Civil rights groups come together on common agenda – taking action

By George E. Curry
NNPA News Service
(June 26, 2006)During Rainbow/PUSH's annual convention, a panel of leaders was assembled to work on a common agenda. However, before moderator Ron Daniels could call on a second panelist, NAACP President Bruce Gordon had articulated what everyone would later agree was a series of common issues. The leaders realized that what they needed was not another agenda, but a plan of action.

Outlining the goal of the session, Daniels asked: "What can we collaborate on becomes the most urgent question. How do we frame an agenda and how do we re-gain the momentum in the current climate?"

Gordon, the panelist with the least experience in his or her current position, listed five key areas: education, health care, criminal justice, civic engagement and economic empowerment.

"I believe that already today, regardless of which organization we bring to the table, we're focused on those five issues," he said. Sounding like a battle-weary veteran, Gordon added, "We can't be satisfied with meetings, discussions and speeches. We need to act on them."

Southern Christian Leadership Conference President Charles Steele Jr. agreed.

"We don't have enough direct action," said Steele. "That's what got you your freedom." The crowd applauded loudly when he urged them to "raise hell."

Jesse Jackson outlined four targets: British Petroleum (BP), whom Jackson accuses of having no Blacks among its 800 gasoline distributors and less than 1 percent of its senior managers, figures the firm say are inaccurate; launching a boycott of CNN, if necessary, to get it to place more people of color on the air; taking on unrepresentative trade unions and marching before the Supreme Court to preserve affirmative action.

[Boycotts and demonstrations were launched the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition against BP/Arco stations across the nation on June 24]

In taking the action against BP, one of the sponsors of this year's convention, Jackson says in addition to having a solid case against BP, he was also signaling to corporations that even though they support Rainbow/PUSH financially, that support does not buy his silence. Jackson said after the BP drive, a coalition of organizations will shift to focus to other oil company in an effort to drive down gas prices.

The threatened boycott of CNN also makes a statement to companies headed by Black CEOs, putting them on notice that they will not be exempt because of their race.

In his letter to Richard Parsons, the African-American who serves as CEO of Time-Warner, Jackson complained about "the patterns of exclusion in front of the camera and behind the scenes - from booking and talent producers, executive producers, anchors and hosts, commentators and guests" as well as issues discussed on-air.

"At our convention this week in Chicago, a broad coalition of African American and Latino organizations - including the NAACP, LULAC, National Action Network and many others - addressed the cultural lock-out by the media. Many feel humiliated and offended by the images projected across television screens around the world. If we continue to be tuned out and locked out, we are prepared to engage in a view out."

On the panel, Sharpton said that when leaders have organized successful campaigns in the past, the White-owned media has rarely given them credit.

"A lot of our people think that civil rights organizations are of the past or don't score victories," Sharpton said. "That's because when we score, the announcer never announce the score.

"This year alone, we were able to make boot camps in Florida illegal - a clear civil rights victory," Sharpton said. "We were able to turn around New Orleans, in terms of voter rights and voter participation - a clear victory. None of which was covered by the (White) media."

Sharpton said Black leaders are often portrayed as ambulance-chasers, moving from event to event.

"In our community, we're not the ambulance-chasers, we're the ambulance," he said, drawing laughter.
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