Shootings and threats against La. African American Mayors

[Anita Garcia]

PRESS RELEASE:
LOUISIANA NAACP CALLS FOR U. S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION OF RECENT SHOOTINGS AND THREATS AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYORS IN LOUISIANA

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, JANUARY 10, 2007

The NAACP Louisiana State Conference has requested that the United States Department of Justice investigate recent shootings and threats made against African American Mayors in West Lake, Greenwood, and Jonesboro, Louisiana. The request was made by State President Ernest L. Johnson after a preliminary investigation and interviews with LaSalle Williams, President of West Lake NAACP, James Pannell, President of Shreveport NAACP, Windy Callahan, President of Jackson Parish NAACP and many individuals from the impacted communities.

In his request to the Department of Justice, Johnson made the following comments:
“It appears that these incidents are on the rise either because of copy cat or some other reason. The more I think about these matters I am inclined to believe that these situations could be viewed as voter intimidation after the elections are over. From the telephone calls, we have been receiving at the Louisiana State NAACP Office it is apparent that Black voters are alarmed over these incidents. In other words, there are no incidents of this nature involving White Mayors. African American Mayors and their families are voters and obviously are being intimidated. These incidents are very similar to the intimidation created by Church burnings.”

We are asking that the U. S. Department of Justice launch a civil rights investigation immediately in order to let the public know that the United States Government is involved in these matters. NAACP President & CEO Bruce Gordon is also asking U. S. Attorney General Gonzales to expedite Johnson’s request.

The Louisiana NAACP also questions why the local governments affected have not set up award funds for information leading to the arrests and conviction of any individuals involved. In other cases, local governments and tip organizations have offered awards. However, these organizations are noticeable silent concerning these threats against the very fiber of our voting democracy.