"Shame on the Congressional Black Caucus" Rally

           Hundreds promise to protest upcoming CBC Annual Conference

September 13, 2014

For immediate release:
Contact:         Bruce Dixon, 404-797-2087                                 Asantewaa Nkrumah-True, 202-821-5223

Washington, DC --  Local and nationally known African-American activists, artists, journalists and their allies will converge at the 44^th Annual Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference on opening day, Wednesday, September 24, 9:00 am, at the Walter Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place NW, Washington, DC, in a rally meant to publicly shame CBC members for their positions on support for Israel, net neutrality and other critical issues.

“Why can't the Congressional Black Caucus denounce and oppose apartheid in Israel the way it once did in South Africa?  Why do they support Israel’s current slaughter of the people of Gaza?” asked Bruce Dixon, Managing Editor, Black Agenda Report.  Dixon was speaking about the House of Representatives, including all members of the CBC, passing a resolution affirming Israel’s right to self-defense.  “The CBC choose to support Israel out of greed and subservience,” Dixon added. 

Regarding net neutrality, “Why do members of the Congressional Black Caucus side against their constituents with telecommunications companies such as Comcast, Verizon, etc., to kill net neutrality?” asked Dixon.  “A proposal advanced by FCC chair and telecom lobbyist Tom Wheeler may spell the end of the internet as we know it; it would establish the legal right of telecommunications companies to apply ‘market-based’ charges for any kind of internet service they choose, for any reason they might invent.  This will prevent the public from being well-informed, so do CBC members receive campaign donations from them?” he asked. 

“What the CBC has been doing for several years is embarrassing to me as a woman of African descent” said Asantewaa Nkrumah-Ture, a Washington, DC-based activist.  “Not only regarding apartheid Israel and net neutrality, but also with the protests in Ferguson, MO.  The CBC failed to note that tear gas used in Gaza was also used against the protesters in Ferguson and the label shows it was made by a Jamestown, PA company, Combined Tactical Systems.”

Participants in the rally will also pass out information describing in detail their disappointment with these elected officials. 

                                                                                    
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