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SCLC and The Poor People’s Campaign Respond to Recent Murders in Jordan Downs
(Press Release) The Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles (SCLC) in collaboration with the leadership coalition of the Poor People’s Campaign, wishes to express the most heart felt condolences....
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ROUTE CAUSE
JAN. 17, 2008 - THE WAVE: Streets named after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. can be found all over the United States. Almost every major metropolis in America has one, and the number of MLK streets is growing. As of the last count in 2006, more than....
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Coalition Kicks Off Poor People's Campaign
L.A. Sentinel Coverage of June 15, 2007 Press Conference
Click Here for a Video on the Re-Ignition of the Poor People's Campaign!
SCLC Re-Ignites Poor People's Campaign (4/4/07) -> Full Story King Week 2007 Report -> Full Story
December 27, 2007, LA Sentinel (below)
by Francis Taylor, Sentinel Staff Writer
Dec 27, 2007 at 03:16 PM
Tyronne Freeman, Chair of the SCLCLA, mixes it up with the children at Jordan Downs Public Housing Complex, during their pre-Christmas turkey and gift giveaway.
Hundreds of residents of the Jordan Downs Public Housing complex in Watts, packed the community’s recreation room a few days before Christmas to participate in a holiday party provided by The Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles (SCLCLA), The Poor People’s Campaign, and Clean Up America.
In addition to the celebratory occasion that featured live music and other local entertainment along with holiday signs and banners, the party hosts treated the Jordan Down residents to over 400 free turkeys and toys for the children.
Tyronne Freeman and Rev. Eric Lee, chair and president/CEO, respectively, of the SCLCLA and Donnie Porter, president of Clean Up America, got the party started at 1:00 p.m., at the Jordan Downs Recreation Center.
“We are especially honored during this time of year to continue the legacy of Dr. King to extend good will to those greatest in need,” said Tyronne Freeman.
Jordan Downs, with over 700 housing units serving a balanced mix of Black and Latino families, according to Mary Griffin, Jordan Downs Recreation Assistant, is one of the most underserved communities in the City of Los Angeles and has not had any new economic development in over 50 years, as indicated in the literature from The Poor People’s Campaign.
Earlier this year, the SCLCLA engaged over 500 residents in a ‘day of dialogue’ to discuss a plan to improve that community with new, quality homes. The turkey and gift giveaway, just before Christmas, a time of year when families come together to give thanks, exchange gifts, and celebrate the last holiday of the year, demonstrated that the SCLC and The Poor People’s Campaign, intend to follow-up on their commitment.
Rev. Lee told the audience, “We are here today to improve the quality of life for Jordan Downs residents.”
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference and The Poor People’s Campaign was created by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to help eradicate poverty and create a more just society. Earlier this year, The Poor People’s Campaign was re-launched by a collaborative partnership of community leaders and prominent organizations ranging from civil and human rights, labor, faith-based, political, and business.
Jordan Downs is one of several major public housing communities in Watts that provides rental housing assistance payments to those individuals and families, who otherwise, would not be able to pay their full, monthly rent.
Mary Griffin, a recreation assistant and full-time employee of Jordan Downs, explained that the free items being distributed today will truly make the difference between inside the homes of some of her neighbors. “Many of the Jordan Down residents,” she said, “would not have a turkey or gifts for their children, if it were not for the kindness and generosity of The Poor People’s Campaign and the SCLC.”
While the residents of Jordan Downs were graciously accepting the hospitality of the SCLCLA, The Poor People’s Campaign and Clean Up America, residents of Nickerson Gardens, another major public housing property with 1,053 units, only a few minutes from Jordan Downs, were also celebrating the holiday season with a free meal and a free toy giveaway.
Donny Joubert, Housing Authority recreation assistant and member of the Watts Gang Task Force, said, “Every year at this time we provide a free meal for the Nickerson Gardens residents and giveaway free toys for the children.”
Karl Stephens, Nickerson Gardens facility director, indicated that there are many people, individuals, public agencies, and elected officials that deserve the credit for this year’s event but he made special mention of the support of Los Angeles City Councilmember Janice Hahn, the City of Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Department, LA City Camp, and the Housing Authority.
The Nickerson Gardens pre-Christmas event featured gifts for all of the children as well as an opportunity to be among the winners of over 30 bicycles, shirts from Philadelphia ‘76ers basketball player Andre Miller, and personal care gift bags for the adults.
The act of giving as well as the true spirit of the holiday season, which includes extending a hand to someone in need, was pervasive throughout the recreation areas of Jordan Downs and Nickerson Gardens, just before Christmas.
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MEDIA ADVISORY MEDIA ADVISORY
For more information call Shoshana McCallum, 213-519-1262 Cell
14 Candidates Competing for 37th Congressional District Seat Confirmed for Town Hall Meeting on Poverty
Carson, CA: Of the 19 candidates competing to secure the coveted 37th congressional district seat, 14 have confirmed their attendance at the first ever Poor People’s Campaign Town Hall Meeting, to discuss poverty with some of the most impoverished residents in Los Angeles county. The event will be held at California State University, Dominguez Hills in the Dominguez Ballroom at 6:00pm. Anthony Samad, author and columnist will serve as moderator.
Residents who have been forced to live below the federal poverty line, are being urged to speak directly and candidly with the elected officials on issues concerning livable wages, job creation, education and training, healthcare, housing opportunities, safer communities and more. Currently, 37.6 million Americans live in poverty, a figure that is equivalent to the entire population of California.
The Poor People’s Campaign was created by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to help eradicate poverty by creating livable wage jobs, and a fair and equitable society. On April 4th 2007 the campaign was
re-launched by a collaborative partnership of community leaders to create a current movement based on economic justice for those greatest in need.
WHO: Residents from across Los Angeles County, including
community leaders and elected officials
WHAT: The Poor People’s Campaign Town Hall Meeting on Poverty
WHEN: Friday June 15th 2007
TIME: 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Cal State Dominguez Hills, Dominguez Ballroom
Locker Student Union Building
ADDRESS: 1000 East Victoria Street, Carson California, 90747. Parking available in Parking Lot #3 after 5pm
(Lot #3 - corner of East Victoria Street and Tamcliff Avenue)
For more information on The Poor People’s Campaign please call: 323-290-4100 or visit: http://www.sclclosangeles.org.
MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact Shoshana McCallum, 213-519-1262 Cell,
Poor People’s Campaign to Hold Press Conference
Delivers New Training and Employment Opportunities for LA’s Poor
Los Angeles, CA: Residents from throughout Los Angeles county will join the leadership coalition of the Poor People’s Campaign, as they announce new hope in the form of career and training opportunities developed exclusively by the members of the campaign.
Recognizing the need to adequately prepare people who want work, the Poor People’s Campaign designed their first tier programs to increase the chances for securing employment. Of those being promoted are a technical and trade academy, a pre-apprentice program and a pre-employment prep class. Prospective employees interested in the trade industries can expect to earn 2-7 times more than the minimum wage with premium health benefits, vacation and a generous retirement package.
The Poor People’s Campaign was created by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to help eradicate poverty by creating livable wage jobs, and a fair and equitable society. On April 4th 2007 the campaign was
re-launched by a collaborative partnership of community leaders representing a growing list of organizations ranging from civil and human rights, labor, faith based, political, social and business who together are creating a current movement of economic justice, for those greatest in need.
A town hall meeting on poverty that targets the candidates competing for the 37th congressional district seat will also be held on Friday June 15, 2007 at 6:00 pm, at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson.
WHO: Residents from across Los Angeles County, including
community leaders and students
WHAT: Los Angeles Poor Hold Press Conference in front of the
State of California Employment Development Department
WHEN: Friday June 15th 2007
TIME: 10:00 A.M.
WHERE: 5401 Crenshaw Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90043-2407
(at 54th Street and Crenshaw Blvd)
Los Angeles, CA. - November 21, 2006 The Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles (SCLC/LA) strongly condemns the recent statements of Michael Richards, AKA "Kramer" of the television sitcom Seinfeld as racist, derogatory, inflammatory and without regard for the history of racism and discrimination that has plagued our nation.
Reverend Eric P. Lee, Executive Director of SCLC of Greater Los Angeles states that "Michael Richards' public tirade against African American customers while performing at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood, CA clearly conveys the deep seeded racism that exists in his heart and soul." The fact that Mr. Richards continued these derogatory remarks for more than two minutes indicates that his comments were not a mistake, as Jerry Seinfeld remarked.
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, founded by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was born out of the spiritual wickedness of hatred and racism that sought to deny people of color a life of dignity, peace, freedom and justice. The statements made by Michael Richards that "50 years ago we'd have you upside down with an f***ing fork up you're ass", are reminiscent of the Jim Crow sentiments and Ku Klux Klan activities during the civil rights struggles of the 1950's and 1960's. Rev. Lee states that "Michael Richards personally identified with insults he hurled against African Americans."
Reverend Eric P. Lee further states that the statements made by Michael Richards are "spiritually and socially immoral, irresponsible and a crime against humanity". Rev. Lee acknowledges that Michael Richards' 30-second apology via satellite on the David Letterman show is insincere. "Michael Richards returned to the Laugh Factory the next night to publicly apologize, but made no mention of the previous night's incident."
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles (SCLC/LA) acknowledges and appreciates the Laugh Factory for banning Michael Richards from any future performances until retribution is made to the African American community. SCLC of Greater Los Angeles further demands that television networks and studios associated with Mr. Richards issue a statement condemning his statements as racist and prohibit Michael Richards from public appearances.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Contacts:
Akili at 323.683.4784 or
Chris Strudwick-Turner at 323.299.9660 x256; cell 213.400.0680
TOP COMMUNITY AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERS URGE UCLA TO
INCREASE ENROLLMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS
TO MEET FEDERAL STANDARDS
Los Angeles, Calif. - Top African American community leaders today strongly urged UCLA to increase enrollment of African American students to 300 for the 2007 Fall Freshman Class to meet minimum Federal Impact Standards, adopt a more "holistic" admissions approach, and rethink its position on the profile of a deserving and successful student in order for significant change in admissions of qualified African Americans to occur.
During today's press conference at the First AME Church (FAME) in Los Angeles, African American leaders of the Alliance for Equal Opportunity in Education detailed its response to UCLA's September announcement that the university will immediately implement a "holistic" student admissions process similar to UC Berkeley's current one, which has a higher percentage of African American enrollments than UCLA.
The 2006 freshmen class at UCLA consisted of 96 African American students, the lowest number of admits since the 1960s. As a result, UCLA created a Task Force to examine all the issues regarding the low African American enrollment, including yield.
"We will continue to work with UCLA and the UC Regents for an immediate solution to an unacceptable situation," states Blair H. Taylor, President of the Los Angeles Urban League. "However, it should be very clearly stated that success to the Alliance in admission policy changes will not be defined by 105 African American students enrolled in the 2007 freshman class. Success will be recognized by the community our organizations serve when 200 more of its children are enrolled in this public institution next year, with a plan for continued increases each year."
"The Alliance applauds UCLA's announced effort to take a step to stem the critical decline in African American enrollment at UCLA. However, we remain cautiously optimistic. The details of the "holistic" approach have not been finalized and there is no confident indication from the University that the approach will result in a definitive increase in African American admits for the 2007 freshman class," said Mandla Kayise, President of the UCLA Black Alumni Association.
- more -
African American student leaders at UCLA have also called for the university's admissions office to analyze and determine what faulty procedures in the 2006 process resulted in the lowest numbers of admits since the 1960s.
"Without knowledge of what errors occurred in the 2006 admissions process that allowed for such a low number of African Americans in this freshman class, it will not be possible to predict with any degree of certainty that the switch to a "holistic" approach will be the remedy to cure the illness," stated Terry Flennaugh, student representative to the Alliance.
The Alliance's three co-chairs, Dr. Geraldine Washington, President of the NAACP Los Angeles, Mr. Kayise and Mr. Taylor, are represented on UCLA's Task Force.
Members of the Alliance include African American Collaborative, Assembly member Karen Bass, 47 th District, Brotherhood Crusade, Community Call to Action and Accountability, Ecumenical Congress, First AME Church, Assembly member Mervyn Dymally, 52 nd District, Ecumenical Congress, Los Angeles Urban League, Mt. Gilead Missionary Baptist Church, NAACP Los Angeles, Southern Christian Leadership Conference of LA, The Nation of Islam, UCLA African Student Union and UCLA Black Alumni Association
A public town hall meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 26 at 6:00 p.m. at FAME to address community concerns about the admissions process and the negative impact on African American students.
UCLA's Ralph Bunche Center issued a fourth report on the university's admissions policies and identifies UCLA's definition of "merit" as the problem.
To comply with federal standards this year, UCLA would have had to admit approximately 100 more African Americans. Proposition 209 does not preclude inclusion of higher numbers of African Americans and quotas are not at issue.
About The Alliance for Equal Opportunity Education
The Alliance for Equal Opportunity Education is a coalition of African American leadership in Los Angeles that has convened weekly since June to address the admissions crises at UCLA following the staggering low number of African American student enrolled for the 2006 UCLA freshman class. Over the past four months, the Alliance has met with UCLA Chancellor Abrams, UC President Dynes and the UC Regents insisting on immediate steps to reverse the decline in African American student enrollment beginning with the admission policies for the 2007 freshman class.
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Statement to UC Regents
November 15, 2006
I am Rev. Eric P. Lee, Executive Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles, and UC Berkeley graduate.
52 years after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, which outlawed segregation in public education, we find ourselves in 2006 with a Jim Crow mentality existing at UCLA and throughout the UC system in regards to access to equal educational opportunities for African American students.
52 years after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, the African American community is told by the University of California at Los Angeles that they cannot find qualified African American students, yet African American students rejected by UCLA are accepted at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT and Stanford.
52 years after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, UCLA claims that they are unable to identify UC eligible African American students that qualify for admittance to UCLA, yet 20 of the 96 African Americans admitted to UCLA are student athletes.
52 years after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, which outlawed segregation in public education, we find that of all UC eligible African American students admitted to the 10 University of California campuses, ½ of those students are re-directed away from UCLA, away from UC Berkeley, away from UC San Diego, to the University of California at Riverside.
What message is UCLA and the Regents sending to our community? It suggests that UCLA and the UC system can indeed find and identify UC eligible African American students, but only to the most prestigious of the campuses if they contribute to the revenue generating athletic departments...only if they come from certain communities, from certain schools that have certain AP courses offered...only if they've proven themselves at a two-year junior college or state university.
This message must change, and the only way it will change is if you, the UC Regents mandate that it change. |
