Congressional Black Caucus led by Rep. Marcia Fudge denounces racism at Capitol Hill hearing, by Washington Bureau Plain Dealer Reporter Sabrina Eaton

MarciaFudgeOfficial.jpg 



Warrensville Heights Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge. Photo courtesy of Rep. Marcia Fudge

Print By Sabrina Eaton, Plain Dealer Washington Reporter The Plain Dealer
Follow on Twitter
on July 30, 2013 at 6:25 PM, updated July 30, 2013 at 7:12 PM


Even though they don't control the House of Representatives this term, Democrats can still make points by booking meeting rooms and inviting witnesses to testify at unofficial hearings on Capitol Hill.

On Tuesday, the Congressional Black Caucus led by Marcia Fudge of Warrensville Heights, used that prerogative to convene a "conversation on race and justice in America" where they expressed displeasure with events like the Supreme Court's decision to strike down portions of the federal Voting Rights Act and the acquittal of Florida neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who fatally shot unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin last year.

Calling race "a topic that has too long been a thorn in the side of this nation," Fudge said she expected to include Republicans in the discussion, as well, "once we can figure out how we want to talk about it ourselves."

She said members of her group are working on legislation to address racial profiling, overturn "stand your ground" laws, and restore parts of the Voting Rights Act that the U.S. Supreme Court overturned.

"We must get serious about acknowledging the impact racial profiling, violence and inequitable treatment under the law is having on our communities, and of particular concern to me, on our young people," Fudge said. "We must be vocal and honest about the impact of attacks on our civil, constitutional and economic rights that thousands of people of all races fought and died to protect."

Speakers at the gathering, including Maya Wiley of the Center for Social Inclusion, said racism has been on the rise since President Barack Obama was elected president in 2008. She cited a 2012 poll by the Associated Press that found 51 percent of Americans expressing "explicit anti-black" views, compared with 48 percent in a similar 2008 survey.

Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson said he believes economic uncertainty is behind a "rise in a vicious tone of racism" that he has perceived, as people who feel anxious express "animus towards anyone who is different or seems to be a threat."



"The inauguration of the first black president, I think, brought this whole thing to a head for a lot of people," Robinson said. Read more at Sabrina Eaton, Plain Dealer Washington Reporter


















Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Former WOIO 19 Action News Anchor in Cleveland Sharon Reed lands new anchor job, her lawyer says rumors about LeBron James fathering her baby are false, had threatened to sue on her behalf, Reed is famous for posing nude for Spenser Tunick's nude group photo shoot

Corrupt and racist University Heights Mayor Susan Infeld is booted from office by voters following claims of spending irregularities of taxpayers money, racism against Black residents, police abuse of Blacks as city safety director, and of running a theft ring of county residents homes via illegal foreclosure activity led by JPMorgan Chase Bank.....University Heights is a Cleveland suburb....Others involved in the theft ring or retaliation against homeowners who complain include corrupt common pleas judges such as Judges John O'Donnell and Carolyn Friedland, Chief County Foreclosure Magistrate and University Heights Resident Stephen Bucha, and his wife, an attorney with the law firm of Lerner Sampson and Rothfuss, who represents corrupt mortgage companies and banks, including JP Morgan Chase Bank... Others involved include racist and corrupt University Hts Police Sgt Dale Orians, former county prosecutor Bill Mason, who is a partner with Bricker and Eckler, which represents JPMorgan Chase Bank, and current County Prosecutor Mike O'Malley, who was Mason's deputy....Drunken Shaker Heights Judge KJ Montgomery, who also hears criminal cases for University Hts, has Blacks illegally prosecuted who complain of the theft of their homes, as does O'Malley..... Judge Montgomery is top in issuing excessive and illegal warrants against the Black community....All of the aforementioned are corrupt and activists want them indicted and prosecuted....This is Part 1 of a multi-part series on Cuyahoga County public corruption by Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog with some 5 million views on Google Plus alone.Tel: (216) 659-0473 and Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com

Chief and unfair Cuyahoga County Judge John Russo loses authority-Part 2 of a multi-part series on Cuyahoga County public corruption: New Ohio law on seeking possible removal of a municipal court judge in a case for bias or conflict via the filing of an affidavit of prejudice takes authority to decide from chief Cuyahoga County Presiding Judge John Russo, other chief common pleas judges in Ohio, and hands it to the chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, who also determines affidavits of prejudice filed against common pleas, probate, juvenile, domestic relations, and state appellate court judges....Most affidavits of prejudice are denied regardless of the merits and some judges complained of will retaliate, data show... Community activists, led by Cleveland activist Kathy Wray Coleman of the Imperial Women Coalition, lobbied the Cleveland NAACP for support and asked state legislators via state Rep Bill Patmon (D-10) of Cleveland to change the law but wanted a panel of judges and others to decide when a judge in Ohio is disqualified from hearing a case for bias or conflict....Coleman says she has since been further harassed by Chief Cuyahoga County Judge John Russo, who is White and leads a racist and sexist common pleas court fueled with corruption, malicious prosecutions, excessive criminal bonds, ineffective assistance of counsel to poor and Black defendants, and the mass incarceration of the Black community....By www.clevelandurbannews.com and www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's most read digital Black newspapers....This is part 2 of a multi-part series on Cuyahoga County public corruption