceration and could be seen on camera picking your daughter up from the school that morning...

Imagine calling the Police Department and the FBI, only to have them treat you as though you were over-reacting. Imagine having them tell you that your daughter had probably just "run away" with the man and there was little they could do.

Imagine having to fight just to get the word out that something had happened. Imagine the pain as the days, and weeks, and months rolled by. Imagine investigating on your own and learning that the man had stolen a car that morning, - the same car they got into on the camera - and that that car could later be seen on camera crossing into Mexico. Imagine officials finally releasing a Missing Child poster, but still not identifying her as having been kidnapped.

Imagine that more than a year afterwards, the same officials, who never took the abduction seriously and only half-heartedly investigated, began suggesting that you might need to accept the unacceptable...

Now imagine that after hiring your own private investigator with your own funds, you learn that your daughter is in fact, still alive...

This is not just a random series of hypothetical situations... This is an all too real situation afflicting a dear friend of mine. She needs help. She has been searching for an Attorney for a very long time and while some have come and gone (along with the media), she is closer than ever to finding her daughter and the need has never been greater. If you, or someone you know, is an Attorney, licensed to practice in the State of California, and you would be willing to at least hear her out and decide what help if any you could offer, please - send me an email by clicking HERE and I will get you in immediate contact with the mother...

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The Restoring our Community Movement to develop a collaborative multi-organizational outreach for at-risk youth

After the "Restoring our Community" March on June 26th, the participating organizations were asked to subscribe to an eight point agenda. Within them being that each group would contribute one new initiative to reaching our most at-risk youth, and that each organization would commit to reconvening after a couple months so we could begin working towards some long term collaborative efforts.

On Saturday, September 4th, the "Restoring our Community" Movement reconvened during the Wichita Black Arts Festival. The turnout was WONDERFUL as each of the 35 organizations who came together during the June 26th march were represented in the work session and we were also joined by a couple new ones as well. We took time to go around the room so that each organization who had rolled out a new program or initiative had an opportunity to describe the excellent work they're doing in the community and that we could each familiarize ourselves with and appreciate the efforts of the various Organizations. We learned about new efforts and initiatives from the Ladies of Delta Sigma Theta, the Gentlemen of Alpha Phi Alpha, the Peace and Social Justice Center, the African American Coalition, 316TRZ, Justice Keepers, the Wichita NAACP, and many others...

We then turned our discussions towards building a multi-organizational collaborative effort. We proposed the creation of a large scale, long-term, rites of passage type program specifically targeted towards at-risk youth in our community. The program would be designed to help move them, via several steps and phases, away from negative behaviors and a negative social outlook into a pro-social and pro-educational outlook.

The plan would not require the creation of any new initiatives, organizations, or programs... Rather, it would "synchronize" the great efforts of our existing organizations, linking them together in a sequence that the youth would "pass through", allowing them to receive the best of the programs our community already has to offer. And while some of our existing programs seem inaccessible to many of our At-Risk youth who may not currently understand their relevance, the programs would be sequenced so that the benefits and lessons of each would open the doors to understanding the necessity of the next one, and the next one, and so on...

The outreach and recruitment would be managed by the Organizations currently doing Gang Intervention work (such as "do you want to live or die", 316TRZ, Justice Keepers, Sisterhood of Queens, etc). The youth would then go through their curriculum. This stage corresponds to the "Separation" stage in a tradition Rites of Passage program.

Next would be a curricular segment on "History and Context" which would not only address history, but would specifically deal with the context of struggle and sacrifice, and would impart an understanding and appreciation of Civic Responsibility. This segment will be provided by the Social and Civic Organizations who are currently doing this work.

Followed by a Curricular segment dealing with reconnecting the threads of family and community. This "rebuilding the village" phase would be provided by the many Churches and Religious organizations who are a part of this effort.

That would be followed by a curricular segment designed to broaden the youth's perspective beyond the narrow confines of the neighborhood. This segment will deal with diversity and cross-cultural issues, and will be provided by various cultural and interest group Organizations.

The final segment will deal with educational issues; from basic educational needs, to skill development, to reintroducing the idea of College and higher education as being a passport to a different and brighter future. This segment would be provided by the many educational and Greek Letter organizations participating in this effort.

And the thread that will tie all of these pieces together, is that when youth enter into the Rites of Passage program, each child will be assigned a Mentor from the groups who are currently providing Mentoring services to youth. This Mentor among other positive services, will also keep the child accountable for participating through all stages and will provide the necessary reinforcement and reaffirmation as needed.

There are still numerous issues to be resolved and questions to be answered, but the important thing is, we elected to move forward; to create work groups, and to begin meeting on a monthly basis to put this project together and get it off the ground! The first meeting will be in October!

Don't ever let anyone say that we 'can't' come together or work together. We most certainly can and the "Restoring our Community" movement is proving it! ~ I'll keep you all posted as new developments occur...

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The FCC seeking public comment on Open Internet Proceedings

Disclaimer: The NAACP has not declared an official position on Net Neutrality. The organization supports the broad principles of fairness and non-discrimination, but has not released an organizational position on the details of this very complex issue. So my clear, full-throated, and unambiguous support for Net Neutrality reflects my position and should not be seen as representative of the Association as a whole.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski statement on Open Internet Public Notice

“Over the past months we have worked to preserve the freedom and openness of the Internet, based on the conviction that an open Internet is vital to innovation and private investment, competition, and free speech.

“These efforts -- including the dedicated work of FCC staff and participation by a broad range of stakeholders -- have over time changed the terms of a longstanding and acrimonious debate. We have moved from a world of four disputed and unenforceable open Internet principles -- about blocking by broadband providers of lawful online content, applications, and services -- toward the acceptance of six enforceable rules: the original four principles plus the concepts of nondiscrimination and transparency. These would prevent broadband providers from wrongly playing favorites with lawful Internet speech or businesses, and would empower consumers and entrepreneurs with information about broadband choices and networks.

“We have made progress over the last year -- but of course we still have work to do. Today, we take the next step.

“Recent events have highlighted questions on how open Internet rules should apply to ‘specialized’ services and to mobile broadband -- what framework will guarantee Internet freedom and openness, and maximize private investment and innovation. As we’ve seen, the issues are complex, and the details matter. Even a proposal for enforceable rules can be flawed in its specifics and risk undermining the fundamental goal of preserving the open Internet.

“Accordingly, the FCC’s Wireline and Wireless Bureaus are seeking further public comment on issues related to ‘specialized’ (or ‘managed’) services and mobile broadband. The information received through this inquiry, along with the record developed to date, will help complete our efforts to establish an enforceable framework to preserve Internet freedom and openness.

“As we move forward, the FCC will continue to be vigilant in guarding against threats to Internet freedom. We will be focused on a vision of a ubiquitous and superfast Internet, with flourishing entrepreneurship and vibrant start-ups, and massive private investment in Internet infrastructure, content, and services -- an Internet that is an engine for our economy, and provides a world of knowledge and free speech accessible to all.”

If you are interested in filing a comment, you must do so on or before September 30th. When filing comments, please reference GN Docket No. 09-191 and WC Docket No. 07-52.

Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of the proceeding, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking numbers. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and should include the following words in the body of the message, “get form.” A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number.

Click HERE for a copy of the Public Notice

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