Section 2 - Million Family March National Agenda

SECTION 2
POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT

Political Empowerment

Family is the basic unit of life in society. The political empowerment of our families requires more long-term involvement in the electoral process. To ensure political empowerment for all families in the United States, THE NATIONAL AGENDA 2000-2008 was drafted broad enough to be inclusive of the mutual political interests of Black, Hispanic, Native, Asian and Pacific Islander, Arab and White Americans.

In other words, through the Million Family March, a new viable national coalition of conscience and activism is in formation to achieve the goal of politically transforming American society through the significant increase of all families participating and challenging the existing political establishment. Progressive public policy should be legislated at local, state and federal levels.

"No business as usual in the political process" is the rallying cry of today. We focus on mobilizing the strongest possible progressive political force to leverage the advancement of the mutual interests of all who stand for the empowerment of our communities through the empowerment of our families.

Recommendations for action items
for political empowerment are as follows:

	Implement voter-education as vigorously as possible with the help of the Million Family March LOCs (Local Organizing Committees) and other local community organizations
	Convene local town hall meetings on THE NATIONAL AGENDA 2000-2008
	Hold state-wide meetings on THE NATIONAL AGENDA 2000-2008
	Establish direct solidarity with local communities and direct involvement in local politics and elections consistent with THE NATIONAL AGENDA 2000-2008 and local agendas determined by LOCs and other local organizations
	Citizenship-education programs and seminars
	Youth voter-registration and political education in high schools
	Grassroots organizing and political platform mobilizing through door-to-door campaigns
	Challenge unjust voter-registration practices in localities
	Improve ballot access laws and equal access to media
	Support campaign finance reform
	Proportional representation
	Advocate the right to unrestricted spiritual and cultural expression, and organize community voter-education on behalf of our houses of worship
	Link the political agenda of Black, Hispanic, Native, Asian and Pacific Islander, Arab and White Americans with the political agenda of the Third World and the poor and oppressed worldwide
	Work to extend and expand the Voting Rights Act
	Advocate for the creation and maintenance of voting redistricting that provides more representation and equitable government
	Restoration of voting rights for persons after completing time served in prison
	Conduct national polls and research to promote a more effective engagement of the political process.

Voting Rights

Ensure Equal Access To Full Voter Participation⁹

For the first time in almost 30 years, minorities are actually losing, rather than gaining, full voter-participation. Given a green light by the Supreme Court, federal courts and state legislatures are seeking to dismantle majority-minority districts.

Background

The 15th and 19th Amendments to the Constitution guarantee African Americans (men and women) the right to vote. For many decades, however, discrimination prevented African Americans from voting. To remedy this, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As amended, the Act permanently bars voting discrimination and provides special enforcement mechanisms that will expire in 2007, if not re-authorized by Congress. Even if the enforcement mechanisms end, African Americans’ constitutionally-guaranteed right to vote will not expire.

The Million Family March supports the continued enforcement of the Voting Rights Act, the National Voting Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act as partial remedies for the systemic political disenfranchisement of communities and families.

Today, because of the Act, there are over 8,000 African American elected officials nationwide, with 5,000 of them elected from the South. There are 39 African American members of the CBC, including over one-third elected from the South. Most of these officials were elected from majority-minority districts.

However, just as minorities have begun electing representatives of their choice, their full voter-participation is threatened. In a series of cases, including Shaw v. Reno and, Miller v. Johnson, the Supreme Court and other lower courts have declared several majority-minority districts unconstitutional.

The National Asian Pacific American Consortium, (NAPAC) and its affiliates; The Asian Pacific American Legal Center, The Asian American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and The Asian Law Caucus, "conducted exit poll surveys in the 1994, 1996 and 1998 general elections and monitored compliance with the bilingual assistance provisions of the Voting Rights Act in their region. The surveys document the need for bilingual assistance in removing barriers to voting."¹⁰

Goals¹¹

	Ensure enforcement of all laws which protect and encourage the right to vote for all citizens
	Defend the creation of districts that provide opportunities for all citizens to be represented by candidates of their choice
	Consider alternative solutions to maintain and expand minority representation in elective bodies

Census 2000

The 1990 Census resulted in 26 million errors, an undercount of 8.4 million people and 3% of U.S. children not being counted. In addition, while the national undercount average was 1.6%, the undercount of Latino Americans was more than three times this average, or 5 percent. Other minority groups were also undercounted, for example Native Americans 4.5% and African Americans 4.4 percent. As a direct result of this undercount, many individuals were effectively denied government representation.¹²

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) supports the use of proven and reliable scientific methods to complement the Census bureau’s aggressive enumeration effort. The Census bureau’s plan will utilize both the traditional head count method and scientific statistical methods to arrive at the most accurate count possible. Using modern methods will result in a national undercount of less than .01 percent. A vast improvement from the 5% Latino American undercount of 1990.

CHC will work with the Census bureau at the grassroots level to inform and educate Latino Americans across the country about the upcoming census. Grassroots campaigns will be undertaken to motivate community members to participate in the 2000 Census.

A national plan targeting high Latino American undercount areas needs to be undertaken.

Through its membership, the CHC will expand the lines of communication with national, regional and local organizations to work in a comprehensive plan that minimizes the Latino American undercount.

Asian and Pacific Islanders were undercounted in the 1990 Census by 2.3% or 160,000 individuals.¹³

The undercount in the Census of any community or racial group in the United States will undermine the potential of that community or racial group to increase political empowerment. In addition, an undercount by the Census bureau will prevent communities from getting the accurate proportional federal funding for public education, crime prevention, health care and transportation. Also, undercounted communities will not get their fair share of proportional representation in Congress, states legislatures and local governments. Civil rights that prohibits discrimination against minorities in undercounted communities in education, voting, housing and employment will not be adequately enforced.¹⁴

According to the Congressional Black Caucus, "The U.S. Census Bureau has missed millions of persons conducting each decennial Census, especially minorities, the poor, children, newly arrived immigrants, and the homeless." The CBC further stated, "An accurate Census is vital to every community." Last year, Census data was used in the distribution of more than $180 billion in federal aid. "Accurate Census data is the only way to assure that local communities receive their ‘fair share’ of federal spending; an inaccurate count will shortchange the affected communities for an entire decade."¹⁶

Coalition Priorities

Coalition-building among families across the lines of race, religion and culture is a necessity to give birth to a new paradigm for socioeconomic and political transformation. Therefore, towards the goal of progressive change, it is in the best interest to work in coalition with others who share common oppression, common issues, and common visions. We are compelled by an understanding of God’s law to include to the greatest extent possible, all the masses. The purpose is to assure that justice and equity are the products of our every action. All individuals, organizations, and entities must have their needs, interests, health and rights protected to the extent that they can work towards a harmonious society. We cannot work as a disconnected whole. We can only be whole when we have attained a God-consciousness and have affirmed the unity of the entire human family.

Recognizing our cultural, ethnic, religious and other differences, our mission maintains that coalition policies must be implemented to address the collective whole. To this end we shall draw upon the best concepts and ideas that each group has to offer. This outreach shall take place on a family by family and a community by community basis as well as on a national basis.

While there exists a multitude of constituent groups throughout this nation, their interests can be composed into principled dialogue which results in common policies which may be used by all. Although we have differences, we also have similarities. Our commonalties are what we shall draw upon and build upon. Coalition-building is one of the mechanisms by which the key issues of this forum shall be disseminated throughout the world. All issues raised shall have a particular definition, reason and purpose. We shall utilize our natural affection, compassion and creative good will to implement a holistic policy for each key issue.

Black Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and Arab Americans have historically had to live with the same oppressive conditions as other oppressed people throughout the world. The violations against these and other ethnic and religious groups have been perpetuated by white supremacy using the same tools and methodologies. Some of the interests of Native Americans are the violations of treaty agreements and sovereignty rights, and the respect for the sacredness of Native lands. The concerted effort to bring their population to total extinction is barbaric and genocidal.

The Latin American community has been treated with undisputed indignity regarding immigration and unfair labor and trade practices. Asian Americans have also been victimized by racial hatred in terms of racial stereotypes. In recent years, Arab Americans have become the target of racial intolerance and are increasingly viewed as scapegoats. Now recognizing these facts we have a context with which to work towards a common struggle and a common victory.

Civil Rights

Protect and Renew Enforcement¹⁷

Discrimination is a reality in America. While minorities have made gains over the past 30 years, America has not become a color-blind society.

Background

In recent years, several high-profile discrimination cases–Texaco, Circuit City, Pitney Bowes and Denny’s, to name a few–have resulted in huge settlements or judgments against large corporations. African American employees have sued these corporations for discrimination in hiring, transfers and promotions.

These cases illustrate how pervasive and embedded discrimination still is in America. In fact, discrimination claims have risen by almost 115 percent over the past few years.

There currently is a backlog of over 77,000 cases filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the government agency responsible for investigating and enforcing workplace discrimination.

Goals¹⁸

	Increase funding for the EEOC and overall federal enforcement of civil rights laws
	Eliminate the backlog of discrimination complaints pending at the EEOC
	Create a dialogue with key corporations to facilitate diversity and open the doors to opportunities for all Americans

Notes:
9. Congressional Black Caucus, The Agenda: 1997-1999, 105th Congress of the United States, Washington, D.C., p. 18.
10. NAPAC, Internet: www.napalc.org/content/pro_voting.html
11. Ibid.
12. Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Legislative Priorities: 1999, 106th Congress of the United States, Washington, D.C., p. 7.
13. The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium, Internet: naplc.org/content/pro_Census1_2.html. Lessons from the 1990 Census: The Undercount and the Asian Pacific American Community.
14. Ibid.
15. CBC News, Vol. 1, No. 1, April 1999, p. 13: "Census 2000: Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Count of Every Person."
16. Ibid.
17. Congressional Black Caucus, The Agenda: 1997-1999, 105th Congress of the United States, Washington, D.C., p. 19.
18. Ibid.

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