Social Action Issues
I. Criminal Justice System
Death Penalty Abolition
Studies have shown the handing down of
the death penalty to be affected by the defendants skin color. Currently, African
Americans account for 42% of the nation's death row population
according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, even though they
make up only 13% of the nation's civilian population. African
Americans have always been and continue to be disproportionately
put to death at the hands of the American "justice" system. We
call for the abolishment of the death penalty.
Hate Crimes
In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks
on New York and Washington, the Arab American, South Asian
American, and Muslim American
communities were the victims of hate crimes and discrimination. We
condemn bigotry and violence against Arab, Muslim, South Asian,
and Sikh Americans.
The Incarceration of the Mentally Disabled
The mentally disabled are placed in prisons
when they are actually in need of medical attention. Incarceration
of the mentally disabled
puts them in a place where they cannot reach the resources required.
Non-Lethal Weapons for Police
The lack of access to high tech non-lethal
weapons has led to accidental shootings of criminal suspects.
Support of programs that create
and promote the use of non-lethal weapons is imperative.
Prison
Industrial Complex
It is necessary to review the expansion of the Prison Industrial Complexes
in America. Of particular concern is the incarceration of Juveniles as well
as the privatization of prison facilities.
Prison Labor Exploitation
We approve of prison industries training however do not feel that convicts
should be exploited for their labor during their incarceration and then be
unable to find work when released. We suggest that fair compensation be given
to those incarcerated in way of union wages and that post prison employment
responsibilities lie with companies that hold established relationships with
prisons.
Property Takings and Public Housing
TANF has the option of barring mothers with drug felonies
from receiving TANF benefits. Mothers who are trying to recreate their lives
are forced to do so
on their own and many times feel it would be in their children’s best interest
to remain in foster care so that their children will have a more stable lifestyle.
We oppose this option’s existence and suggest a grace period for mothers with
past drug related convictions.
Third Party Eviction
Currently it is possible for a family to be kicked out of housing if one
individual is caught and charged with minor possession of any narcotic. This
has an adverse effect on families and does not allow any grace periods. We
Waiving Youth into Adult Courts
According to the National Juvenile Law Center %50 of all youth offenders
transferred into adult courts are African Americans.
II. Economic Justice
Community Based Technology Centers
The Community Technology Centers program will assist eligible applicants
in providing residents of economically distressed urban and rural communities
with access to information-based organizations. Eligible applicants must
be community-based and have the capacity to expand significantly access to
computers and related services.
Childcare
Universal childcare is a necessity with the increasing number of dual income
homes. It is important to provide safe, clean and affordable childcare that
can be accessed by everyone.
Greater Diversity in Bilingual Education
There is a need to expand bilingual education to encompass more than traditional
languages such as Creole, and Amharie.
Humphrey/Hawkins Full Employment Act
This law was introduced to help guarantee that every
able and willing American that wants to work can get it. It has never
been implemented and must become a new priority.
Lifelong Learning and the Digital Divide
Regardless of age, education is crucial in gaining
the ability to better oneself. A new national interest must be put in
the guarantee that all Americans have access to the widest variety of educational
opportunities.
Living Wage
The Living Wage Act is one that requires employers
receiving major service contracts from the state to pay a living wage to
employees working on those
contracts based on State cost of living index.
Minority Media Ownership
We disagree with the recent ruling in Senate Resolution
159, which states the FCC does not find the weakening of the Nation’s media
ownership rules in the public interest. Media moguls oftentimes hold varied
outlets of media
including television, radio, newspaper, and magazine. Placing one company
in charge of this many outlets allows them to disseminate political ideologies
or propaganda easily and that is not in the public interest.
Pay Equity
We support the Equal Pay Enforcement Act because of its enhancement of existing
laws and its ability to establish a multi-sector equal pay commission to
study and make recommendations about extent, causes and consequences of wage
disparities. It is important to express support for this legislation since
African Americans and minorities in general face a glass ceiling in the workplace
and are often passed over for promotion.
Reparations
Legislation to establish a Commission to Study the Reparations Proposals
for African Americans has been introduced to review the institution of slavery,
and the resulting economic and racial discrimination against African Americans
and the impact these forces have had on living African Americans. It is important
to support this legislation as the vestiges of slavery have resulted in severely
disadvantageous economic situations.
Social Security
We oppose privatization of social security.
Tax Cuts
We oppose measures that result in a less progressive tax system such as lowering
tax rate on capital gains and dividends. The tax rate was lowered at a faster
rate for those at the top compared to the rate applied to those at the bottom.
III. Education
Equitable School Funding
Despite the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution,
decades of civil rights laws and volumes of talk about improving our school,
a dramatic
disparity in the quality of public education continues to plague our nation. The
quality of our children’s educations varies radically based on where you
live.
Head Start Programs
Strengthen and expand existing head start programs to be made available
to each and every child.
Militarism of Public Schools through ROTC
ROTC program take additional resources from schools
already strapped for cash in the name of education. They place an uncertified teacher in a history
or social science slot, take our youth out of other classes and teach a dubious
view of the rights of citizens. In addition, ROTC programs teach the use
of weapons in schools that is "Zero Tolerance" for weapons, giving a mixed
message. Finally, they provide recruitment of our youth into the military
without rebuttal, giving one-sided and frequently inaccurate message.
Let No Child Go Unrecruited
Hidden in the "Let No Child Be Left Behind" education act, was a requirement
that not only did not provide any help to education, but exploits the already
overtaxed resources of schools merely to aid military recruiters unprecedented
access to our children’s directory information merely upon request and entry
to our schools which had previously banned them. In addition, it continues
the pattern of giving our children only one side of the military recruitment
process, not allowing them to make an informed decision about a life changing
choice. We support giving our children all the information including: the
higher level of race and sex discrimination; the greatly higher rape and
domestic violence against women in the service; the disproportional number
of veterans who are homeless; and ho the military has repeatedly admitted
that it makes a profit on the GI Montgomery Bill which is suppose to provide
money for college veterans.
Oppose Discriminatory "High Stakes" Educational
Testing
Many states are relying upon a single standardized test to determine important
decisions, such as graduation, and while they serve an important role in
educational settings, their misuse can result in barriers to educational
opportunity and progress. Often students of color have not had benefits of
a highly qualified teaching staff or instruction in the skills and content
of these tests and may perform poorly, resulting in unfairly denied educational
opportunities.
Tracking/Ability Grouping
The tracking of students within schools based on "performance" has
led to resegregation of schools. All too often lower class levels are disproportionately
filled with colored students while higher-level classes are predominantly
white.
IV. Environmental and Climate Justice
African Americans and Power Plant Pollution
71% of African Americans are living in counties that
violate federal air pollution standards compared to 58% of the white population. 68%
of African Americans live within a thirty-mile radius of a coal-fired power
plan that
is directly related to the rising epidemic of asthma in this country. The
disproportionate effect suggests a deeper problem than simple pollution of
all counties and requires an answer.
V. Gender Equity
Domestic Violence
Studies have shown people of color to be victims
of interpersonal violence at significantly higher rates than white men
and women. Black women in particular
had rates of interpersonal violence 35% higher than white women. This problem
is compounded by official responses that are not sensitive to cultural difference
and often reflect institution discrimination.
VI. Health
Developing ways to extend health care coverage to poor and uninsured. Access
to Clean Air and Water
Develop methods of securing clean air and water for every community, regardless
of race and geography.
Disproportionate Placement of Toxic Waste Sites in Black and Latino Communities
Develop strategies for preventing the dumping of toxic waste, and other
pollutants into poor and disadvantaged communities.
HIV/AIDS
Develop methods of preventing, treating, and curing AIDS through education,
research, and access to trained medical professionals.
Lead Poisoning
Implementing and expanding programs to prevent and treat children exposed
to toxic lead poisoning through community education and increase access to
home lead testing, as well as testing of vulnerable age children.
Life Expectancy Differential/Disparities in Health Care
Developing strategies to address the disparities of life expectancy in our
nation through environmental studies, race, ethnic, and geographical government
funded research at CDC, NIH, and other research institutes throughout the
country.
VII. Hip Hop Culture
images of Women in Hip Hop and the Relationship of Hip Hop to Black Liberation
How can the hip hop movement’s growing influence
be focused in an uplifting manner on the matters of civil rights, women
and other movements for justice,
jobs and freedom?
VIII. Global Peace
Access to Telecommunications Services Throughout the 3rd World
Throughout Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America, individuals in this
country struggle to gain access to telecommunication services.
Civil Conflict (The Diamond Struggles)
We are in support of legislation that moves to stop all trade in conflict
diamonds. Countries involved suffer and are manipulated by our trade in these
diamonds and the money received is often used to finance dubious militaristic
agendas.
The Congo and Debt Relief
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is rich in natural resources and thus
endowed with vast potential wealth yet with a GDP per capita of approx. $600,
it is one of the poorest countries in the world. The total external debt
was estimated at 12,880m in nominal terms with more than $10m in arrears.
Immigration We are opposed to racial and ethnic profiling as a basis for visa
policy, especially in regards to Haitians, Arabs, and South Asians Israel/Palestine
We support fair and honest negotiations in the dispute
between the Israelis and Palestinians by pursuing a balanced Middle East
peace agreement. We
believe that President Bush’s Road Map to peace should be implemented in
its original form, with the two parties expected to act simultaneously to
fulfill their obligations under this plan.
Supporting the United Nations
The United Nations requires our support in many endeavors. One of these
is the singing of the UN Declaration of Human Rights because of its recognition
of the fundamental human right of a conscious objection to war. Another is
to finally pay off our debt to the U.N.
IX. Peace and Security
Military Legal Process
Discussion on ways to strengthen and safeguard traditional
civil rights protection for those in every branch of the military. Many
military personnel
are not properly informed of the legal process and suffer consequences as
a result.
Opposing Imperialism and Colonialism
A discussion of ways to mitigate the recent expansions of modern-day imperialism
of the United States. What should the role of the U.N. be?
Political Prisoners and Civil Liberties
Foreign individuals have been held in Guantanamo
Bay without being released or tried for a crime. In addition since 9/11
there have been serious abuses
by the Department of Justice in the detention of suspects and there has been
an increase in the amount of secret evidence used. We urge Congress to investigate
the DOJ’s actions and call upon the Administration to reinstate open immigration
hearings by administrative judges and eliminate usage of secret evidence.
Rights of Conscientious Objectors
The armed forces’ management of conscientious objectors
who face court martial or other punishment is hindered by inadequate trial
instructions and administrative
shortcoming, both of which infringe on the ability to protect the rights
of conscientious objectors, especially in the cases of court-martial where
an individual professes principled opposition to military service and is
judged by those who have accepted the service. Military judges should issue
a clear explanation of the legal status and responsibilities of a service
member making a conscientious objection and waiting on his/her status and
better co-ordinate criminal charges against those pending discharge for conscientious
objection.
School of the Americas
We oppose the "School of the Americas." Renamed the "Western Hemisphere
Institute for Security Cooperation" (WHISC), the school trains hundreds of
soldiers each year- supported by millions of US tax payer dollars. Many
of these soldiers have been responsible for some of the worst human rights
violations and the most brutal terrorist attacks on civilian communities
in our hemisphere, including: the massacre of more than 900 people at El
Mozote; the Trujillo "chainsaw massacre of over 100 civilians; the execution
of Six Jesuit priests; the assassination of Archbishop Romero and Bishop
Juan Gerardi, and the brutal rape and murder of 4 US churchwomen.
X. Race and Ethnicity
Embracing All Members of Our Community
A discussion about the ever increasing diversity of American communities
whether it be racial, ethnic or lifestyle, that gives our communities their
strength and the proper approaches to capitalizing on the currently latent
potential of these communities.
Immigration
We are opposed to racial and ethnic profiling as a basis for visa policy,
especially in regards to Haitians, Arabs, and South Asians
The Question of Diaspora
There is a need to formulate national and international
policies that address the long-lasting effects of colonialism, imperialism
and racism on human
beings. The traces of colonialism, imperialism and racism are prevalent in
every society it has touched and need to be properly dealt with through policy.
The Relationship Between Black and Latino Communities
The recent statistics have shown Latinos to be surpassing
African Americans by number. These statistics incorrectly name "Latino" as
a racial group, when in fact they are an ethnic group composed of many
races, including African.
Regardless, these numbers are an insignificant detail as we are all minorities
in a similar struggle.
Religious Tolerance
Breaking through religious and faith stereotypes while enhancing familiarity
will help prevent xenophobia and allow for a religious tolerance. This tolerance
will make our communities richer in their diversity and more powerful as
they will not be divided by religious or faith-based boundaries.
Support and Recognition for the Durban Declaration
We stand in support of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action that
resulted from the 2001 United Nations World Conference Against Racism in
South Africa. This internationally recognized document acknowledges slavery
and the slave trade as a crime against humanity, and understands that a gender
perspective must be integrated into policies addressing race in order to
effectively combat multiple forms of discrimination. It stresses the need
for religious freedom for all peoples, and the need for a comprehensive education
that addresses the history, causes, nature, and consequences of racism. It
speaks directly to the issues facing people of African descent, indigenous
peoples, migrants, and other victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia
and other related intolerances.
XI. Political Participation
Lift Ban on Welfare Benefits to Women Convicted of Drug Offense
Women who are struggling to recover from drug addictions
are doing their best to rebuild their lives and their families. But because of a little
known provision in the federal welfare reform law, about 92,000 women are
currently banned for the rest of their lives from getting the help they need
to succeed. They’re denied benefits forever because of past criminal offenses-even
though they have successfully completed their sentences and paid their dues.
Militarism of Public Schools through ROTC
ROTC programs take additional resources from schools
already strapped for cash in the name of education. They place an uncertified teacher in a history
or social science slot, take our youth out of other classes and teach a dubious
view of the rights of citizens. In addition, ROTC programs teach the use
of weapons in schools that is "Zero Tolerance" for weapons, giving a mixed
message. Finally, they provide recruitment of our youth into the military
without rebuttal, giving a one-sided and frequently inaccurate message.
Same Day Registration for Voters
We support the introduction of legislation that will allow potential voters
to register the same day as elections. This removes regulations, which only
hurt voter turnout and registration.
