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CBC Statement on the
Resignation of Shirley Sherrod

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact : J. Jioni Palmer

(Washington, D.C.)- Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Barbara Lee and members of the CBC released the following statement today on the firing of USDA employee Shirley Sherrod:

“It is troubling that Shirley Sherrod was asked for her resignation as Georgia State Director for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture because of an edited video clip. A full review of the clip demonstrates Ms. Sherrod’s personal transformation. She was clearly educating the public about the power of redemption. It is now apparent that Secretary Vilsack did not have all of the facts available to him and overreacted.

“The Congressional Black Caucus continues to believe that Ms. Sherrod was unfairly asked to resign, without due process and should be reinstated immediately. There are many individuals still serving in the Department of Agriculture who were responsible for years of discrimination against African American farmers.

“We also believe that a national dialogue on race must be held. Last November, we held a forum on race in Washington DC to begin the discussion. The basis for Ms. Sherrod’s resignation is another example of why we must not sweep race under the rug. Rather, we must come together as a nation and recognize that we do not live in a post-racial era and that, while difficult, we must confront these issues head on with clarity and without fear.

“Ms. Sherrod has been an effective public servant and it would be tragic to lose a person of such caliber, competence and commitment to fairness and equality and one who has dedicated her life to working for a more perfect union.”

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Editors Note: Our Facebook campaign for the reinstatement of Shirley Sherrod is now up to over 1,000 supporters and growing !!! I want to publicly thank the office of Congressman Bobby Rush for providing with this statement to post from The Congressional Black Caucus with regard to the "rush to judgement" on Shirley Sherrod. Whether Sherrod even accepts her job back is not the question, but it is the right thing for an apology and an offfer of her job back. (Mark S. Allen)

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