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STATEMENT FROM REV. AL SHARPTON REGARDING RECENT STATEMENTS OF REV. JESSE JACKSON ON SENATOR BARACK OBAMA
"The statements that were inadvertently taped from Reverend Jesse Jackson in regards to Senator Obama is most unfortunate and clearly makes those of us that support Senator Obama and respect Reverend Jackson wish they had not gone public. Having said that, we must be very clear that Senator Obama, in my judgment, is running for president for all Americans, not just African Americans. Which is why most Americans have embraced his campaign. Senator Obama’s campaign has perfected the notion that one does not have to subscribe inflexibly to the left or the right but that one can build a real campaign for change relating to all sides and communities, which is why I think he has generated the support he has and that is needed at this point in this nation’s history. No one fights more than I do for African American and others that are not heard, but we must be careful not to segregate Obama and impose some litmus test that is unfair and unproductive. I am happy that Reverend Jackson apologized and I hope that people will remember the great work he’s done in this country as one ways this last incident. But just as I commented on Ralph Nater, I felt compelled to be consistent. "
Reverend Al Sharpton, President
National Action Network
STATEMENT FROM REV. AL SHARPTON ON THE TEXAS GRAND JURY DISMISSAL OF CHARGES AGAINST A WHITE MAN WHO SHOT TWO HISPANIC MEN IN THE BACK
Reverend Al Sharpton, President of the National Action Network and one of the country’s foremost civil rights leaders, is calling the Grand Jury acquittal of Joe Horn in Pasadena, Texas, a mockery of the criminal justice system. Mr. Horn, a white man, was cleared of all criminal charges for shooting two Hispanic men in the back who he suspected were burglarizing his next-door neighbor’s home. This is in stark contrast to the Long Island case of John White, a black man who was convicted by a jury of manslaughter for shooting a white teen who showed up at his door using threats, profanities and racial epithets against him and his teenage son. According to Rev. Sharpton the Texas case is a clear demonstration of “different strokes for different folks” and evidence that the criminal justice system does not work for people of color. Rev. Sharpton is pledging to have National Action Network urge the Texas legislature to further review the case and will appeal to the federal government to intervene.
Reverend Al Sharpton
President, National Action Network
Open Letter From Rev. Al Sharpton to Ralph Nader
Dear Ralph:
As you know I've always respected your views. I hosted you at National Action Network's House of Justice in 2000, and as you recall I recently had you on my syndicated national radio show. However I find your reported comments on Senator Obama most troubling.
We should not have a divisive political season when most Americans are trying to solve our racial divide, not reinforce them, we can't afford to play on old wounds for political gain. I don't know how one "talks black or white." There are clearly different styles and speech cadences in every community.
Those of us that are black have always appreciated our diversity of gifts, talent, and style for your information. Likewise, as this campaign has unfolded Senator Obama has discussed the issues you have raised in a very detailed and extensive manner that many are convinced will help all Americans, including black Americans, which is why I have found most civil rights leaders black and white are supporting his campaign on the its merits.
We are not uncritical and unthinking people that just go along without concern for the issues which we have given our lives. We also do not want to see the kind of rhetoric pollute the political discussion that will lead to a repeat of 2000 and return the country to the polarization and hot rhetoric of the past.
Your comments are beneath the respect many have had for you and more importantly below the level of political discourse we need at this point in history. Those of us that deal with real people in real pain in the black community every day need real answers and real change and that is more important than the volume or style in which it is presented.
Yours in Progress,
Reverend Al Sharpton,
President of National Action Network
“It has been reported to me that statements were made by Mr. Imus this morning and National Action Network has monitored his show since his return. I find the inference of his remark disturbing because it plays into stereotypes. Any use of stereotypes is always counterproductive. We will determine in the next day or so whether or not his remark warrants direct action on our part as we did in April of last year.”
Reverend Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network
Realizing
the Dream
June 19, 2008
Rev. Al Sharpton, President and CEO
National Action Network, 106 West 145th Street, NY, NY 10039
Dear Rev. Sharpton:
National Action Network is a civil rights organization whose work my family respects and admires. My mother attended the first Keepers of the Dream dinner of NAN over ten years ago and referred to you as one of our leaders in the struggle for justice, which we face every day. I have made it a point to attend every annual convention that NAN has held to show my support of the organization and your leadership.
I know too well that, when struggling for justice, there will be those who attempt to undermine those efforts. Such efforts against you and NAN have never weakened my support, nor will it.
Sincerely,
Martin Luther King, III
Martin Luther King, III
STATEMENT FROM REVEREND AL SHARPTON, PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK, REGARDING FALSE ACCUSATIONS IN TODAY'S NEW YORK POST
As I have stated repeatedly, we will never be silenced or intimidated by political zealots in law enforcement or journalism who clearly operate on agendas rather than facts, and we welcome the IRS, New York Post, or any other entity, to look into our relationships with corporations, because they will find corporations generally give to National Action Network (NAN) events where they purchase tables and promote their corporations' particular brand or products, and some highlight what they are doing in the areas of civil rights and economic fairness.
NAN does not give complimentary entry to participants since we have event costs and corporations benefit from attending our events and outlining to our delegates from around the country what they do in the area of civil rights. Though rarely do I hear anything new I must say I find it interesting that the New York Post, which is owned by NewsCorp, would claim that National Action Network "shakes down" corporations for contributions because they have been supportive of National Action Network in the manner described above. Newscorp bought two tables to our 2005 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dinner so they could further lobby against our mutual questioning of the fairness of Nielsen Companies new rating system. They even hosted a member of Congress at their table knowing that my public statements at the dinner would support our mutual position. Clearly they understand when they want to work with NAN and me but have some jaded view of when others do.
In fact I recommend that IRS talk to NewsCorp first. Our April convention always commemorates the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., who was killed in April of 1968, and has been attended every year by Mrs. Coretta Scott King, his widow, or his oldest son Martin Luther King, III, as a testimony to our continuing his tradition. Clearly the New York Post confuses people that shake up the old order of corporate exclusion with shaking down-- a term used against Reverend Jesse Jackson in a best selling book years ago. As for our corporate relationships, not one corporation has said that we in any way "shook them down."
In fact, Brenda Scott of Macy's joined our board at the suggestion of her superiors to help us continue to monitor our corporate agreements in the areas of personnel, diversity of board members, and contracts to minority and women entrepreneurs.
These corporations report every year on Martin Luther King Day about their growth in these areas at our MLK event in Harlem. In 1999, PepsiCo, at their own behest, decided to form a minority Advisory Board as other corporations have done, to help them deal with personnel and contracting goals in the Black, Latino and Asian communities. On that board have served such notables as the President of La Raza, the former President of the NAACP, Kweisi Mfume, Attorney Johnnie Cochran, and others. PepsiCo Chairman Steven Reinemund and Earl Graves, Sr., the Publisher of Black Enterprise who co-chaired that board asked me to be a part of the board which I served on until Mr. Graves stepped aside last year so we could bring in new Board members. It was Steven Reinemund who recommended to Lee Scott chairman of Wal-Mart that they develop a similar board, and they asked me to help put it together, despite my questioning of certain labor and health care policies at Wal-Mart. Mr. Scott appeared on my syndicated radio show, talked about our differences, and said he would like to have a similar board to work toward mutual goals. There was never a confrontation in regard to these issues.
Further, my relationship with Forest City Ratner has been outlined by Acorn's Bertha Lewis who convinced me to both attack them in 2000 because of low wages of one of their projects, and four years later after Acorn and other community groups ironed out a unprecedented community corporate agreement, Ms. Lewis asked me to support that agreement and their new project Atlantic Yards. For this company to choose to push their program at our convention only makes business sense and they were certainly not operating under duress. As for taxes owed by National Action Network or myself, government agencies that have been in consistent discussions with our attorneys are clear that due to our 2003 fire it took time to reconstruct two years of financial records to file since they demand you file consecutive years and not out of order. Most of these amounts were penalties that we feel were unfairly imposed upon us. In fact, those negotiations were concluding when suddenly this investigation was brought about last year. We can only ponder why. We will not, however, be deterred from continuing in our work. We are mindful of the clear political motivation of the Justice Department and IRS under this present Administration. In fact, nine United States Attorneys have had to resign under the question of whether they were targeting people for political reasons. This abuse of government is unparalleled in our nation's history. It is for that reason we have assembled the best legal team to protect National Action Network and myself as we continue doing our work against police brutality, racial profiling, corporate discrimination, decency in the music industry, and our national drive to close the racial gap in student achievement. In fact, no one has questioned that whatever monies the organization does accumulate is done towards those efforts and not toward individuals. For example, because I make an adequate living (through my syndicated radio show, syndicated TV show, and lectures) I have not taken my personal salary from National Action Network in almost two years. In fact, I have loaned National Action Network considerable money because of my commitment to our work. Lost in all of this is that the majority is of our time and work in dealing with issues for justice such as the fight on behalf of the Black teens in Jena, Louisiana, and police brutality cases around the country, the fight against Imus' disparaging remarks against women, and our marching on record companies (some of whom are National Action Network donors) about racial and misogynistic lyrics have nothing to do with monies and are done at great cost to National Action Network. We will continue as others have had to do before us in the civil rights movement despite facing similar scurrilous charges. There will always be a New York Post who tried to buttress their low circulation with sensationalism. I have long come to peace with the notion that when they can't find stories on others they will create one on me. As Earth, Wind and Fire said "That's the way of the world" and that's why we will continue to fight to change it. "
Reverend Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network
“I was shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of Tim Russert and the country has lost one of the best and fairest journalists to ever sit in a TV studio. I saw him recently and he told me fondly that people still approached him and called him “Brother Russert” which was a title I came up with on an appearance of Meet the Press several years ago. I have done his show several times and he was tough but fair and was one of the few journalists that one actually prepared to face because you knew he was the best prepared talk show host of his time. All the while he never stopped being a gentleman. He will be missed and he will always be respected.”
Reverend Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE, CHAOS OR COMMUNITY?
When Dr. King posed that question in the 60s, he was not referring to violence in the African American community committed by other African-Americans. However that question is directly relevant to Black on Black violence: where do we go from here?
Last week eight Black residents of Harlem where shot while enjoying what all the rest of us were trying to enjoy: a beautiful Memorial Day weekend. While it may seem shocking that innocent African-Americans were shot, the facts indicate otherwise.
Last year alone nearly one Black child a day under the age of 17 was shot and killed in New York City. Shot mostly by other Black city residents.
Shootings and violence within in our community by one of our own is an outrage and an issue that we must confront as diligently and as passionately as a sensational case of police misconduct or brutality.
I doubt the press will give the same level of attention to this issue, but we must soldier on and work to eliminate this type of violence and fear.
Since no one has all the answers, I propose a Summit on Violence within one month that will bring together the community (including the youth from our community), law enforcement, clergy, business, the Mayor, Governor, attorney general and other elected officials.
At this summit the community will speak out on the problem and their suggested solutions. It is my hope that such a summit will address three critical areas: (1) improved partnerships between the police and the community, (2) better dialogue between all of us with our youth, and (3) exploration of job and recreational activities.
Dr. King spent his life teaching us that violence is not the answer. Let us all work together to prove him right on this important issue.
Rev. Al Sharpton
Statement from Rev. Sharpton on the actions taken or lack thereof by the NYC Police Department
In light of reports that the New York Police Department has given internal disciplinary charges to eight of the officers in the Sean Bell case, I feel it is a step in right direction. However, we at National Action Network call upon Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly to follow the lead of Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey who fired four police yesterday, demoted one sergeant, and disciplined others, without going through a long internal procedure. They had the right as does the New York Police Department to terminate people that violate police policy. I strongly believe that the Police Commissioner should fire the officers in the Sean Bell case pursuant to civil service laws. I might add that there was not a fatality in the case in Philadelphia like there was in New York and the City still acted quickly and unequivocally on an incident that was just two weeks ago. This is the kind of aggressive and no nonsense attitude we must have with policing in other parts of the country. There must be no tolerance for crime but also no tolerance for police misconduct and the New York Police Department must send a strong firm signal that that is the case as we have seen in Philadelphia.
Reverend Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network
Reverend Sharpton Demands Inquiry
Reverend Al Sharpton has directed his attorneys to file a Freedom of Information request to the Department of Homeland Security disclosing all e-mails or other correspondence between Secret Service Agents discussing him or complaining about him in racially derogatory manner. The revelations in today’s NYT are disturbing in light of the fact that Rev. Sharpton was a presidential candidate during the period of these e-mails and raises legitimate questions as to whether he was unfairly targeted or the subject of politically motivated harassment during his campaign. Rev. Sharpton was not under Secret Service protection during his presidential campaign. (See NY Times Article Below)
REV. AL SHARPTON TO LEAD HISTORIC CIVIL RIGHTS MARCH WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING, III, IN MEMPHIS, TN, MARKING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
THE “RECOMMITMENT MARCH” CAPS WEEKLONG ACTIVITIES AT 10TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONVENTION FEATURING NOTABLES SUCH AS MYRLIE EVERS-WILLIAMS, HARRY BELAFONTE, EARL GRAVES, SR., MICHAEL BAISDEN, MO’NIQUE, MARC MORIAL, & MANY OTHERS
New York – New York – Reverend Al Sharpton and the National Action Network (NAN) will lead a historic "Recommitment March" to the Lorraine Motel, the site where Dr. King lost his life 40 years-ago on Friday, April 4th. Leading the march along with Reverend Sharpton will be Martin Luther King III, who will visit the Lorraine Motel for the first time.
The “Recommitment March” will serve as an opportunity for people to recommit themselves to fighting for the ideals that Dr. King envisioned 40-years ago. The march will bring thousands from across the country, young and old, to dedicate, and rededicate themselves to lead the fight for social justice for the next forty years.
According to Rev. Sharpton: “Just as the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty-years after Moses brought them across the Red Sea, Dr. King was our Moses, and forty years later, Martin Luther King, III, I, and many others will commit ourselves to making a better life and community."
The “Recommitment March” will cap a number of important events in Memphis as Reverend Sharpton and National Action Network hosts the 10th annual convention NAN at the Peabody Memphis from April 2nd to April 5th. The historic gathering will be an impressive who’s who in civil rights, business, politics, labor, entertainment and the religious community.
STATEMENT FROM REV. AL SHARPTON ON DAVID PATERSON
I spoke twice today with David Paterson to recommit to our continued prayer for him and his family, as well as for the Spitzer family. David and I have worked together for a long time and since we are months apart, he, Congressman Greg Meeks, and I, used to sit together monthly, planning where we wanted to go in life. We always thought David would be our generation’s “Dave Dinkins.” We never imagined he would be Governor, but we are sure he can more than rise to the occasion. I hasten to say, as I said to David, that he is now the Governor for all New Yorkers, not just Black New Yorkers, and he has proven his ability to serve all. His first challenge will be to heal a State that is in pain and shame, and to continue to govern in a way fair to all. We must all pledge to work with him in those efforts.
Reverend Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network
STATEMENT FROM REV. AL SHARPTON ON TODAY'S SPEECH BY SENATOR BARACK OBAMA
The speech today by Senator Barack Obama was an important statement on the continuing realities of race and division in America and the quest to move beyond it towards a more fair and open society. We will not get there by being in denial; there still exist problems and division that I and others in Senator Obama’s generation continue to seek to expose. Nor will we get there with statements and language that exacerbate the problems rather than expose them, and lead to "solutions" exhibited by those in past generations on all sides of the race question. Every generation has had those like Senator Obama who seek to solve them from within government and the corporate community, as well as those outside government and corporate circles who seek to expose the issues and so to drive society to dealing with them. In our time we still must deal with these matters. Let us not forget that in just the last year we have had to deal with hangman nooses and swastikas. Tens of thousands of people joined us in Jena, Louisiana, to protest racial injustice in the criminal justice system, and even more joined us for a national march in front of the Department of Justice. The trial of Sean Bell, who was killed on the eve of his wedding by New York City police officers, was in session even while Senator Obama made his speech. This reminds us that we can reduce the efforts to attacking those who appear to respond in an intemperate manner about our history, or we can deal with the broader reality that we still have challenges before us that we must solve. Denial of these problems is in no way equivalent to the removal of them. I would hope that Senators McCain, Clinton and Obama now seek to raise the discussion to solutions rather than to expand the examination and denunciation of surrogates' statements of how they see the problem; if the contest remains at that level the American people are to lose.
In Florida: Rev. William Richardson, III
President of NAN Port. St. Lucie (914) 562-0866
REV. AL SHARPTON TO TOUR FLORIDA MONDAY & TUESDAY TO MEET WITH STATE LEADERS TO COLLECT NAMES OF RESIDENTS THAT DIDN’T VOTE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEIR VOTE WOULDN’T COUNT IN THE FLORIDA PRIMARY
Monday, March 10, 2008--Rev. Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network will tour four cities in Florida today and tomorrow to meet with community leaders to organize to compile lists of people who will sign affidavits saying they didn't vote in the Florida Primary because they thought their vote wouldn't count and feel that the seating of a Florida delegation based upon the primary vote earlier this year would rob them of their voting rights.
As President of National Action Network, a civil rights organization with several chapters throughout the state of Florida, Rev. Sharpton has stated that National Action Network (NAN) is prepared to go to court with those who feel disenfranchised if the Democratic National Committee (DNC) seats a Florida or Michigan delegation based upon the results in the earlier contests.
REVEREND AL SHARPTON RESPONDS TO PRESIDENT BUSH’S STATEMENT ON NOOSES TODAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION
At the White House today where Reverend Al Sharpton was one of the only featured civil rights leaders, President Bush verbally addressed the issue of the proliferation of nooses around the country and said that the display of them is disturbing and a symbol of gross injustice. Rev. Sharpton, who has led the fight against the display of nooses across the country, said he is encouraged that the President addressed the issue that caused him to bring 30,000 marchers to Jena, Louisiana, and 50,000 marchers in front of the U.S. Department of Justice on November 16th. However, Rev. Sharpton wishes that the President had discussed specific legislation to enforce the wrongdoing in displaying nooses. According to Rev. Sharpton, he is pleased that the White House responded to what the 21st century civil rights movement is about and what he and other activists have been highlighting for months by way of marches and protests across the country
I also think we must reappraise the church and the history of social gospel and the prophetic tradition. Martin Luther King, III, and I will be calling leaders to Memphis, Tennessee around the anniversary of the assassination of his father the week of April 2-5. We will have during that time a Summit meeting of black clergy leaders to talk about what is and what is not the appropriate way to address these matters as we protect the history of the pulpit in being a place that is free to speak truth to power but also by being careful to lead to healing and not to further exacerbation of those situations we seek to resolve.
Reverend Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network
Statement from Reverend Al Sharpton from Miami, Florida, where he is on tour for National Action Network:
January 7, 2008 (Miami, Fl)--
"I have been in touch all day with staff members of National Action Network who are traveling in regard to the request made by fugitive Otis Blunt that he would like to surrender himself. I have also had our General Counsel speak to law enforcement in New Jersey and have spoken to other appropriate officials. I am prepared to move within the next 24-48 hours to personally see if I can physically facilitate Mr. Blunt's request."
Reverend Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network
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