Minorities

Washington DC --02 June 2008 -- A new documentary "At the Death House Door" and a Virginia execution of convicted killer Kevin Green have once again stirred the controversy over capital punishment. New questions have been raised in recent years over the U.S. death penalty, as some officials say minorities and the poor are disproportionately put to death. In other cases, DNA tests resulted in the release of a few inmates who were scheduled to die.

On a Friday night in February 1983 a man with a knife walks into a Texas convenience store. The documentary "At the Death House Door" replays the conversation in which Wanda Lopez, a lone clerk, calls the police screaming for help while being attacked.    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- As John McCain tries to court minority voters today, a new report on Politico.com highlights how the Republican Party's "highly publicized" outreach over the last few years has lacked infrastructure and has yielded little results. The article focuses on candidate recruitment, noting that while Democrats have several candidates in "winnable House races who are either black or Hispanic," the GOP has none.

John McCain rally: Photo by james (CC)    » read more »

April 17, 2008 -- Des Moines – Today, at the John R. Grubb YMCA in Des Moines, Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed into law HF 2393, a bill requiring a “Minority Impact Statement” for any legislation related to a public offense, sentencing, or parole and probation procedures. The legislation also requires that any application for a grant from a state agency must also include a minority impact statement.    » read more »

Legislation creates commemorative coin celebrating the progress of the Civil Rights Act

April 2, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today applauded the House of Representatives' passage of legislation to create a commemorative coin to recognize the landmark strides of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Senator Barack Obama: Photo by Daniella Zalcman (CC)    » read more »

01 April 2008 -- A new report says only about half of all students in the 50 largest U.S. cities graduate from high school.

According to a study released Tuesday by a research center and a group of education advocates, the city with the worst drop-out rate was Detroit in the midwestern state of Michigan, where only one quarter of students graduate from 12th grade.

Only one quarter of Detroit students graduate from 12th grade: Photo by Lauren (CC)

In New York City and Los Angeles, California about 45 percent of all students receive a high school diploma.    » read more »

Peake: Members Represent “Diversity of America”

February 12, 2008, WASHINGTON – The Secretary of Veterans Affairs has announced the appointment of six new members to the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, an expert panel that advises him on issues involving minority veterans.

“These new members are veterans who represent the diversity of America and are recognized authorities in areas pertinent to the needs of our veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.    » read more »

1/30/2008 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley has proclaimed February as Black History Month and urges citizens to observe and honor the influence of African Americans on the cultural heritage of North Carolina. Educational opportunities are planned for museums and historic sites across the state during the month of February.    » read more »

January 18, 2008 -- As the nation prepares to commemorate Martin Luther King Day, the Economic Policy Institute warned that a national economic recession will result in disproportionately high unemployment rates for African Americans unless Congress enacts an emergency program to reduce joblessness and restore working people’s purchasing power.    » read more »

Transfers Division to Treasury to Focus on Small Business Procurement Process

December 20, 2007 -- TRENTON – New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced the appointment of Nina Moseley as Director of the Division of Minority and Women Business Development. Ms. Moseley currently serves as Senior Director of Business Services with the New Jersey Commerce Commission. At the same time, the Governor authorized the transfer of the Division of Minority and Women Business Development from the Office of Economic Growth to the Department of Treasury.    » read more »

WASHINGTON (Dec. 18, 2007) – Today, the Federal Communications Commission voted to allow top newspapers to own a broadcast station in the same media market. Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., founder and president of Rainbow PUSH Coalition, issued the following statement:    » read more »

President-Elect of Bar Group Testifies in Favor of House Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 18, 2007 – Racial disparities still plague America and its legal system, and the federal government should study the lingering affects of slavery and institutional racism, an American Bar Association leader told Congress today.

ABA President-elect H. Thomas Wells Jr. cited substantial gaps in earning potential, health care, unemployment and incarceration rates, saying they are reminders that America still has work to do to eradicate racism and racial bias.    » read more »

Menendez, a strong advocate for diversity of voices in the media, is part of group vowing to seek legislation to overturn hasty ruling

December 19, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – Despite intense congressional pressure, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) yesterday ruled in a 3-2 partisan vote to allow consolidation of local media ownership in the nation’s largest cities. U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has been a leader in requesting a postponement of the vote until the pressing issues of localism and diversity are fully discussed and addressed by the FCC.    » read more »

December 18, 2007 -- Washington, DC – “I am deeply disappointed by the FCC's decision to overturn longstanding media cross-ownership rules, and to do so with a grossly flawed and widely criticized process.

The FCC is now actively promoting industry consolidation, but it is not addressing serious questions about consumer choice and localism. The Commission acted without giving the public sufficient time to comment.

And the Commission completely disregarded the concerns of a bipartisan group of more than 25 Senators who urged a more deliberative approach.    » read more »

Samuel Hayes III appointed

December 19, 2007 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the appointment of Samuel Hayes III as director of Minority Business Enterprise. Mr. Hayes has more than 19 years of government management experience.

“Mr. Hayes is an excellent fit for this very important job,” Governor Kaine said. “He brings a wealth of experience, including as a procurement officer for a major state agency.”    » read more »

12/18/2007 -- WASHINGTON, December 18 – Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement on today’s vote by the Federal Communications Commission to overturn a 32-year-old media cross-ownership ban and allow broadcasters in the nation's 20 largest media markets to also own a newspaper:    » read more »