There was a national day of action to oppose Wells Fargo on Tuesday. In 22 cities across the country religious leaders, union workers, and citizens gathered to stand face to face with a huge bank, to let them know that their irresponsible actions will not go by unnoticed.

In Chicago we gathered outside the North Avenue location at noon. It was a wonderful array of people; diverse in age and ethnicity. Most everyone was smiling and exchanging knowledge, a sentiment of brotherly harmony suspended in the air. We marched in a circular pattern in front of the Wells Fargo building, which was generously fitted with picture windows, shouting “Wells Fargo, Shame On You”. After about 20 minutes, we stopped and gathered around a loud speaker to listen.

First, Carl Rosen from the United Electrical Workers Union (UE) spoke:

“There are 100 workers in the Quad cities who are about to become additional victims of the economic jobicide that’s being carried out by the likes of Wells Fargo right now. Last fall this country gave billions and billions of dollars to banks, with the argument that is what we needed to keep this economy going. That if they got that money, they could keep lending the money out, and keep small and medium sized businesses across this country going. Now Wells Fargo took 25 Billion Dollars, and everybody understood what they were supposed to do with it. And instead what are they doing? They are pulling lines of credit from company after company, including Quad City Die Casting, a sixty year-old family owned business. A high quality die casting plant. They just needed a little help to get through this recession… but instead, Wells Fargo thinks this is a good time to cut them off totally.”

Leah Fried, another UE Representative pointed out the financial impact on the community:

“There was an economic impact study done, and it shows 100 people loosing their jobs in the quad cities. 5.3 million per year in lost wages, and another 1.1 million dollars in tax revenue. That’s a whopping 6.4 million dollars per year, lost in that community. Another 69 people who stand to loose their jobs in retail, manufacturing, and other industries because those people aren’t working. This is devastating. And Wells Fargo needs to be accountable for what they’re doing.”

Elce Redmond of Jobs With Justice followed up, signaling the relationship between banks and home foreclosures,

“Wells Fargo got 25 billion dollars of taxpayers money, but yet they have disregard in terms of preserving jobs, and making communities economically stable. In the communities across this country, Wells Fargo is responsible for many of the defaults and foreclosures. This bank has billions of dollars in tax-payers money, yet families are loosing their homes, companies are losing their jobs, and communities are not being economically sustained. This is absolutely wrong. Wells Fargo go bailed out, the people got sold out.”

More photos from the event:

Like many around the world, I listened intently to the news reports of the Somali pirate attacks. I prayed for the safety of the persons on board, as well as a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Yet, in my listening to and reading accounts of what was occurring, I did not hear nor fully understand the reasons, the underlying “real” reasons for the ongoing piracy.

Reports from news agencies made it sound as if a group of Somali’s woke up on the morning in question and decided for the heck of it to hijack peaceful ships steaming along in Somali waters. Somehow the Somalis in question were not people with real issues, real concerns, but rather with the un-evenhanded assistance of the media and others, they were “criminals” seemingly beyond redemption, deserving of the harshest punishment possible. However, as my mother always said, “There are always two sides to every story.”

Evidently no one in mainstream media or government (foreign and domestic) bothered to tell the world that over the last two decades foreign vessels have been competing with poor Somali fishermen, whose lives and livelihood are dependent on the days catch. Clearly no one deemed it appropriate and responsible to inform the world that foreign corporations and governments have repeatedly dumped toxic waste on the shores of Somalia, the result of which are babies born with significant physical deformities. Really did anyone ever consider asking Somalis whether here or there, exactly what is going on and why? Who are the pirates really?

Defending ones life and land takes on many forms and occurs in many ways. And while I don’t condone the actions taken by some in Somalia, it’s not so hard to understand either if one has the whole story. But that’s just the point. The whole story is not being told in a way that allows us to make informed decisions. As a result, what has been reported only adds fuel to the anti-immigrant, racist, xenophobic bonfires around the world. Made to look and sound like bandits, Somalis now become targets of small-minded, ignorant and bigoted persons who gladly look for any opportunity to espouse hate and engage in acts of violence.

Yet who are the pirates really? Is it possible that maybe the real pirates are the foreign corporations and governments whose foul practices have only added to the tumultuous conditions in Somalia? People cannot eat if the water is poisoned; fish die and unfair competition over natural resources exist. Babies cannot and do not grow into healthy productive, law abiding, working adults if they are born with physical deformities and disabilities which make it impossible for them to obtain employment. Food cannot grow on land that has been damaged through natural and unnatural events. People cannot live in freedom and peace if unresolved conflicts continue and those governments which can provide meaningful and lasting help fail to do so.

Seems to me the pirates are closer to home than we’ve been led to believe.

CHICAGO – Center for New Community was deeply saddened by the tragedy that took place in Binghamton, NY on Friday. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families, and the community.

Early reports indicate that this was a senseless act of violence carried out by a lone individual with unknown motives. It is reported that the victims were a group of immigrants taking a citizenship exam at the American Civic Association, which provides services to immigrants and refugees seeking to become citizens and reunite with their families.

This is a tragedy for America and for the immigrant community. As an organization that works to defend the human and civil rights of all persons residing in the United States, Center for New Community urges everyone to resist using this incident for political purposes in the contentious immigration debate.

At this time, we encourage the nation to focus its full attention on supporting the community of Binghamton, New York.

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The Center for New Community is a national organization committed to building community, justice, and equality. The Center is grounded in many faith traditions, and builds community where the dignity and value of all humanity is manifest. Based in Chicago, the organization defends democracy, empowers communities, and promotes equality in its commitments to cultivate civic life and advance systemic change in partnership with local leaders, organizations, congregations, and other institutions.

Here is an excerpt of the article:

While in custody at Lower Buckeye Jail, Martinez said she was brutalized by six MCSO detention officers, who were trying to get her to put her fingerprints on a voluntrary removal order, a document wherein an undocumented foreign national gives his or her consent to be repatriated.

(Lydia Guzman asserted that sometimes MCSO will attempt to get a fingerprint instead of a signature for the VR form. An ICE spokesman had no immediate explanation for this procedure.)

Martinez refused, as was her right, but the officers tried to force her, she said. They stepped on her, twisted her arm, and beat her.

She was placed in a cell by herself, and later that night she was visited by eight MCSO officers, who warned her to sign the VR, or, “We’re all going to get you,” she said they told her.

Martinez’s right hand was swollen, and stained with blue ink.

A fellow inmate advised Martinez’s daughter that her mother had been beat down. She feared for her mother’s life, and advised her lawyers, who filed an emergency stay on Martinez’s behalf.

To read the entire article, go to http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2009/03/joe_arpaios_goons_break_womans.php.

When I was researching the number of African Americans throughout history who have been elected to the US Senate I was shocked to learn that since 1870, there have only been five. Today there are about 23 million African Americans living in the United States but not one in the Senate. Before Barak Obama there was another senator from Illinois, Carol Moseley Braun, who was a senator from 1993-1999.

Before Mrs. Braun there was Edward Brooke who held a seat from 1967-1979. But before Mr. Brooke you have to go back a long, long way, all the way back to 1881 to find the last time an African American was part of the elite.

That gap of some 86 years is more than 3 times larger than the 2nd largest gap of an all white senate, 24 years between Edward Brooke and Mrs. Moseley Braun. Back in 1881 it was a former slave from Mississippi who held the seat, her name was Blanche Bruce. And before Blanche we have the first ever African American in the Senate, a man by the name of Hiram Rhodes Revels. In the 239 years since Mr. Revels took office only 4 other African Americans have followed in his footsteps, a truly astounding and deeply disturbing fact.

In 2009 we will inaugurate the first African American president but it is also a year where we could see an all white congress. Obama’s open seat has caused more than a stir with many factors going into the massive decision over who to replace him. The decision ultimately lies in the hands of the governor of Illinois, the disgraced Rod Blagojevich. In Illinois, even if the governor is behind bars he still can appoint a replacement senator. This week Mr. Blagojevich made his decision, choosing 71 year old African American Roland Burris. This appointment was rejected by Senate Democrats as well as Barak Obama. Both believe that any appointment by the governor who is facing an investigation on charges of selling the Senate seat is not legitimate.

The fact that Mr. Burris is an African American has nothing to do with the rejection of his appointment but it also is another PR disaster for the democrats. It could appear that the democrats are rejecting the appointment of an African American man to an all white Senate. I personally agree with Barak Obama who believes the people of Illinois should decide who their next senator is and I sincerely hope Illinois voters would choose an African American.

Of the 23 million African Americans living in the United States there are many good Senate candidates who if given the opportunity would make fine Senators. One example is Hank Johnson; an up and coming representative from Georgia who was elected to the House in 2007 and has made a great impression in his first 2 years in office. He was recently elected as a regional whip by the Democratic Caucus, a very rare occurrence for one so new to the House.

In the year 2050 whites will not be the majority in the United States. As the number of white Americans declines the number of minorities and women in the US congress especially the Senate must increase. Minorities and women have some representation in the House, but they need much more in the Senate. Each year the United States becomes more and more diverse, and government institutions must reflect that. I fully expect there to be some level of diversity in the Senate by the time we hit the year 2050 but that is too late. The problem exists and needs to be addressed today. The election of an African American to the most powerful leadership position internationally, President of the United States, is definitely cause for optimism but it is not enough.

Machination- A plot or scheme

Malediction- A curse

Nascent- Starting to develop; coming into existence

Nadir- Lowest point

Neologism- new word or expression

Malinger- To evade responsibility by pretending to be ill

Lugubrious- sorrowful; mournful; dismal

Liberal- Tolerant or broad minded; generous or lavish

Jingoism- Belligerent support of ones country

Catholic- Universal, broad and comprehensive

Hope you found these as interesting as I did.

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