Federal Legislative Workshop

Washington Bureau Director Hilary Shelton convened the session entitled Federal Legislative Workshop. The session was designed to inform that audience about proposed bills, pending legislation and the possibilities for their passage. More importantly, the workshop was designed to illustrate how actions at the federal level have a direct impact on the concerns of local communities. Police brutality is an example of this. Education forms another. How these issues are framed and addressed in D.C., Shelton reminded the audience, have a consequential impact on districts, cities and towns throughout the country.

CONGRESSWOMAN MARCIA FUDGE

Congresswoman Fudge serves as Chair of the Subcommittee on Elections. She offered that we have just as much voter suppression today as we had in 1965. More, she admonished people not to ever believe that voting doesn't change anything. Remember, "Big Mama still needs her medicine every day." She can't get those meds if people do not pay attention to legislation affecting the pharmaceutical industry and then vote for representatives who will do the right things by their families. She said, "If you do not vote we will witness the turning back of health care and the elimination of benefits on prescription drugs." Furthermore, she wanted to remind everyone that if they do not, they are simply being selfish. "Even if you don't care about yourself, then care about somebody else."

Americans are not the same people overall as this administration reflects by its composition, its policies or certainly its orientation. We are not the same as the nativists who comprise the ranks of this administration. For example, Lawrence regretted that we have a Secretary of HUD now whose entire body of knowledge about housing policy is that he lives in a house.

CONGRESSMAN BENNIE THOMPSON

Congressman Thompson is the Chair of The Homeland Security Committee in the House of Representatives. He warned, "Sometimes you have to watch who's watching you." In that vein, he was pleased to note that we have diversifies over time the Intelligence Division of The Department of Homeland Security.

For example, in 2005, officials had stopped collecting the data on domestic terrorism. We are now reversing that trend out of the recognition finally that for a long time most acts of terrorism are of this type and are committed by white Americans. He noted that such criminals will shoot up a nightclub or a church, blow up a federal office building, a synagogue or a mosque. He pledged that this kind of action must be stopped.

The congressional committee is also keenly focused on election security. The Russians, the Chinese, the Iranians all come quickly to mind as likely perpetrators of unwarranted intrusion into the 2020 elections that are coming up. We must prevent that.

Immigration is a manufactured crisis. All the practices of this administration, such as zero tolerance, family separation, ending asylum or building a wall, have been concocted by the current administration as punitive steps to take against refugees and people fleeing violence in their own countries.

CONGRESSMAN BOBBY SCOTT

Congressman Bobby Scott is the Chairman of The Education and Labor Committee. He reported that we are working on police misconduct. He pointed out that you cannot remedy what you cannot measure and thus this committee is now focused on taking intentional steps toward empirical data gathering and analysis.

This committee is also focused on a wide range of related issues, including an increase in the minimum wage, healthcare affordability and making it easier for people to join a union. In addition to that, the committee is upholding the principle that neither governmental agencies nor the private sector can be able any more to use religion as an excuse for discrimination. It is also supporting the reconstruction of public schools

MELANIE CAMPBELL

Melanie Campbell is the President and CEO of the National Coalition for Black Civic Participation (NCBCP). As such, she has long been acknowledged for her ability to create and sustain multilateral cooperative partnerships that bring diverse people together for the common good.

Ms. Campbell quickly reminded convention participants that as black people we recognize the history of being forced into providing free labor in this country. Black people built this country. Therefore, nobody is leaving or about to leave pursuant to the direction of a wannabe autocrat. Ms. Campbell further reminded folks that Fannie Lou Hamer once famously said, "Nobody is free until everybody is free."

THE WILLIAM ROBERT MING AWARD

Today, it remains true that very few people know about Chicago civil rights attorney William Robert Ming, who died in 1973. Yet, for years, Ming was among the sharpest legal minds in the nation. He was an architect of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. In 1942, while working as an NAACP attorney, he won the Ward v. Texas case, which resulted in the reversal of the conviction of an African American man who confessed to a killing after he was tortured by police. Attorney Ming was a member of the faculty at both the University of Chicago Law School and Howard University School of Law.

Perhaps, most importantly, Attorney Ming represented Dr. Martin Luther King in 1960 before an all-white, all-male Alabama jury. Dr. King had been charged with perjury in a case that his supporters rightly viewed as little more than an attempt to silence the civil rights leader. Ming represented King in the case, which resulted in Dr. King's acquittal, ensuring his freedom years later during what would become his most important civil rights work.

Attorney Bradford Perry proudly presented this year's Ming award to Professor Irving L Joyner of the North Carolina Central University School of Law. During this ceremony, convention participants were reminded that even when there are forces in this country that are emboldened to be racist by the current national leadership we are inspired to move forward together and not one step back.

DETROIT MAYOR MIKE DUGGAN

The host mayor wanted the whole convention to know that "We are so pleased you came to Detroit." This is the city that welcomed Syrian refugees when President Bashar Assad began laying waste to his own country. Detroit never subscribed to the misguided, mean-spirited notion of sending people back to where they came from as espoused by President Trump. Instead, Detroit has been about the acceptance of refugees.

And, in that spirit Mayor Duggan said here in Detroit there has not been a greater or more effective voice then Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, the President of the Detroit NAACP. The true leaders of Detroit were not elected by the people who left, but by the people who stayed, the mayor concluded. Detroit believes that all the people in the city should be able to stay in affordable housing, earn a living wage, enjoy excellent P-20 education, survive and thrive.

HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI

The Honorable Speaker of the United States House of Representatives began her presentation by intoning the convention mantra "When We Fight We Win. " She immediately acknowledged Yvonne White, President of the Michigan State Conference of NAACP Branches, President Derrick Johnson of the national organization, Chairman Leon Russell and many others for making this great convention a reality. Ms. Pelosi proudly informed NAACP members that she became a golden heritage member of the NAACP in the year 2000.

The speaker said she was bringing greetings to the convention from the US House of Representatives, which is the country's most dynamic and diverse Congress in history. She proudly informed people that the Democratic caucus is now 60% comprised of women and people of color.

Pelosi also proudly mentioned that Rosa Parks was the first woman ever to lay in state in the national capitol.

Pelosi called attention to key legislation making its way through Congress now, such as HR 1 - a bill also known as Voter Registration Modernization and HR 4 - The Voting Rights Restoration Act.

Madame Speaker reflected aloud that 17 centuries ago Saint Augustine articulated that "Any government that is not formed to achieve economic justice is just a band of thieves." And, Dr. Martin Luther King was the first to lead our fight for equality in healthcare. She pledged that we will continue to fight for justice for our families in Flint. She insisted that we will demand safe schools and control gun violence.

Speaker Pelosi announced that the dual justice system in this country must come to an end. We cannot have our system skewed in such a way that it allows wealthy criminals to plead ignorance of the law and get away with crimes. We do know and understand the urgency of now that Dr. King spoke about. We know that we must fight now. Today the times have arrived for us when we must fight and we must win.

CONGRESSWOMAN RASHIDA TALIB

"We're not going anywhere" Thus began the presentation of Congresswoman Rashida Talib before the convention. The Palestinian firebrand from Michigan described the current actions as a reminder that we are about to give birth to another civil rights movement. For example, she is one of the first Muslim women in the Congress. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is another.

However, Talib reported that at the same time the corporate assault on our families is real. We need clean drinking water in our schools, which is something that we do not now have.

She recalled that when Shirley Chisholm campaigned for President, Chisholm said kids could not learn if they were hungry. The civil rights movement then took shape because folks were in the streets.

Now, Rashida Talib is a sponsor of The Boost Act, which would provide a new tax credit of up to $3,000 for single people and up to $6,000 for married couples. The new law would complement existing tax credits. Income limits would prevent well-off households from receiving the credit. Unlike other refundable tax credit proposals, the BOOST Act would not be limited to people with earnings or people with children.

And, Congress is also grappling with the malignancies brought about by unfairness in the auto insurance industry through a bill she introduced with Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey.

So, Talib described this as a new era for the civil rights movement. She encouraged more people to run for office. She remembered that when she decided to run for Congress someone said it was not her turn, to which she replied, "I didn't know there was a line!"

CONGRESSWOMAN BRENDA LAWRENCE

Rep. Lawrence heralded the Black Caucus as one of the most progressive legislative organizations ever. She lauded the Detroit NAACP for having the largest number of NAACP members in the country. We as a people have an unfortunate tendency to block or ignore one another. She offered: "Black people we can change all that."

Lawrence insisted that we cannot afford to have a single black voter sit at home ever again. When we vote we win. We need to know that when the slaves were building the national Capitol building they had intentions for us to walk those halls of Congress. This is our time, Lawrence stressed. If we allow what's happening to continue, we will be going back to Square One. If you work hard, get your education, and keep your faith, there's nothing you can't do.

Lawrence said, "I love America, even though at times she hasn't loved me back. I'm fighting for it because of those who are coming after me. When the spirit moves you, you do what you have to do."

SENATOR GARY PETERS

The U. S. Senator from Michigan stepped spritely up to the microphone. He first recognized President Derrick Johnson of the NAACP and Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony of the Detroit Branch. Peters reminded folks that we know we have a president who is seeking to divide us. What we must remember on the other hand is that this country is a stronger place when we stand united. We need to fight for equal opportunity. Everyone in this country has a right to stand up. Every time Trump says "go back to where you came from" we will stand up in opposition to such racism.

First, we will ensure that everybody gets counted in the census. It is going to be up to us to make sure that the census is done the right way. Next, we must make sure that we go to the polls next November. When we show up in numbers like no one has seen before we will have the results this country needs. Then, we must demand health care for everyone. We must realize that the people of Flint are still suffering today, and we must make sure that everyone in this country has clean drinking water.

SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW

The convention was pleased to welcome U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow to the podium.

She mentioned her fellow Congressional members among others. She said Detroit is roaring back. Now it is being rebuilt. The lights are being turned back on.

Figuratively shaking her head, she discussed Education Secretary Betsy Devos. Stabenow said that she really wished the secretary was not from the State of Michigan. Devos has been anathema to educational progress at all levels (elementary-secondary and postsecondary) throughout the United States.

Then, she said, "Let's be clear: President Trump is a bully." We must stand up to bullies. That is nothing new for the NAACP. You have been doing it for years. This is especially important when you see the poison of racism coming from the White House. We have a moral imperative to take back our country for our children and our grandchildren.

GOV. GRETCHEN WITMER

The Governor of Michigan initiated her remarks by recalling that in the Witmer family children were raised to always keep fighting for what is right. Toward that end, she joined the NAACP as a life member. She came to the convention this day after having honored Aretha Franklin in a street naming ceremony that morning. She reflected on Joe Louis and his heroics as well as other heroes and sheroes. With respect to Motown, the Governor did the same. She described Detroit as the epitome of grit and determination.

Then, the governor turned toward the current economic plight afflicting her state. Michigan has now suffered through decades of disinvestment in the public welfare. She referred to Flint as one example of that negligence. That city's progress has been stifled by nickel and diming from the government in the budget building process over the years according to the governor. As a result of poverty and poor education, the foundations of society were crumbling.

Now, Witmer said they are rebuilding in Michigan. As opposed to the continuous hatred emanating from the White House, her administration launched a statement this year. On their first day in office she created an Office of Environmental Justice. Beyond that, the Commission on Criminal Justice Reform was established. She introduced a budget "that lives our values." She was very pleased that they are putting more money into at-risk and Career and Technical Education programs. She insisted that Michigan's budget puts us in a position to clean up water across the state. Teaching and preaching are both our calling.

Beyond that, Witmer shared that in Michigan they are working to recruit and retain teachers. Having people of color in the classroom, leading the classroom are essential needs. The state needs your help. The kids of our state need your help she said.