In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

WASHINGTON, DC - Oct. 2, 2006 (MASNET) As an added service to the community, MAS Freedom Foundation presents its Weekly Civil Rights Update.

Michigan Civil Rights proposal is “cynical, divisive”

September 29, 2006

After a prolonged effort to keep the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (Proposal 2006-02) off the November ballot, the federal court has decided that voters will be allowed to take a stand on this controversial proposal.

Voters will decide whether to amend the Michigan Constitution to ban affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment to individuals or groups on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity or national origin in public education, public employment and government contracting.

On its face, it seems to be a proposal for equal treatment for all. But the history of this proposal is as complicated and twisted as the sorry history of race relations in Michigan. For this reason and others, we recommend a no vote on Proposal 2006-02 on Nov. 7.

Southeast Michigan is regularly cited as the most racially segregated area in the United States. It is a place where African-Americans are disproportionately unemployed, living under the poverty level, educationally disadvantaged and less likely to receive medical care. They have a higher incidence of crime and drug addiction. It is an area with a long history of racial steering in real estate, insurance red lining, police harassment and job discrimination.

Opponents of affirmative action argue that it constitutes "reverse discrimination," giving unfair advantage to minorities and women, leading to increased social conflict and racial animosity. Beginning with the Bakke case in 1978, the U.S. Supreme Court has tried to define both the proper uses and limits of affirmative action. Most recently in 2003, the court ruled on two cases involving the University of Michigan. It ruled in Grutter v. Bollinger et al. that the university can use race as one of many factors in assessing the qualifications of students, in this case at the Law School. But, in Gratz et al. v. Bollinger et al., the court ruled that a point system used at the undergraduate school could not be used.

Jennifer Gratz, one of the plaintiffs in that case, was recruited to lead the Michigan MCRI movement by Ward Connerly, an African-American who was the leader of a similar and successful drive in California.

The majority on the Michigan Board of State Canvassers, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission and a federal judge have all said the MCRI petition gatherers acted fraudulently by misrepresenting what their proposal was about.

The impact of the amendment is open to interpretation. Several state contracting programs that have been instituted to involve more women- and minority-owned businesses in state projects may be at risk. The state's universities, other than U-M, do not have preferential programs, but instead have outreach programs to recruit minority students that would not be prohibited under the amendment. The amendment would have no impact on private schools or companies. In other states where similar proposals have been adopted, the impact on racial and gender representation has been mixed. But the leaders of major corporations, civic leaders from both major parties, military leaders and others have opposed this amendment as socially divisive.

We agree. We believe that the state constitution should not be amended to outlaw programs that help those who have been historically discriminated against for generations.

We urge a no vote on this misguided and cynical proposal.

To learn more visit: http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

DOCUMENTARY - UNITED STATES - "American Blackout ": Investigating Black Voters Disenfranchisement

Synopsis - Most people have heard of the voting irregularities that marred the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004. Some even know of the resulting challenges to the electoral votes by African-American congressional representatives. However, because the mainstream media shies away from reporting cases of imperiled democracy the public is left to believe these stories are at worst insignificant rumors or at best one-off incidents that result from an overburdened election system.

"American Blackout" chronicles the recurring patterns of disenfranchisement witnessed from 2000 to 2004 while following the story of Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who not only took an active role in investigating these election debacles but also found herself in the middle of one after publicly questioning the Bush Administration about the 9-11 terrorist attacks. Some call Cynthia McKinney a civil rights leader among the ranks of Shirley Chisholm and Malcolm X. Others call her a conspiracy theorist and a ’looney.’ American Blackout gains unprecedented access to one of the most controversial and dangerous politicians in America and examines the contemporary tactics used to control our democratic process and silence political dissent.

The film features interviews with: US Congressional Representatives, John Lewis, Cynthia McKinney, John Conyers, Bernie Sanders, and Stephanie Tubbs-Jones; former US Civil Rights Commissioner & Dean of UC Berkeley’s School of Law, Christopher Edley; BBC journalist Greg Palast; and, Van Jones, Executive Director of the Ella Baker Center. Music for the film has been provided by DJ Shadow, Soulsavers and Thievery Corporation, and includes original music composed by Michael Bearden and Mark Batson.

To learn more visit: http://www.alterinfos.org/spip.php?article551

Abused, Injured Workers Protest in Front of Smithfield New York Headquarters Demanding End to Cruelty at Nation's Largest Pork Plant

New York City Council asked to consider resolution to ban pork purchases from Packing Plant

NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2006 (PRNewswire) -- Civil rights, faith, immigrant rights and labor leaders gathered in front of the Smithfield Corporate offices at 499 Park Avenue on Friday, September 29 to protest the company's widespread abuse of workers and its failure to recognize their desire to join a union. Stuart Appelbaun, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, and Sonia Ivany, head of New York's Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, introduced speakers from the various groups attending the rally.

Smithfield Foods is the target of a growing national consumer campaign because of its abusive treatment of the over 5,500 predominantly Latino and African-American workers at its Tar Heel, North Carolina plant where workers have been fighting to organize a union for over 12 years. New York City is one of the company's largest markets.

Councilman Miguel Martinez will ask the City Council to consider a resolution, at its next meeting in October, to stop purchases of pork products from the plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina. The bill will also urge supermarkets in the city to no longer stock the product.

Smithfield recently came under fire by Midwest Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) for its plan to purchase Premium Standard Farms. The Senators contend the merger could violate anti trust laws and allow Smithfield to fix pork prices. The New York Times wrote recently that the merger would mean that "The hog farmers' job would no longer be farming. They would be janitors in confinement barns across rural America where the packers' huge herds of pigs are crammed in stalls to live out their short lives."

Human Rights Watch produced two reports documenting widespread abuse and dangerous working conditions at the plant. Smithfield, which at one time maintained its own private police force, was found by the National Labor Relations Board to have violated the law by assaulting, intimidating, threatening and unlawfully firing its workers. This year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a board ruling ordering the company to cease and desist.

Workers testify that they are often fired when they become injured and are denied workers' compensation.

The campaign will be in the spotlight again in November with the release of the new Eric Schlosser movie Fast Food Nation, backed by eBay founder Jeff Skoll, and starring Ethan Hawke, Bruce Willis, Avril Lavigne, Kris Kristofferson and Greg Kinnear, which will promote the campaign.

To learn more visit: http://www.smithfieldjustice.com

Hundreds attend dedication of civil rights monument at UM

OXFORD, Miss. Hundreds of people turned out Sunday as the University of Mississippi dedicated a monument to mark the 44th anniversary of its integration.Georgia Congressman and Alabama native John Lewis delivered the keynote address. He said -- quoting here -- "This is a day to rejoice. With the unveiling of this monument, we free ourselves from the chains of a difficult past."

The monument features a life-size bronze likeness of James Meredith, the first black student admitted to the university. The statue is posed as if it is striding toward a 17-foot-tall limestone portal topped with the words "courage," "perseverance," "opportunity" and "knowledge."

Meredith, now 73 and living in Jackson, was on hand, but did not speak at the ceremony.

After the ceremony, Meredith posed beside the statue for photos with former Mississippi Gov. William Winter and autographed printed programs.

About 15-hundred people attended the event.

To learn more visit: www.wtvm.com/Global.story

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The Freedom Foundation is the public affairs arm of the Muslim American Society (MAS), a national grassroots religious, social, and educational organization. MAS is America's largest grassroots Muslim organization with over 50 chapters nationwide. Learn more at www.masnet.org.

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