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"I congratulate Senator Clinton on a surprising and significant victory in New Hampshire last night. Not only did it appear to revive her candidacy, it literally threw this race wide open again.
As a result of her victory, the January 26th South Carolina Primary becomes critical to all candidates on their path to the presidency. Given the significant number of black voters in South Carolina, that Primary should be a referendum on 21 st century civil rights issues such as racial disparities in the criminal justice system, the rise of hate crimes across this nation, the racial gap in health care and educational opportunities, and the still present income gap between blacks and whites in this country.
As Iowans rightly made the candidates deal with ethanol and oil and the people of New Hampshire made them address the economy and immigration, The African-American community should force real debate on our particular American issues.
South Carolina is of particular relevance to me. in the 2004 primary in South Carolina I received 10 percent of the vote in that first ever primary in S.C.( They were caucuses before that) with virtually no money. I intend to extensively tour the state and use my daily radio show, which is heard in the state to ensure that Jena, the decency issues raised in the Imus situation, hangman nooses, education as a civil right and the high incarceration of black men are brought into the forefront of the national discussion.
Many undecided African-American voters like me can ill afford to throw our vote away at this historic moment, we must seize the time."
Reverend Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network
BLACK ENTERPRISE OWNER AND PUBLISHER PULLS THE PLUG ON EDDIE GRIFFIN FOR USING THE “N” WORD AT SOLD-OUT CONCERT & REV. AL SHARPTON APPLAUDS STRONG STANCE IN SUPPORT OF HIS DECENCY EFFORTS
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LEGENDARY HIP-HOP ARTIST MASTER P TO BE AN IN-STUDIO GUEST ON REV. AL SHARPTON’S NATIONALLY SYNDICATED RADIO SHOW THIS WEDNESDAY TO DISCUSS HIS FIRST ALL-POSITIVE ALBUM HE MADE WITH HIS SON ROMEO
New York, NY (Tuesday, September 4, 2007) --Black Enterprise Magazine held their 14th annual Golf & Tennis Challenge in Miami over the Labor Day Weekend and headlining the sold out event was comedian Eddie Griffin who got on stage to a sold-out audience and repeatedly used the “N” word while saying: “Why are some black leaders telling us to stop using the N word?” Suddenly the microphone failed and Earl Graves, owner and publisher of Black Enterprise, came on stage with the plug in his hand and said: “We at Black Enterprise will not allow our culture to go backwards. Black Enterprise stands for decency, black culture and dignity and we will pay Mr. Griffin all that we owe him but we will not allow him to finish the show if that’s the way he’s going to talk.” The entire crowd gave Mr. Graves a standing ovation. Rev. Al Sharpton preached at the event the following day and applauded Mr. Graves for his strong stance on behalf of Black people and expressed gratitude that the nation’s preeminent magazine for African-Americans stands behind the efforts of National Action Network in getting rid of the “N” word.
In continuation of his efforts to clean up the entertainment industry and get rid of racism and misogyny, this Wednesday, Rev. Al Sharpton’s in-studio guest will be legendary hip-hop artist Master P who was humble enough to recognize he was once part of the problem and decided to become part of the Solution by Taking a Stand. Master P/Romeo(Miller Boyz) are releasing the 1st Father/Son Positive Street Rap album 'Hip Hop History' on Sept 4 in all Wal-Mart stores Master P credits Rev. Al Sharpton and Oprah Winfrey for convincing him that he needed to clean up his act. Media is welcome to attend the live in-studio interview this Wednesday, September 5, 2007 - 2:30 p.m. ABC Studios – 125 West End Avenue @ 65th. Media that would like to attend must submit names in advance.
Since April, the Decency Initiative, in collaboration with thousands of activists across the nation, has demanded that the music recording industry eliminate the use of the offensive words “nigga,” “bitch,” and “ho” in all recordings. No other ethnic group is subjected to denigration for profit by the music industry and the Decency Initiative has continued to demand a universal standard of respect, particularly for all women and African Americans.
New York, NY (August 29, 2007) – Former Presidential candidate Reverend Al Sharpton, one of the country’s leading critics of police brutality, says that U.S. Justice Department intervention into police brutality cases in Yonkers is a “step in the right direction” and that “clearly the Yonkers Police Department is in denial, which is why we are starting a National Action Network chapter there.” Reverend Sharpton also says, “We will continue to monitor developments in the federal investigation and will be holding our own forum and hearing at the end of September.”
Yonkers Police Forum hosted by Reverend Al Sharpton
Sept. 29, 2007
1-4 p.m.
Yonkers Riverfront Library
One Larkin Center
Yonkers, NY
Sharpton headed back to West Memphis
Al Sharpton is making another trip to west Memphis Arkansas this weekend to attend a ceremony for the 12 year old boy shot and killed by a West Memphis Police officer. Sharpton first came to town for the funeral of Deaunta Farrow in July. Farrow was shot and killed in June at an apartment complex in West Memphis. Two West Memphis police officers were undercover in the area due to a high number of burglaries.
Farrow was with his cousin, police say he was carrying what looked like a real gun. West Memphis Police officer Erik Sammis says he asked the child to drop the gun, when he didn't he fired the shot that killed Farrow. It turned out the gun the 12 year old had was fake.
The incident is being investigated by the FBI, Arkansas State Police and 2 special prosecutors. Farrow's mother has filed a multi-million dollar wrongful death lawsuit.
Sharpton will be in West Memphis Saturday for the re-naming of a street in honor of the young boy. Sunday, he'll preach at the New Salem Baptist Church in east Memphis.
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SHARPTON GROUP RESPONDS TO DAVID BANNER’S FANTASY
ABOUT REV. AL SHARPTON
Kirsten John-Foy, a leader with Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network and the head of his Criminal Justice Initiative, has a few words for rap artist David Banner or Levell Crump as he was born, who recently said: “The next time you see Al Sharpton, tell him I said [EXPLETIVE] him and he can suck my [EXPLETIVE].
According to Mr. Foy: “From time to time we do encounter people that have sexual fantasies about Reverend Al Sharpton, but they are always women and Crump’s proposition is a first. However, in keeping with the National Action Network’s Decency Initiative, I am sure Rev. Sharpton would not call Crump the “N” “B” or “H” word. And, despite Crump’s personal request, I am sure Reverend Sharpton would not call him a f-g--t. He would just pray for him. We at NAN are pro civil rights for everyone, even Levell Crump who has not had a banner year since his debut album in 2003.
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ABNER LOUIMA AND REV. AL SHARPTON, ALONG WITH OTHER VICTIMS OF POLICE BRUTALITY, TO COMMEMORATE THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF LOUIMA'S ATTACK
REV. SHARPTON TO APPRAISE RUDI GIULIANI AT TENTH ANNIVERSARY RALLY & DISCUSS THE STATE OF POLICE BRUTALITY TODAY IN LIGHT OF GIULIANI'S FRONTRUNNER STATUS ON THE REPUBLICAN TICKET BY ANALYZING WHAT THE NATION MIGHT FACE IF GIULIANI IS ELECTED PRESIDENT AND OVER THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
WHO:
REVEREND AL SHARPTON
ABNER LOUIMA
JOSEPH GUZMAN
TRENT BENEFIELD
ARZU CHILDREN
LAURA PAULTRE-BELL
ATTORNEY SANFORD RUBENSTEIN
ATTORNEY MICHAEL HARDY
WHERE:
National Action Network's "House of Justice"
106 West 145th Street @ Lenox Avenue, Harlem, NYC
WHEN:
7:30 P.M. - THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2007
REVEREND AL SHARPTON AND NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK’S DECENCY INITIATIVE TOOK TO THE STREETS IN OVER 20 CITIES FOR A PROTEST AGAINST THE USE OF WORDS “NIGGA” “BITCH” AND “HO” IN THE MUSIC RECORDING INDUSTRY
New York, NY (Aug 7, 2007) – Reverend Al Sharpton, Founder and President of National Action Network (NAN), and thousands of members of National Action Network, along with women and men from supporting organizations, took to the streets today in over twenty cities to lead a national “Day of Outrage” against the continuous use in the music recording industry of the words “nigga,” “bitch” and “ho.” Reverend Sharpton was in Detroit to lead the protest in front of the Motown Museum and said: "I'm here in Motown in Detroit as a symbol of when music was not denigrating and was entertaining."…… "The opposition has tried to use the argument of free speech, but they don't have the freedom to use peoples' pension funds against their own will and interest," the 2004 presidential candidate said from Detroit where he led a rally outside the famed former studios for the Motown label.
Among other highlights of the “Day of Outrage” were in Chicago, Ill, Mayor Richard Daley kicked off the protest which featured over 200 demonstrators, including the newly installed President of Chicago’s National Action Network, Jeri Wright, daughter of renowned preacher Reverend Jeremiah Wright, and in Miami, Florida, over 300 protestors mobilized including State Senator Fredericka Wilson who pledged to look into a divestment of state pension funds from the music industry that capitalize off of demeaning and sexist lyrics, a campaign that was initiated in New York State by the President of National Action Network’s Buffalo, NY Chapter, Senator Antoine Thompson. In New York City, the place where the movement was organized, Tamika Mallory the Director of National Action Network’s Decency Initiative led 300 hundred marchers outside of Virgin Music Story, along with such notables as Sonia Osorio, President of the New York branch of NOW (National Organization of Women), and Reverend W. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman of National Action Network’s board. In Houston, TX, 300 people, led by Bishop James Dixon led a protest, and in Jacksonville, FL, there were 200 protestors present, including Florida government officials who committed themselves to working on the divestment campaign, led in this market by Dr. Rudolph McKissick. In Richmond, VA, Rev Dr. Dwight C. Jones organized 100 protestors and committed to pushing legislation to divest VA state pension funds from the music industry in his role as State Diligent. In Stamford, CT, 125 protestors, including a significant number of white women, mobilized under the direction of Boise Kimber and Jere Eaton, Pres. of Connecticut Chapter of NAACP.
Reverend Sharpton, who has persistently challenged the entertainment industry on denigrating lyrics and used today’s protests to call for the withdrawal of public investments from companies that won't clean up their act. In New York, one of the states where the event took place, roughly $3 billion from the state pension fund is invested in the entertainment industry. According to Reverend Sharpton, "The idea of divesting State taxpayers' money from record companies that have a double standard when it comes to language is something that will be a priority."
The event today was held at 12 (Noon) in over twenty cities to mount public pressure on the music industry to adopt a universal standard of respect for all people. The cities were New York City, Los Angeles, CA, Detroit, MI, Atlanta, GA, Miami, FL, Dallas, TX, Jacksonville, FL, Kansas City, MO, Phoenix, AZ, Stamford, CT, Philadelphia, PA, Houston, TX, Richmond, VA, Baltimore, MD, Augusta, GA., Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, Bakersfield, CA, Montgomery, AL, St. Louis, MO, Washington, DC, and Buffalo, NY.
Background on the Decency Initiative:
Since April, the Decency Initiative, in collaboration with dozens of activists across the nation, has demanded that the music recording industry eliminate the use of the offensive words “nigga,” “bitch,” and “ho” in all recordings. No other ethnic group is subjected to denigration for profit by the music industry and the Decency Initiative will continue to demand a universal standard of respect, particularly for all women and African Americans. The August 7th national protest will mobilize dozens of women and men in 20 cities for a call to action. There will be a press conference and protest in each city located strategically outside of a major music distributor. The strategic locations will send a strong signal to the music industry that the people will no longer stand by idly while public airwaves are used to promote disrespect.
The protests will be multi-cultural and include all age groups. The women and men will come from all facets of the community including leaders and students. All people must now stand united in defense of decency and the August 7th gathering is just the beginning of a national movement to achieve this end.
In Reverend Al Sharpton’s 2003 book “Al on America” he dedicated a whole chapter to Hip-Hop, condemning Hip-Hop artists for using those exact three words. He convened the first Hip-Hop summit taking a very public stance that was widely covered in the media both nationally and locally. He also picketed the movie Barbershop for desecrating Rosa Parks, a position that was covered nationally. He has written numerous op-ed pieces for the New York Daily News and others about the “N” word and how Blacks must stop using it. On his syndicated radio show which is broadcast in 40 markets he has had hip hop artists on and debated them about the use of demeaning lyrics. He appeared recently on Oprah Winfrey’s show opposing the Hip-Hop artists. At our recent NAN national convention that was widely covered by all newspapers, we withdrew an award for L.A. Reid, a Black music executive because he had co-authored songs with the “Ho” word, and we had a public forum on the words with hundreds of Black kids and formed a Decency Initiative headed by Tamika Mallory to follow up with Blacks and others that use the terms “N,’ “B” and “H.” The Decency Initiative and Reverend Sharpton led a march of hundreds outside of the four major companies on May 3, calling upon on them to remove those words from their artists, most of them Black. Then Decency Initiative and Reverend Sharpton went into Detroit holding the same public forum in late May. The Decency Initiative has marched upon Viacom, the owners of BET, and even addressed their stockholders on this issue. The Initiative also called upon comedian Michael Richards to apologize for his use of the “N” word and the Decency Initiative does limit its outrage to members of the music industry or to its impact on African-Americans. The vigil on August 7th will be an annual event sponsored by the Decency Initiative.
REVEREND AL SHARPTON TO BE IN JENA, LOUISIANA, THIS SUNDAY TO PREACH AT LOCAL CHURCH IN SUPPORT OF THE JENA SIX AND WILL CALL FOR EQUAL JUSTICE IN THIS CASE
SUNDAY, AUGUST 5
11:00 a.m.
Trout Creek Baptist Church
12680 West Highway 84
Jena, LA
(318) 992-8482
REVEREND AL SHARPTON TO LAUNCH A CHICAGO CHAPTER OF NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK (NAN) WITH NEWLY APPOINTED PRESIDENT JERI L.WRIGHT, DAUGHTER OF RENOWNED PREACHER JEREMIAH WRIGHT
NAN Chicago Chapter Strives to Reshape City’s Focus on Social Justice and
Civil Rights
(Chicago, July 27, 2007) - Reverend Al Sharpton, Former Presidential candidate and one of the country’s foremost leaders for civil rights, will be in Chicago to announce the launch of a Chicago chapter of his National Action Network on Wednesday, August 1, 2007, at the historic Regal Theater, located 1645 East 79th Street. A launch press conference is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will be attended by Jeri L. Wright, the President-elect of the Chicago Chapter of NAN, along with other community, religious and political leaders from the Chicago area.
The newly formed Chicago chapter is one of 36 chapters of National Action Network in the United States and Rev. Sharpton is excited to have appointed Jeri Wright to serve as leader because she will impart a fresh vision for Chicago. According to Reverend Sharpton: “I have worked with Ms. Wright on a range of issues through the years and she has the strong vision and commitment to lead the Chicago chapter with an aggressive agenda that will fight civil injustice, racial disparity, and socio-economic inequality.”
NAN is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the nation and works extensively to promote a modern civil rights agenda which includes a standard of decency for all people regardless of race or sex, social justice for all communities, and improvement of race relations. Through the years, NAN has served as a megaphone for the voiceless and an advocate for those in need. The organization has been in the forefront on issues relating to voter registration, education, and police misconduct. You can learn more about what we do viewing our website at www.nationalactionnetwork.net.
“Because of my upbringing, I have always been committed to the liberation of people of African descent,” Wright says. “And I have always admired the work that Rev. Shapton has done with the National Action Network. As I began to help build his clergy connections across the country, one day I came to the realization that I was being called to do more than just produce a publication that educates nurtures and empowers Africans in the Diaspora or give consultations on the subject, but to take ownership and lead the movement here in Chicago. This vision for the Chicago chapter is to bridge the generational gap and engage people of all ages. That vision is reflected through our inter-generational leadership.”
The first initiative of the Chicago chapter is slated as The NAN Decency Initiative national “Day of Outrage” against the continuous use in the music recording industry of the words “nigga,” “bitch” and “ho.” Reverend Sharpton, who has persistently challenged the entertainment industry on denigrating lyrics, will lead a protest in 20 cities including Chicago on August 7th to call for the withdrawal of public investments from companies that won't clean up their act. In many states billions of dollars from state pension funds are invested in the entertainment industry. The overall goal is to establish a single standard that will be adopted by media and entertainment entities that will respect all people regardless of race, gender and sexual orientation.
WHO:
Reverend Al Sharpton, Founder and President of NAN; Jeri Wright, President/NAN-Chicago; Reverend Otis Moss III, Vice-President/NAN-Chicago; Arrie Denise Thomas-Williams, Director of Decency/NAN-Chicago; 6th Ward Alderman Freddrenna Lyle, Treasurer/NAN-Chicago; Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Jr., Senior Pastor/Trinity United Church of Christ; Father Michael Pfleger, Pastor, Community of St. Sabina, and other committed clergy
WHAT:
Launch of National Action Network Chicago Chapter
WHEN:
Wednesday, August 1, 2007, 4 P.M.
WHERE:
1645 East 79th Street (Regal Theater)
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REVEREND DR. W. FRANKLYN RICHARDSON, NATIONALLY RENOWNED PREACHER & CHAIRMAN OF REV. AL SHARPTON’S NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK, TO BE FEATURED GUEST AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY IN ENGLAND
RICHARDSON TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OXFORD ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON RELIGION AND THE DECLINE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Westchester, NY (July 23, 2007) – The Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, NY, and Chairman of the Board of the National Action Network, Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, announced today that he will travel to England to participate in the Oxford Roundtable on July 29 through August 3. He has been invited to be among forty prestigious scholars in a discussion entitled: Religion and the Decline of Public Schools. Invitations to this round table are sent to select individuals throughout the world. The Oxford Round Table was founded in 1989 as a colloquium for small groups of governmental and business leaders to engage in discussion about contemporary public policy that affect nations and states worldwide. Alumni of the Round Table include government ministers, legislators, corporate business leaders, university presidents, professors, lawyers, physicians, and other professionals.
Background:
For more than 20 years Dr. Richardson has been involved in the difficult task of bridging the cultural gap between community and education in Mount Vernon, New York. In the early 1980’s he began to call the community’s attention to the disparity among the administration, faculty and students, and the direct correlation between the under achievement of students and the lack of African American roles models in leadership positions within the school system. He also focused heavily on the lack of parental involvement in the educational process. Citing the church’s independence as an opportunity to assure that a competent educational opportunity was guaranteed to all, Dr. Richardson mobilized the black church leadership and the clergy became the foundation of the movement. As a result, the Mount Vernon school system today is a reflection of the community with African Americans in majority control of the school board, an African American as superintendent and a more diverse faculty and administration. African Americans also have access to various vendor contracts, which affords economic empowerment to the community. For his trailblazing engagement, Dr. Richardson was prominently featured in a book published by the National Urban League called “Working Together,” to be used as a national model for other failing school districts.Rev. Al Sharpton, Kirsten John Foy, director of the criminal Justice Initiative of the National Action Network and the National Action network family would like to extent its deepest condolences and prayers to the family of Officer Russel Timoshenko on his passing. Tragic and unnecessary, death is always a heavy burden to bare, and we want the family to know that the community shares this burden with them.
We also wish to make clear that violence and thuggery is not acceptable to us as a community as a whole. Violence directed towards police officers is as immoral as violence emminating from bad cops and we stand with those calling for justice. In these times it is important for all of us to remeber that we either live together as brothers or we will perish together as fools.
Officer Russel Timoshenko was an upstanding young man and had a bright future in law enforcement. From all accounts he was a good cop and will be surely missed by his family and we stand with them in this time of morning.
REV. SHARPTON TO HOLD A VIGIL FOR GENARLOW WILSON IN ATLANTA WHO ISN'T RECEIVING SCOOTER LIBBY TREATMENT, BUT IS INSTEAD SERVING A GROSSLY UNJUST SENTENCE FOR HAVING CONSENSUAL ORAL SEX WITH A 15-YR-OLD WHEN HE WAS 17
THURSDAY, JULY 5
11:00 MEET AT EBENZER BAPTIST CHURCH TO CARAVAN TO COURTHOUSE (407 AUBURN AVENUE)
12:00 (NOON) PRAYER VIGIL AT DOUGLAS COUNTY COURTHOUSE 8700 Hospital Drive, Douglassville, GA
Genarlow Wilson is the Douglas County man who has served more than two years of a 10-year prison term for having consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17. Rev. Sharpton and his Atlanta Chapter of National Action Network have held numerous rallies and vigils to bring attention to the disparity between Wilson's sentence and other sentences such as Scooter Libby's to prove that America has two justice systems.
STATEMENT FROM REV. AL SHARPTON ON SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT SCHOOLS MUST IGNORE RACE IN PLACING PUPILS
Thursday, June 28, 2007
The Supreme Court dealt a body blow to the civil rights of all American people and has begun the steps of reversing decades of commitment by the Courts to protect minorities in pursuit of an equal and fair education. This decision takes race off the table for school districts around the nation that have historically struggled at best, and refused in some cases to seek or reach racial equality and parity. By taking it off the table in those districts, it breaks the legs of the table off the table for minority families that seek a fair and equal entry for our children into American life. This is a major reversal and devastating blow to the aspirations of the civil rights movement.
REV. SHARPTON TO APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC TO NOT FORGET TWO BLACK WOMEN FROM BROOKLYN: CHANEL PETRO-NIXON WHOSE MURDER IS UNSOLVED, AND STEPH HENRY WHO VANISHED LAST MONTH
REV. LARRY CAMP, MS. HENRY'S PASTOR, WILL JOIN SHARPTON'S APPEAL AT SATURDAY ACTION RALLY AT NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK
WHO:
Reverend Al Sharpton
Reverend Larry Camp
WHAT:
Appeal to public to not forget two woman from Brooklyn, New York: Chanel Petro-Nixon, who vanished on Father's Day a year ago, and Steph Henry, a 22-year-old honors graduate from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, who disappeared last month in Miami, Florida
WHERE:
National Action Network - 106 West 145th (@ Lenox)
WHEN:
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2007 - 10 AM
BACKGROUND ON STEPH HENRY:
No clues in missing NYC woman's case
By MARCUS FRANKLIN - ASSOCIATED PRESS
Police have tracked cell phone signals and examined abandoned cars, yet there's no trace of a woman who vanished last month after going to a Florida night club.Miami-Dade County police have said they don't know whether foul play was involved in Stepha Henry's disappearance, but family members think something happened to the 22-year-old honors graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Henry was visiting relatives in the area with her 16-year-old sister and made plans for a friend's brother-in-law to pick her up on May 29, her aunt Daffodil Samuel said Sunday at the family's home in Brooklyn.Relatives saw Henry get into a black sedan with a man. There is video of Henry at a Sunrise nightclub and police have said they have questioned a man who told them he left her at the nightspot. No one has seen or heard from her since. Her cell phone goes straight to voicemail.
BACKGROUND ON CHANEL-PETRO NIXON
Brutal Murder of "Perfect" Kid (America's Most Wanted)
Friends and family call Chanel Petro-Nixon the "perfect" kid. She got straight A's, went to church every Sunday, and lit up a room with her smile. The question detectives now have is, who would want to see her dead? On Father's Day of 2006, Chanel left her home in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn to walk down the street to meet a friend and then go to a job interview at Applebees. She wanted to get a summer job -- and she had the interview all lined up. But, she never made it to the restaurant -- or to meet her friend. A few days later, Chanel's strangled body was found in a trash bag, just blocks from her home.
Below is Rev. Al Sharpton's schedule for his weekend visit to Southern California
Saturday, June 9, 2007
11:00 a.m. Press Conference
Rev. Sharpton's National Action Network LA office
5003 South La Brea Avenue, Unit C
Los Angeles CA 90056
(323) 753-0159
Sunday, June 10, 2007
8:00 a.m. Preach at Second Baptist Church
2412 Griffith Avenue (corner of Griffith between Adam & Washington Blvd)
11:00 a.m. Preach at Church of Christian Fellowship
2085 South Hobart Street, LA 90018
4:00 p.m. Preach at Mount Zion Baptist Church
1895 Del Rosa Dr, San Bernardino
Monday, June 11, 2007
1:30 p.m. Meeting with Sheriff Lee Baca
4700 Ramona Blvd
Monterey Park, CA 91754
REVEREND AL SHARPTON BLASTS JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR RELEASING PARIS HILTON AFTER 3-DAYS STATING THAT IT CITES THE DISPARITY OF HOW AMERICANS ARE TREATED IF THEY HAVE A HIGH SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS
SHARPTON SERVED 90 DAYS WITH NO LENIENCY FOR PEACEFULLY PROTESTING NAVY BOMBING EXERCISES IN VIEQUES, PUERTO RICO, FOR A CASE THAT WAS MORALLY RIGHT AS THE U.S. GOVT. LATER STOPPED THE EXERCISES
(NEW YORK, NY) --Thursday, June 7, 2007 ---Reverend Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network, and one of the country's foremost leaders for civil rights, is blasting the justice system for what appears to be favoritism in the early release of Paris Hilton. "Though I have nothing but empathy for Ms. Hilton whom I have met and appeared with on Saturday Night Live the night I hosted in 2003, this early release gives all of the appearances of economic and racial favoritism that is constantly cited by poor people and people of color. There are any number of cases of people who handle being incarcerated badly and even have health conditions that are not released . I have served several sentences for civil rights and civil disobedience actions and I even fasted which caused health concerns to prison authorities who paid for a doctor to come see me daily rather than release me. This act smacks of the double standards that many of us raise. Sharpton will discuss this on his nationally syndicated radio show today at 1:06 p.m. (www.sharptontalk.net)
Mt Zion Baptist Church
1895 Delorsa Blvd. San Bordio, California 92404
(909) 389-1414
T. Elliott
President, California State
Bible Baptist Convention
Rev. Al Sharpton
National Action Network
New York, NY
“A Call to Action”
Sunday, June 10, 2007
3:00 p.m.
Arrive early to get a good seat!
Admission is free
ARZU FAMILY TO MEET TODAY WITH BRONX D.A. ROBERT JOHNSON
WHO:
Members of the Arzu Family, Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, Attorney Michael Hardy and Kirsten John Foy
WHAT:
Meeting with Bronx D.A. to discuss the killing of Mr. Fermin Arzu
WHEN:
TODAY, MONDAY, JUNE 4 - 2:00 P.M.
WHERE:
198 East 161 Street
Bronx, NY
The meeting will take place at 2:00 p.m. and then there will be a media availability outside of the building.
NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK DECENCY INITIATIVE CALLS UPON VIACOM ENTITIES TO BAN USE OF WORDS THAT ARE RACIST AND MISOGYNISTIC
DECENCY INITIATIVE DIRECTOR TAMIKA MALLORY ATTENDS SHARE HOLDERS MEETING & RAISES THE QUESTION OF STANDARDS TO HEADS OF VIACOM
New York, NY (Wednesday, May 30, 2007) – Tamika Mallory, Director of Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network Decency Initiative, attended the Viacom shareholders meeting today and raised critical questions to Viacom leadership about the issue of standards used in Viacom entities, including MTV Music Television, VH1, and BET Network. Ms. Mallory specifically addressed the allowance of words that are racist, sexist, and misogynistic, including the words “Ho,” “Bitch” and “Nigga.” She asked whether Viacom will commit to banning the aforementioned words, even if they are bleeped out, and whether the promotion of merchandize that contains these words, violates Viacom’s standards. Further, Ms. Mallory requested that Viacom work with National Action Network to assure that these standards are met for all communities.
Prior to the meeting Ms. Mallory led dozens of protesters outside of Viacom headquarters in New York City as they chanted “Decency Now.” Among the groups that participated with National Action Network were the National Organization of Women (NOW), Rainbow Push, and the National Congress of Black Women. According to Reverend Al Sharpton, “The pervasive leniency of allowing language that is racist and offensive is not permitted by any other community than our own and we refuse to tolerate it any longer. We will continue to organize protests on a national level of any company that does not adhere to the equal standards of decency”
STATEMENT FROM REV. AL SHARPTON ABOUT THE PASSING OF YOLANDA KING
Wednesday, May 16, 2007 -- The death of Yolanda King, the oldest child of Dr. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King, is stunning and shocking to me personally and to people around this nation and world.
Yolanda was the torch bearer for her parents and a committed activist in her own right. We spent time together just three weeks ago and we often talked about how as a baby she was in the house when her father and mother were bombed in Montgomery, Alabama, in the beginning of the civil rights movement. I spoke in the pre dawn hours to Martin Luther King, III to share my and others condolences, and I call on all to stand with this family in another moment of grief and to continue to uphold the legacy and principles of the King family. Yolanda never wavered from a commitment to non-violent social change and justice for all. She was the first daughter of the civil rights movement and never shamed her parents or her co-activists. As an artist and activist she refused roles that would belittle her family name and tradition. We will miss her greatly.
Reverend Al Sharpton
President, National Action Network
STATEMENT FROM REVEREND AL SHARPTON ON THE PASSING OF JERRY FALWELL
Tuesday, May 15, 2007-- I am deeply saddened by the passing of Reverend Jerry Falwell. Though he and I debated much and disagreed often, we shared a very cordial and warm friendship. I visited him in Lynchburg, dined with him, and even talked with him during personal crises. Though we were as politically opposite as two people could be, I truly respected his commitment to his beliefs and our mutual belief in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As I stated to my nationally syndicated radio show, I pray for the Falwell family and join the nation in mourning the passing of this religious leader.
Reverend Al Sharpton
President, National Action Network
REVEREND AL SHARPTON CALLS UPON GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY TO ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE OF RECONCILIATION AND RISE ABOVE POLITICAL DEMAGOGUERY ON EITHER SIDE
Thursday, May 10, 2007—Reverend Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network, and former Presidential candidate, told his syndicated radio show that he phoned former MA Governor Mitt Romney to call upon him to engage in a dialogue of reconciliation between African-Americans, Conservatives, and members of the Mormon church, rather than continue to engage in a political and rhetorical battle that will only lead to further polarization and misunderstanding. Rev. Sharpton stated to his audience that though his words were completely distorted and taken out of context, and that he feels that some of the distortion was politically motivated, he does feel for any member of the Mormon Church that was inadvertently hurt or troubled by that distortion, and apologized for any lack of clarity in his words that could have led to anyone feeling that he was disregarding their religious beliefs.
“I have a profound respect for all believers of God, regardless of whether they are theologically in step with my beliefs or not, and I unequivocally say to the Mormons or anyone else that I in no way want to directly or indirectly be a part of any intolerance between any religions or races and regret my words being used or misused in any fashion that would add to that. I have also called the Board of Elders of the Mormon Church to begin a dialogue since there is a long and painful history between the African-American community and the Mormon Church. Dialogue, not name calling, should be the first attempt between people who purport to be leaders in society. Leaders must be tough enough to take a stand and sensitive enough to help heal those even if they feel they were not directly intending to cause harm to them.”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GODFATHER OF SOUL
IN CELEBRATION OF YOUR BIRTHDAY, MAY 3, 2007, YOU ARE REMEMBERED TODAY AND ALWAYS!
IN MEMORY OF JAMES BROWN "GOD FATHER OF SOUL" 1933-2006
The National Action Network
Rev. Al Sharpton
&
Councilwoman Darlene Mealy
Invite You To Join Us As We
MARCH FOR DECENCY
May 3, 2007 at 5:30 p.m.
The March will begin at Sony Music, Madison Avenue at 55th Street - continue to Universal Music, Broadway between 56th and 57th Streets - and finally to Time Warner, located at Columbus Avenue and 58th Street
For information call 212-690-3070
To Register please call 718-841-7264
or Log on to www.nationalactionnetwork.net
(click here to register)
Join Us As We Protest Sexism, Racism And Homophobia In Music
Over 3000 delegates from across the country attended National Action Network’s 9th annual convention from April 18-21 as well as five of the major Democratic presidential candidates—Senator (s) Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Governor Bill Richardson, and Congressman Denis Kucinich—as well as CEO’s of major corporations, media legends such as NBC’s Brian Williams and Elinor Tatum, one of the youngest publishers of a Black-owned publication the Amsterdam News, and other political leaders including Congressman Charlie Rangel, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, Reverend Jesse Jackson, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and many more were all on hand as Reverend Sharpton’s organization hosted the event at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers. Each day, the major gathering was broadcast live on Reverend Al Sharpton’s nationally syndicated radio show “Keepin it Real.”
National Action Network’s 9th annual convention kicked off with Former New York Mayor Ed Koch and Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean, who engaged in an intimate dialogue with Reverend Al Sharpton about race in America. Later, the annual Keepers of the Dream Awards were addressed by presidential candidate and Senator, John Edwards, Martin Luther King, III, the Chairman of National Action Network Reverend W. Franklyn Richardson, Earl Graves, Sr., and honorees included, CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, Frank Fountain from Daimler Chrysler Corporation, Christopher Williams, Williams
Capital Group, Karen Boykin-Towns, Pfizer Inc., Reverend Dr. Frederick Haynes, pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church, and more.
Other highlights of the National Action Network Convention included an unprecedented commitment by New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, who controls over 140 billion dollars in pension funds across the United States, to increase pension funds for African-Americans, as well as a commitment from all of the presidential candidates to participate in a Black Church debate in the Summer which will be coordinated by NAN board member Reverend Dr. Frederick Haynes. Former President Bill Clinton was a featured speaker on the anniversary of his Clinton Global Initiative and proposed partnering with National Action Network to fight diabetes and obesity in the African-American community. The annual National Action Network Ministers Luncheon was attended by over 300 ministers from all denominations and featured speaker Otis Moss and honoree the legendary Fred Shuttlesworth. Among other panel discussions were a special session on AIDS, a homeownership workshop, a state of Black politics Panel, and a CEO panel featuring the CEO’s of major corporations including Terry Lundgren from Federated Department Stores, David Sexton, the President of Shell Oil Products, Clyde Rucker Sr., the Vice President of Global Communications and External Affairs for Burger King, and Lee Scott, Chairman of Wal-Mart Inc.
One of the defining moments of the Convention was the youth town hall meeting hosted by NAN”s very own Tamika Mallory who joined Councilwoman Darlene Mealy and others as they pledged to lead a Decency March in mid-May in downtown Manhattan on the music industry targeting Sony, Time Warner and Universal Music Group, as well as others, and a pledge by Reverend Al Sharpton to go to the boardroom of record labels that market artists that use the word “bitch” and “ho.” Reverend Sharpton promised to buy stock in Time Warner and Universal Music Group, two media companies that own rap labels, and go to shareholder meetings and complain about misogynistic lyrics. Congressman Charlie Rangel supported this call by committing to give National Action Network $15,000 which was threatened to be taken away by one of the record labels who has previously supported the civil rights organization.
Quotes from Presidential Candidates that attended National Action Network’s 9th Annual Convention:
Senator Hillary Clinton (NY): “I have enjoyed a long and positive relationship with Reverend Al Sharpton and National Action Network, and I don’t ever remember saying “no” to them and I intend to remain their partner in civil rights as I clean the dirt from under the carpet in the oval office when I am elected President”
Senator Barack Obama (Ill): “Reverend Sharpton is a voice for the voiceless, and a voice for the dispossessed. What National Action Network has done is so important to change America, and it must be changed from the bottom up.”
Senator John Edwards: “I will work with National Action Network to fight poverty and seek justice for those marginalized in our society.”
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REVEREND AL SHARPTON TO HOST ANNUAL NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK CONVENTION
Senators John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Howard Dean (DNC), NBC Nightly News Anchor Brian Williams, Antonio “L.A. Reid,” Paula Zahn, Marian Wright Edelman, Governor Eliot Spitzer, filmmaker Spike Lee, Governor Bill Richardson (NM), Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly, ABC’s Martin Bashir
and many others to appear
New York – Reverend Al Sharpton and the National Action Network (NAN) will host its 9th annual convention at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers from April 18th to April 21st. The major gathering will be an impressive who’s who in business, politics, entertainment and the religious community and all of the Democratic U.S. Presidential candidates will be on hand throughout the Convention. Reverend Sharpton has catapulted his major national movement to encompass chapters in over 40 states and many of the convention participants will be members from across the country. According to Attorney Charlie King, Interim Executive Director of National Action Network and Chair of the Convention: “This star-studded convention is a testament to Reverend Sharpton’s civil rights leadership and NAN’s continued growth as a national civil rights organization. Anyone who is anyone will be attending this convention.”
The convention kicks off at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18th at the Sheraton Hotel with a session entitled: Improving Race Relations: Where Do We Go From Here, featuring former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, DNC Chairman Howard Dean, Harold Ford, Jr., former Tennessee Congressman and Megan Smolenyak, Chief Family Historian, Ancestory.com
At 6:00 p.m., (NAN) will host its ninth annual Keepers of the Dream Award ceremony. These awards, given each year in April to mark the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s death, honor those who have continued to advocate for the principles for which Dr. King gave his life. Keepers of the Dream awards are given by members of the King family and civil-rights community who have committed themselves to fairness and racial harmony. (Ticket Purchase Required). Among the honorees are Antonio ‘LA’ Reid, receiving the “James Brown Memorial Cultural Impact Award; Filmmaker Spike Lee; Soledad O’Brien, CNN; Richard Womack, AFL-CIO; Christopher J. Williams, Williams Capital Group; Frank Fountain, DaimlerChrysler Corporation; Karen Boykin-Towns, Pfizer; Reverend Dr. Frederick Haynes III, Pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas; and Leo Hindery, Author of “It Takes A CEO” and Managing Partner of InterMedia Partners (Photo Opportunity at 6:45 p.m.)
On Thursday, April 19th at 7:30 a.m. a panel discussion will convene on Pension Fund Management featuring New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. At 10:00 a.m. there will be an unprecedented discussion on whether the media fairly covers people and issues of color featuring Brian Williams, NBC Evening News, Paula Zahn, CNN's Paula Zahn NOW , Martin Bashir, ABC's Nightline, Joe Scarborough, MSNBC's Scarborough Country, Rita Cosby, Emmy Award-winning TV Host, Dominic Carter, NY1's Inside City Hall, and Austin Fenner, Journalist for NY Daily News. Dominic Carter will be moderating this panel discussion.
The first Presidential Series will convene at 12:00 (Noon) featuring Governor Bill Richardson (New Mexico).
At 12:30 p.m., more than 300 ministers from across the country -- including Rev. Sharpton, Rev. Dr. Franklyn Richardson, (Chairman of National Action Network), Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth and Otis Moss– will host the Invitation only Ministers Luncheon. (Broadcast Live on Reverend Sharpton’s National Radio Show 1-4pm).
At 2:00 p.m. there will be a discussion on AIDS and how it is impacting people of color hosted by Pernessa Seele, Founder/CEO, Balm in Gilead, Inc. featuring Phil Wilson, Founder/CEO, Black AIDS Institute, Maria Davis, Founder, MAD (Living with HIV), Kevin Pickett, Executive Director of the Palms Residential Care Facility, Los Angeles, Gil Robertson, Author of the book “Not In My Family,” Marjorie Hill, PhD, Executive Director, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, Reverend Stacey Latimer, Living with HIV, Marvelyn Brown, spokesperson, POZ and Real Health Magazines, and special guest Andrea Williams, (HBO Films Life Support was based on her story).
At 4:30 p.m. will be a historic candid dialogue between Reverend Al Sharpton and a surprise guest (invitation only) followed by a Presidential Series featuring Senator Joseph Biden at 6:00 p.m. and another Presidential Series featuring Senator Christopher Dodd at 7:00 p.m.
Friday. April 20, 2007
Day three of NAN’s 9th Annual National Convention will kick off at 7:30 a.m. with a special breakfast entitled: “Views from the Statehouse on Civil Rights in the 21st Century” featuring Governor Eliot Spitzer.
At 10:00 a.m. there will be a CEO Panel featuring David Sexton, Shell Oil Company, Terry J. Lungren, Chairman & CEO of Federated Department Stores (Macy's), Leo Hindrey, author of It Takes a CEO and Managing Partner of InterMedia, Lee Scott, CEO of Wal-Mart Inc., and Clyde Rucker, Senior Vice President of Diversity at Burger King.
At 11:30 a.m., there will be a Presidential Series featuring former Senator Mike Gravel followed by the Women’s Luncheon at 12:30 p.m., co-chaired by Brenda Scott, National Action Network Board Member and Federated Department Stores executive, and hosted by Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook. The Keynote Speaker will be Marion Wright Edelman, Founder of Children’s Defense Fund and special guests will include Senator Hillary Clinton (NY) and NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn. (Broadcast live on Reverend Sharpton’s national radio show 1-4 p.m.)
From 2:50 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. there will be a session on Homeownership entitled, “Flippin Bricks” How To Be A Real Estate Investor featuring Robert Schumaker, Kenneth Rushing and Larry Young.
The final event of the day will be a special live debate at 6:30 p.m. between Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity, and the President of NAN, Reverend Al Sharpton, entitled “The Great Debate on Race In America in the 21st Century.”
Saturday, April 21, 2007
The last day of NAN’s 9th annual national convention will commence at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 21st with a live rally keynoted by Reverend Al Sharpton with special guest Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Presidential candidate. (Broadcast on WLIB Radio)
The final Presidential Series of the Convention will begin at 12:00 (Noon) featuring Senator Barack Obama.
At 1:00 p.m. there will be a panel discussion on the “State of Black Politics” moderated by Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick, Michigan, and featuring Congressman Ed Towns, New York, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, New York, Congressman Hank Johnson, Georgia, State Senator Malcolm Smith, New York, Mayor Byron Brown, Buffalo, and Mayor Wayne Smith, Irvington, New Jersey and New York City Councilwoman Darlene Mealy
At 4:00 p.m. will be the Youth Panel hosted by radio Personality Ed Lover of the “Ed Lover Morning Show” (Power 105.1 FM) and the discussion will take a serious look at violence and lyrics in music and the hip-hop community with featured panelists: Samson, BET News Correspondent, Marques-Aquil Lewis, Founder, Da Youth Organization and more.
The National Action Network was founded as a direct outgrowth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s movement. Reverend Sharpton began his civil rights career as a local youth director for King’s organization, and the King family has worked closely with NAN for many years. The late Ms. Coretta Scott King attended the Keepers of the Dream Awards along with members of the King family in previous years and Martin Luther King, III will be a special guest this year. The National Action Network is a political, social, and activist-oriented organization that was conceived with a focus on action. The Network is based in New York City, with more than 40 national chapters across America.
What: National Action Network convention
Where: Sheraton New York, 811 7th Avenue (at 52nd and 53rd )
**Press check-in: 8:00 am each morning - click here for the press credential form
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KEEPING IT REAL
It’s Monday, April 9th…
Do You Know What Time It Is????
It’s Al Sharpton TIME & You’re Listening to, KEEPING IT REAL!!
A Very Good Afternoon to You All Across the Country,
Good Morning to all of my West Coast Listeners &
Welcome to all of those who are listening by Internet across
The Nation & Around the World!!!!!
It’s GREAT to be back another week Talking with YOU about the ISSUES ALONG WITH YOUR CONCERNS…
We Have a HOT Show for you today…. So let’s Get Started
· Just when it didn't seem possible, Imus, host of MSNBC's "Imus in the Morning," managed to reach a new low. While discussing the NCAA women's basketball game between Rutgers University and the University of Tennessee on the April 4th edition of MSNBC's "Imus in the Morning,", Imus openly described the Rutgers team, which has eight black and two white women on it, as "nappy-headed hos" after the show's producer, Bernard McGuirk, called the team "hardcore hos." è (We have sound & transcript)
· Don Imus on his show at 6 a.m. Friday morning April 6th, Imus read the following prepared statement: "Want to take a moment to apologize for an insensitive and ill-conceived remark we made the other morning regarding the Rutgers women's basketball team. It was completely inappropriate, and we can understand why people were offended. Our characterization was thoughtless and stupid, and we are sorry." è (We have sound)
· Don Imus: host of MSNBC's "Imus in the Morning," KEEPING IT REAL
· Bryan Monroe: the 16th president of the National Association of Black Journalists, the nation's oldest and largest journalism organization of color serving more than 4,000 members. ( 1:48 PM)
· Other Guests Maybe joining today’s program Information
Complaint Information to Call, Write, and/or Email
Imus@msnbc.com
viewerservices@msnbc.com
letters@msnbc.com
Sports@MSNBC.com
GeneralComments@feedback.msnbc.com
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Call toll-free at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)
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Scroll down to Consumer Center on left
Select “Filing Complaints”
Down load Complaint Form
Fill Out & Submit
Example Letter
Dear Employees of MSNBC:
I am writing to express my outrage and disappointment by comments made by Don Imus, Bernard McGuirk, and Sid Rosenburg regarding the women's basketball team at Rutgers University. No apology and no amount of time in rehabilitation can eradicate the racism and contempt these two individuals have toward African Americans and women. MSNBC, and other publicly owned networks, have an obligation to uphold editorial standards instead of engaging in racist discourse. To deliberately reinforce negative stereotypes of any minority group should not be tolerated by a network, its employees, or the general public.
While the Constitution protects all forms of expression, with this right comes responsibility, especially with the media whose role in shaping societal attitudes is pivotal. When this right is abused, those guilty should be held accountable. The only remedy to this gross display of ethical misconduct is immediate termination.
I am sending this out to various contacts within the MSNBC network because everyone, either directly or indirectly, associated with this show is responsible for putting an end to the perpetuation of stereotypes which fuel racism and damage the self-esteem of those these insults are directed towards. I implore all of you to also send letters of complaint to the appropriate entities as a display of solidarity against the racist attitudes of Don Imus, Bernard McGuirk, and Sid Rosenburg
WHO: Reverend Al Sharpton
WHAT: WFAN Radio Personality Don Imus
WHERE: 125 West End Avenue @ 65th
Pls. note: media outlets must submit names in advance of press that will
cover in order to gain admittance into the building.
WHEN: Monday, April 9, 2007
Press Arrival 12:30 p.m.
Rev. Sharpton and Imus will go live on air at 1:05 p.m.
BACKGROUND:
Last Wednesday, WFAN radio host Don Imus described the women of the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy headed hos" prompting Rev. Al Sharpton to call for his termination or he would lead a picket demanding that Imus be fired. This candid coversation between the two men with no pre-conditions will allow them to discuss the situation on Rev. Sharpton's nationally syndicated radio show "Keepin it Real" which airs on Black radio stations across the country.
REV. AL SHARPTON TO CALL FOR IMUS TO BE FIRED AT HIS RALLY THIS MORNING AT NAN HEADQUARTERS
SHARPTON TO DISCUSS LAWSUIT AGAINST BELL CASE DETECTIVE MICHAEL COOPER WHO IS BEING ACCUSED OF BEATING A DRUG SUSPECT IN A DIFFERENT QUEENS CLUB A MONTH BEFORE SEAN BELL WAS KILLED OUTSIDE OF A QUEENS CLUB
WHO:
REVEREND AL SHARPTON
WHERE:
National Action Network
106 W. 145th Street @ Lenox
Harlem, NYC
WHEN:
SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2007 - 10:00 A.M.
REV. AL SHARPTON TO HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE OUTSIDE OF CNN AFTER HIS APPEARANCE ON WOLF BLITZER TO DISCUSS DAILY NEWS ARTICLE ABOUT 31-SHOT COP MICHAEL OLIVER
BASED UPON DAILY NEWS STORY, SHARPTON WILL QUESTION OLIVER'S BACKGROUND AND RESIDENCY AND WHY HE WAS ON THE POLICE FORCE IN NYC
WHO:
Reverend Al Sharpton
WHAT:
Press Conference to discuss new background released on Michael Oliver
WHERE:
(outside of CNN)
One Time Warner Center
58th between 8th and 9th
WHEN:
Sunday, April 1, 2007
12:30 p.m.
REV. AL SHARPTON TO RESPOND TO DAILY NEWS STORY ACCUSING SEAN BELL OF SHOOTING A DRUG DEALER IN TURF WAR A YEAR AGO
NICOLE PAULTRE-BELL TO ACCOMPANY REV. SHARPTON AT PRESS CONFERENCE
WHO:
Reverend Al Sharpton & Nicole Paultre-Bell
WHAT:
Press Conference at “House of Justice”
WHERE:
National Action Network
106 West 145 Street @ Lenox
WHEN:
TODAY, Tuesday, March 27, 2007 – 11:00 A.M.
REVEREND AL SHARPTON, NICOLE PAULTRE-BELL, JOSEPH GUZMAN, TRENT BENEFIELD, & ATTORNEYS RUBENSTEIN AND HARDY, TO BE AT THE HEADQUARTERS WITH SHARPTON MONDAY TO WATCH THE D.A.'S PRESS CONFERENCE AT 11A.M. AND THEN HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE AT NOON TO REACT
ALL WILL ALL ATTEND THE ARRAIGNMENT IN QUEENS AFTER
WHO:
REV. AL SHARPTON, NICOLE PAULTRE-BELL, JOSEPH GUZMAN, TRENT BENEFIELD, & ATTORNEYS MICHAEL HARDY & SANFORD RUBENSTEIN
WHERE:
NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK "HOUSE OF JUSTICE"
106 W. 145TH STREET (@LENOX) HARLEM, NYC
WHEN:
11:00 A.M. SHARPTON AND VICTIMS WILL BE AT NAN TO WATCH THE D.A.'S PRESS CONFERENCE ON TV
12:00 (NOON) PRESS CONFERENCE
WHEN:
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2007
REVEREND AL SHARPTON, NICOLE PAULTRE-BELL, JOSEPH GUZMAN, AND TRENT BENEFIELD TO BE AT THE HEADQUARTERS WITH SHARPTON TODAY
WHO:
REV. AL SHARPTON, NICOLE PAULTRE-BELL, JOSEPH GUZMAN, TRENT BENEFIELD, & ATTORNEYS MICHAEL HARDY & SANFORD RUBENSTEIN
WHERE:
NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK "HOUSE OF JUSTICE"
106 W. 145TH STREET (@LENOX) HARLEM, NYC
WHEN:
9:30 A.M. AND ONWARD, SHARPTON AND VICTIMS WILL BE AT NAN
1:00 P.M. REV. SHARPTON WILL DO RADIO BROADCAST
WHEN:
TODAY, FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2007
REVEREND AL SHARPTON TO HOLD AN 11A.M. PRESS CONFERENCE TO GIVE A STATEMENT ON THE NEW WITNESS AND THE LEGAL POSITION HE IS TAKING AND WHETHER THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL TAINT THE GRAND JURY
SHARPTON TO CALL FOR THE MAN TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR POSSIBLE PERJURY
NICOLE PAULTRE-BELL, JOSEPH GUZMAN, AND TRENT BENEFIELD TO BE AT THE HEADQUARTERS WITH SHARPTON
WHO:
REV. AL SHARPTON, NICOLE PAULTRE-BELL, JOSEPH GUZMAN, TRENT BENEFIELD, & ATTORNEYS MICHAEL HARDY & SANFORD RUBENSTEIN
WHERE:
NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK "HOUSE OF JUSTICE"
106 W. 145TH STREET (@LENOX) HARLEM, NYC
WHEN:
11:00 A.M. PRESS CONFERENCE
1:00 P.M. REV. SHARPTON WILL DO RADIO BROADCAST
WHEN:
TODAY, WED. MARCH 15, 2007
REVEREND AL SHARPTON TO CONDUCT RADIO SHOW FROM HARLEM HEADQUARTERS THE "HOUSE OF JUSTICE" WHILE LAWYERS AND OTHERS ARE GUESTS AS THEY AWAIT DECISION FROM GRAND JURY IN SEAN BELL CASE
NICOLE PAULTRE-BELL, JOSEPH GUZMAN, AND TRENT BENEFIELD TO BE AT THE HEADQUARTERS FROM 3:00 P.M. ONWARD
WHO:
REV. AL SHARPTON, NICOLE PAULTRE-BELL, JOSEPH GUZMAN, TRENT BENEFIELD, & ATTORNEYS MICHAEL HARDY & SANFORD RUBENSTEIN
WHERE:
NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK "HOUSE OF JUSTICE"
106 W. 145TH STREET (@LENOX) HARLEM, NYC
WHEN:
1:00 P.M. REV. SHARPTON WILL DO RADIO BROADCAST
3:00 P.M. NICOLE, JOSEPH AND TRENT ARRIVE
WHEN:
TODAY, WED. MARCH 14, 2007
Sat. March 10, 2007
James Brown Entombed Today
The children of the late “Godfather of Soul,” James Brown, entombed their father today at an undisclosed location, along with the Reverend Al Sharpton, who presided over the entombment, and close friends and family.
“The children used their own funds to pay for their father’s entombment so that their father could be put to rest without further delay,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton. “Mr. Brown left a substantial Estate and substantial holdings in his music, publishing and other properties, which are currently being disputed in court. However, the children wanted to see their father entombed in a resting place without delay, rather than await court decisions. Mr. Brown taught them to be proud of who they are, and they wanted to honor his memory by entombing him in a way that was consistent with the man that he was: a loving, disciplined, and dignified member of the community.
Reverend Sharpton presided over the entombment and was assisted by other clergy, and the funeral director Mr. Reid of C.A. Reid Funeral Home in Augusta , Ga. The public will be informed of his public mausoleum upon its completion, but at this point he has been laid to rest and entombed.
REV. AL SHARPTON TO VISIT THE CEMETERY IN EDGEFIELD, SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE HIS ANCESTORS ARE BURIED AFTER LEARNING THAT HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS VALUED AT $276
WHEN:
Monday, March 5, 2007
9:30 a.m. ET
WHERE:
Red Oak Grove Baptist Church
174 Red Oak Grove, Edgefield, SC 29824
WHO:
The Reverend Al Sharpton; Megan Smolenyak, Chief Family Historian, Ancestry.com
WHAT:
Reverend Al Sharpton will travel to Edgefield, South Carolina, where his great-grandfather was a slave, to visit the gravesite of the slave owners, the Sharptons and the Thurmonds. Sharpton will see for himself the graves of the people he was named after as he vows to continue fighting until America takes the scar of what was done off of its
back.
Ancestry.com’s Megan Smolenyak will accompany Reverend Sharpton as he walks in the footsteps of his ancestors. As the lead researcher on this discovery, she will be available to discuss the significance of the newest revelation – two historical documents which reveal that his great-grandfather, Coleman Sharpton, was valued at $276 and sold as “half of a Negro boy” for $125.
Boy for sale by owner- cheap
By Austin Fenner in New York and Jose Martinez in Edgefield, S.C,
Daily News Staff Writers
4 March 2007
On yellowed sheets of paper, in a neat script, the price of a young boy's life is spelled out. One Negro Boy Coleman - $276. Those words are listed several times in legal documents of a deceased plantation owner, along with other property, such as a stock of hogs valued at $62.
Genealogists are nearly certain that the "Coleman" mentioned in these 1839 documents uncovered by the Daily News - as well as two other historical pieces of data found by Ancestry.com historians - is the Rev. Al Sharpton's great-grandfather.
The Daily News reported last Sunday that genealogical data determined the civil rights leader was a descendant of slaves - and that his great-grandfather Coleman Sharpton Sr. once belonged to long-ago kin of Sen. Strom Thurmond.
When The News told Sharpton of his ties to slavery, he said it was the "shock of my life."
The latest revelation that his great-grandfather once had a price tag of $276 also floored Sharpton.
"Wow, this is amazing," the reverend said. "I thought it couldn't get any worse."
"It's like, you know, last week I was stabbed in the heart and now they twisted the knife," Sharpton said. "It's graphic. It's unthinkable people could think of other people like that."
"One Negro Boy Coleman" is among the dozens of slaves listed in legal documents for Jeptha Sharpton, who owned more than 1,000 plantation acres in Edgefield, S.C., and was a prominent figure in town.
A will parcels out Jeptha Sharpton's belongings. They range from "all my knives and forks" to "six cows and calves" to "tracts on both sides of Big Stephen's Creek."
He also doles out to his family members slaves bearing names like Biddy, Black Sam, Little Cuff and Yellow Sam.
In a separate inventory of the 74-year-old's holdings, Coleman is lumped in with pieces of property that include $20 in blacksmith's tools, three horses valued at $150 and $1,500 worth of corn.
The documents are stored in an air-conditioned vault at the Edgefield County Historical Society, just off the town green - the centerpiece of which is a statue of Sen. Thurmond.
South Carolina genealogists Tonya Browder and Wayne O'Bryant helped The News track Coleman Sharpton Sr.'s slavery record.
Another document found by Ancestry.com historian Megan Smolenyak illustrates how Jeptha Sharpton's son Alexander brokered a deal with his brother-in-law Thomas Nixon to share Coleman after Jeptha's death - essentially splitting ownership of the boy.
"A pair of brother-in-laws buy Coleman together from Jeptha's estate: Alexander Sharpton and Jeptha's son-in-law Thomas H. Nixon," Smolenyak told Sharpton.
Six months later, on Aug. 21, 1839, Nixon died of yellow fever.
"I requested a copy of his estate," Smolenyak said. "Sure enough, in Thomas Nixon's papers we find this: 'half the boy Coleman' being bought by Alexander."
"[Alexander Sharpton] is buying out his other half," she said.
A line in Nixon's will reads, "The half of a Negro boy Coleman - $125.00"
A third document, previously disclosed by The News, shows that in 1861, Coleman, by then in his early 20s, was sent by Alexander Sharpton from South Carolina to Liberty, Fla., where his recently widowed daughter-in-law lived with her four children.
"With each document, we become more confident we are dealing with Coleman Sharpton Sr.," Smolenyak said.
Sharpton took the news in silence, which was finally broken by the genealogist.
"Coleman wanted his story told," she said gently.
The new owner of Coleman Sharpton was Julia Ann Thurmond Sharpton, a first cousin twice removed of the arch-segregationist Strom Thurmond.
"You see how all the pieces are fitting together," Smolenyak said.
"What we are essentially following is a chain of ownership of Coleman."
His bondage ended four years later with the Confederacy's defeat in the Civil War.
In one of his first legal acts as a free man, Coleman Sharpton solemnized his marriage to Millie Cook in 1868.
According to the 1900 U.S. census, the couple had 11 children, nine of whom were still alive then.
Coleman would provide for his family as a wood hauler in Liberty. One of his sons, Coleman Jr. - who worked as a turpentine dipper, a Depression-era grocery store owner and a minister - would become the grandfather of the Rev. Al Sharpton.
"I met him once at his store in Wabasso, Fla.," said Sharpton. His genealogical journey, Sharpton said, has been a lesson in how the barbarism of slavery gripped Americans, black and white.
"We have ignored the real scars of slavery," he said. "It can be a story to redeem America, or America can remain in denial."
Check out where you're from, too, he sez
Peter Kadushin and Tina Moore
Daily News Writers
Moved by the knowledge that his bloodline traces back to slaves in the Deep South, the Rev. Al Sharpton yesterday called on families to find their roots. "There are thousands listening and hundreds here and I want all of them to chase their pasts," Sharpton told about 100 people gathered at his National Action Network headquarters in Harlem for a radio broadcast. "Look into your roots, trace your tree and give it to your family."
Last Sunday, the New York Daily News revealed that Ancestry.com genealogists had traced Rev. Sharpton’s roots to 1835 Edgefield, South Carolina. Led by Ms. Smolenyak, the researchers discovered that Sharpton's great-grandfather, Coleman Sharpton Sr., was enslaved by a relative of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond. Thurmond, an eight-term senator, was a staunch segregationist but began denouncing those views in the 1970s. He was 100 when he died in 2003. Sharpton said yesterday that the knowledge of his family's past has changed the way he approaches life.
"It gives a difference of commitment and connection," he said. "I now know I have this bloodline and it gives me an obligation, a new will to fight." The Rev. Jesse Jackson and officials with Ancestry.com joined Sharpton yesterday. Jackson, who said his great-grandparents had been enslaved, urged parents to create a family tree for their children.
"There are those who want to cover our roots," he said. "But we must search for everything that's hidden.
11.27.2006
Democrats, It's Time to Sober Up
By Rev. Al Sharpton
"Keep us forever in the path, we pray...Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee," wrote James W. Johnson in "Lift every Voice and Sing," the Black National Anthem. Now is a time of great celebration for the Democratic Party. But drunk upon our victories, we must not forget what all this winning is truly for.
For years Democratic candidates have courted the black community with promises, have played upon our fears of Republican rule. And it worked. In this election alone, we invested more than 90 percent of our vote in the Democrats.
And we would like to see some returns.
But signs that this will actually happen look bleak. In a Senate that as of this past June employed only 6 percent racial minorities, I find it unlikely that the concerns of the black community will be heard or met. In America right now, 55 percent of those dying of AIDS are African-American men, women and children, but the incoming House Majority's agenda does not even directly address the problem.
In urgent times like these, promises cannot stay promises. We need action to address the substantive issues of our community. Now. How can it happen? How can the Democratic Party show us that we have not foolishly squandered our vote? That it is interested, not in any more paternalism, but in real opportunity? To start off, there needs to be a true effort to bring people of color into the fold.
In the House, there are 22 members of the Congressional Black Caucus poised to take Committee and Subcommittee Chairmanships in the 110th Congress. Five members have a chance to preside over prominent Committees: Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald and the House Administration Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson and the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Alcee Hastings and the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. John Conyers and the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Charles Rangel and House Ways and Means. If, as their seniority and talent should dictate, they take the helm of these bodies, they will hold a great deal of legislative power.
But first they have to be appointed. Subcommittee appointments are just as vital. Like with Full Committees, leaders of these entities also set agendas, conduct hearings, hire and manage Subcommittee staff, and coordinate deliberations on bills. In some of the most important of the 17 roles: Rep. Elijah Cummings could take over the Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee; Rep. Maxine Waters could helm the influential Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton could head the Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee.
I'm not just talking about elected officials. There needs to be an emphasis on ethnic, racial, and gender diversity in staff positions in both the House and Senate. Right now, there is not one black Chief of Staff in the Senate, and the number of African Americans in senior committee or personal office legislative positions is appallingly low.
This affects all of Washington. It is from these posts that agency candidates are found, that government contractors and lobbyists are found. Of the approximately 29,700 registered lobbyists, a Washington trade association for black lobbyists only holds about 200 people in its database. Lobbying obviously needs to be cleaned up, but it is integral to our government's process. And the dearth of black lobbyists is evidence that racial minorities are still - in the year 2006, more than 40 years after the March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King's revered speech - not a valued or integrated part of the U.S. Government.
Ground has just been broken in Washington, D.C., to start a monument for Dr. King. This is laudable, but we must make sure that we do not allow the government to simply build monuments. The greatest tribute to Dr. King, is a government in which the faces reflect the true makeup of America.
I challenge the Democratic Party to diversify our government - not as some intangible beast, but to each individual Member of Congress. As Mr. Johnson sang, only working together can we, "Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won."
STATEMENT FROM REV. DR. FREDDIE HAYNES, PRESIDENT OF THE DALLAS CHAPTER – NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK
The National Conference and Social Justice Revival held in Dallas in June 2006 is reviving and energizing social activism in the African American community. One month after the Conference, hundreds, many of whom attended the Conference, protested the position of Congressman Pete Sessions who opposed extending the Voting Rights Act. A meeting with the Congressman resulted in him changing his stance. Participants in the Conference played a large role in registering and mobilizing an electorate that helped elect the first African American District Attorney, Craig Watkins, in Dallas history.
The National Action Network has ignited a revival of social activism in Dallas that began during the National Social Justice Conference and Revival.
Open letter to Senator Joe Lieberman from Rev. Al Sharpton
Dear Senator Lieberman:
Though I have resisted getting involved in the political hysteria around your re-election campaign, an October 5th New York Times article prompted me to break my silence. The article reports that you, accompanied by former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, raised questions before and audience of supporters of Israel about my presence in the support of Ned Lamont, who defeated you with my assistance in the primary for the Democratic nomination for United States Senate in Connecticut. Though much has been said by surrogates of yours since Mr. Lamont’s victory, I have not seen anything directly attributed to you until this article. Frankly, I thought that you having called me personally before my endorsement of Lamont, and asking for my support, or at least to not support your opponent, in the name as you stated to me by phone, that “we were old friends,” meant that you were above petty politics. For you to then turn around and try to demonize someone you yourself had befriended and were comfortable enough to talk to at anytime either of us reached out to one another was unimaginable to me. You see, I even said in endorsing Ned Lamont that I disagreed with you on policy, but considered you a decent man.
However, even my disappointment with your character does not prompt this open letter. It is your open and flagrant race baiting and your risking Black-Jewish relations that many of us have tried to repair, for your own political gain, that is most troubling to me. I remember in the early stages of the 2004 Presidential Primary Campaign you and I talked and agreed that we would be careful not to exacerbate or revive Black-Jewish tensions. It led to our being very friendly and leading to much communication. Even after the campaign you agreed to sitting down and doing an interview for the National Action Network documentary of my campaign on how impressed you were, and how well we worked together (a tape we still have). I recall how many took note in the 2000 election when you were the Vice Presidential candidate you publicly stated you wanted to meet with Minister Louis Farrakhan who many had denounced as anti-Semitic. For you now to totally flip the script to hopefully incite some race based hysteria in a desperate attempt to save your political career is beneath the dignity of the man I thought I got to know in 2004. You never once attacked or questioned my commitment to Israel or any racial group in private or public. In fact, you commended my 2001 trip to Israel as a guest of the Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, where I denounced terrorism. To now rewrite history and play on peoples’ fear for petty political gain in abhorrent.
It is also interesting to me that you would do so standing with Ed Koch, who over the past several years has repeatedly appeared with me as we have jointly worked with Dr. Charles Ogletree of Harvard University in promoting the Second Chance program for non-violent drug offenders. Though Koch and I strongly disagreed when he was Mayor, in the past several years we have traveled together on this program, done joint appearances in the media, posed for front cover stories, and he has spoken at my National Action Network headquarters. In fact, he even spoke at my birthday celebration 3 years ago. If Ned Lamont appeared with me every day from now until the election, he would still not have made as many appearances as Ed Koch has made with me. I call on you, in the name of two communities that still struggle to find common ground, and in the name of decency in political contests, to publicly apologize for the inferences of your statements, and the racial politics your campaign has blatantly engaged in since the primary. One of the reasons I stayed in Connecticut beyond my initially scheduled endorsement of Ned Lamont is: I resented literature that your campaign distributed in black churches suggesting that Ned Lamont was a racist due to his membership in a country club that serves mostly white patrons. I was constantly asked, because of your views on affirmative action and other issues, whether I thought you were in fact the racist, and I constantly said: “I disagree with Joe on the war, on affirmative action, and other issues, which is why I can’t support him, but Joe Lieberman marched in the deep south for civil rights in the 60’s, and Joe Lieberman stood up in Mississippi for voter right’s when I was a mere child. He is no racist.” Little did I know that you would adapt the political strategies of those southern bigots you marched against. Is it just to try and win an election, Joe? You and I often talked about the bible. I remind you then of the biblical verse, “What profits a man to gain the world, and loose his own soul?”
Yours in progress,
Rev. Al Sharpton
SPIKE LEE & POLITICAL LEADERS FÉTE REV. AL SHARPTON’S 52ND BIRTHDAY IN NEW YORK CITY; SHARPTON TO OPEN NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK NEW ORLEANS OUTPOST, CHALLENGES THE HIP-HOP GENERATION
NEW YORK, NY (Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006)—Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee joined Wall Street powerhouse Tracey Maitland in hosting the 52nd birthday celebration for Rev. Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network. The overflow event was held at the trendy PM Lounge in the Meatpacking District in Manhattan. Luminaries included NYC Comptroller William Thompson, State Senator David Paterson, candidate for New York State Lt. Gov., State Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Businesswoman Suzanne Shank, entertainment legend Suzanne de Passe, football star Michael Strahan, Broadway star Brenda Braxton, Yvette Clarke, Democratic candidate for Congress in Brooklyn’s 11th Congressional District, and comedian Paul Mooney, and more.
In a rousing speech, Rev. Sharpton announced the opening of a National Action Network outpost in New Orleans in mid-November to help relocate and service people who still suffer the effects of government neglect in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. “Young people tell me all the time that civil rights is a 60’s thing and they were too young for Birmingham or Selma, well so was I but nothing happened in the sixties worse than the government neglect and civil rights challenge” stated Sharpton. Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Pastor of Grace Baptist Church and Chairman of National Action Network’s Board of Directors raised pledges over $150,000 at the party to help subsidize the outpost.
Midway through the party, Rev. Sharpton brought hip-hop artist L’il Kim to the stage. Kim, who recently was released from jail, hugged the preacher as he stated: “You have gone through a challenge and gotten through it. It can make you stronger if you use it wisely. I challenge you to join me in getting the poison out of hip-hop. Hip-hop is good but the glorifying of violence and degradation of women must stop. You have a unique position to help us do that Kim.” The crowd applauded their embrace.
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