Project 21: Press Releases

With the announcement that researchers have found that stem cells obtained from a mother's amniotic fluid appear to have similar properties and exhibit the same healing potential as stem cells harvested from human embryos, members of the black leadership network Project 21 are hopeful that politicians considering legislation that encourages the destruction of human embryos will allow more research on this new finding to be conducted before striking down current rules that respect human life. "Amniotic stem cells show all the promises of stem cell research without any of the ethical issues," notes Project 21 Fellow Deneen Borelli. "Not only ...
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Members of the black leadership network Project 21 applaud President Bush for his largely unrecognized work to aid the African continent through a dramatic increase in humanitarian and developmental aid as well as increased trade and diplomatic interest during his presidency. "From funding for AIDS prevention and treatment to conflict resolution, the Bush Administration's approach towards Africa has been a refreshing difference from his predecessors," said Project 21 member Kevin Martin. In 2001, direct humanitarian and developmental aid to Africa was $1.4 billion.  Today, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development calculates this figure as topping $4 billion a year.  ...
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Now that President George W. Bush has formally announced that 21,500 more soldiers and Marines will be sent to Iraq, and some criticism has been raised by liberals in Congress, veterans who are members of the black leadership network Project 21 are speaking out. The new leadership on Capitol Hill is suggesting it will not fund the President's proposed troop surge.  On "Face the Nation" Sunday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said, "The burden is on the President to justify any additional resources for a mission.  There's not a carte blanche, a blank check for him to do whatever he wishes ...
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In the wake of an appeals court decision ordering resistant Michigan universities to immediately implement the race-neutral admission standards overwhelmingly approved by voters, members of the black leadership network Project 21 demand an end to obstructionist legal challenges of the popular new law. "These public and taxpayer-funded universities should immediately act within the framework of Proposal 2 to put an end to preferential treatment," said Project 21 Fellow Deneen Borelli. In November, 58 percent of Michigan voters approved the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative - officially called Proposal 2 - to amend the state constitution to prohibit race and gender preferences ...
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A pledge made by newly-installed United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to become personally involved in efforts to end the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan is being met with hope by members of the Project 21 black leadership network.  Project 21 members are critical of the organization's outgoing chief, Kofi Annan, for not acting decisively to end the bloodshed. Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister who has taken the oath of office but will not formally replace outgoing secretary-general Annan until January 1, 2007, said, "The suffering of the people of Darfur is simply unacceptable."  Ban further pledged ...
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Members of the black leadership network Project 21 are critical of the District of Columbia City Council's vote to give the NAACP $3.5 million in taxpayer money to relocate the NAACP's headquarters from Baltimore to the nation's capitol.  The NAACP is not a revenue-generating industry and does not pay the full range of DC taxes due to its nonprofit status, Project 21 members say, and also point out that the economic revitalization cited by proponents may actually hurt poor black Washingtonians. "Given the District's precarious financial state and its trouble with education and transportation budgets, it's outrageous to use taxpayer ...
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A CNN December 12 news report and poll data implying that Americans are racist is being criticized by members of the black leadership network Project 21. Results of a survey of 328 blacks and 703 whites conducted for CNN by Opinion Research Corp. found that 84 percent of blacks and 66 percent of whites considered racism a "very serious" or "somewhat serious" problem, and 51 percent of blacks and 26 percent of whites claim to have "been a victim of discrimination."  Percentages were lower when people were asked if they knew anyone who was "racially biased," with only 31 percent ...
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Members of the black leadership network Project 21 decry a Ninth Circuit federal court ruling that allows a Hawaiian school to discriminate against non-native Hawaiians, and note that the ruling could jump-start legislation stalled in Congress to create a race-based island government that directly contradicts our nation's "melting pot" tradition of inclusion. "Responsible lawmakers, jurists and the residents of Hawaii oppose race-based preferences," noted Project 21 chairman Mychal Massie.  "This ruling once again shows how a handful of unelected judges can override the will of the people, and how important it is to have judges who strictly interpret our Constitution." ...
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Members of the black leadership network Project 21 decry a Ninth Circuit federal court ruling that allows a Hawaiian school to discriminate against non-native Hawaiians, and note that the ruling could jump-start legislation stalled in Congress to create a race-based island government that directly contradicts our nation's "melting pot" tradition of inclusion. "Responsible lawmakers, jurists and the residents of Hawaii oppose race-based preferences," noted Project 21 chairman Mychal Massie.  "This ruling once again shows how a handful of unelected judges can override the will of the people, and how important it is to have judges who strictly interpret our Constitution." ...
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The United States Supreme Court on Monday heard arguments regarding two cases that could decide the constitutionality of school desegregation policies.  At issue is the legality of plans that limit the ability of public school students to attend the school of their choice so that schools meet government-mandated race-based admissions guidelines.  A ruling, which could affect millions of students across the country, is expected by June of 2007. "School admissions standards based on race and ethnicity are discriminatory.  Resentment and anger stemming from government-enforced racial preferences only creates more racism," said Deneen Moore, a full-time fellow with the Project 21 ...
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A demand from the liberal National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare for the incoming Senate leadership to reject the nomination of a proponent of Social Security privatization indicates that liberals are unwilling to consider all possible ways to save our nation's failing retirement security infrastructure, notes Project 21 Fellow Deneen Moore. NCPSSM President and CEO Barbara Kennelly, a former Democratic congressman from Connecticut, recently called upon incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and incoming Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) to reject the nomination of Andrew Biggs to become deputy commissioner of the Social Security Administration.  ...
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Washington, D.C. - Legislation introduced by Senator George Allen (R-VA) and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) to create a federal "National Heritage Area" that encompasses portions of Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania is likely to disproportionately harm minority families in the region by making homeownership more inaccessible, say members of the Project 21 black leadership network. The "Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area Act of 2006" is S. 2645 in the Senate and H.R. 5195 in the House. "Rather than promote initiatives that harm property rights and make it harder for minorities to obtain a piece of the American ...
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Members of Project 21 welcome the appointment of Deneen Moore as a senior fellow for the black leadership network.  In her new position, Ms. Moore will enjoy an increased role in the organization's outreach efforts. "I am very fortunate and pleased to serve as a senior fellow with Project 21," said Ms. Moore.  "This organization prides itself on communicating the path to prosperity, and independence depends on recognizing the important role of free market principles in meeting today's challenges." Ms. Moore formally served as a public relations consultant and radio talk show host for the Congress of Racial Equality, one ...
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Members of the black leadership network Project 21 condemn the racist depictions of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that recently appeared in cartoons and statements featured in Palestinian Authority newspapers.  While sparing no criticism of these depictions, Project 21 members point out that such despicable criticism of Secretary Rice on the part of the Arab press might not have come so easy had she not already been the target of similar racial attacks by American cartoonists and pundits. "What we are seeing in the Palestinian press simply follows the lead of cartoonists Ted Rall and Gary Trudeau and talking heads ...
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Following up my post about the Weekly Standard's green praise of Treasury Secretary-designate Henry Paulson, I'm recommending this Grist article about Paulson, which says "Paulson also worked with environmental groups including the World Resources Institute and the Natural Resources Defense Council to develop a comprehensive environmental policy framework for Goldman Sachs, unveiled last November..." Click on the link Grist kindly provides and you read what Paulson, the World Resources Institute and the Natural Resources Defense Council came up with. An excerpt, as relating to global warming: Goldman Sachs acknowledges the scientific consensus, led by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, ...
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"Juneteenth" - the oldest and most recognized commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States - is June 19.  On this day set aside for reflection on the struggle for freedom and the ongoing quest for self-empowerment, members of the black leadership network Project 21 urge black Americans to embrace their inherent talents and strengthen their ties with family and community for the betterment of themselves and future generations. "Slavery's oppressive past paved the way for blacks to forge their own path for liberty," noted Project 21 senior fellow Deneen Moore.  "Juneteenth celebrations should serve as a constant ...
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Members of the black leadership network Project 21 are expressing concern that legislation now under consideration in the U.S. Senate conflicts with America's "melting pot" philosophy. Senators are expected to vote as early as this week on "The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act" (S. 147).  This bill would create a native Hawaiian government with sovereign immunity akin to that enjoyed by Indian tribes.  This proposed government, however, is likely to be determined on racial terms, restricting eligible voters exclusively to those of Hawaiian ancestry.  Experts say this limits the voting pool to approximately 400,000 Americans nationwide - roughly 160,000 of ...
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Members of the black leadership network Project 21 protest the scheduling of a second confirmation hearing for judicial nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh, calling the action yet another example of obstructionist senators employing any and all tactics to delay or ultimately prevent confirmation votes on the President’s appointees. "One can only wonder at what point the puerile vindictiveness of the liberal party will cease," said Project 21 chairman Mychal Massie. "Seven years of unrelenting obstructionism is a condemnable record.   It is well past time for Arlen Specter to show more resolve as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee." On May 9, ...
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As the U.S. Senate resumes consideration of judicial nominations, members of the black leadership network Project 21 call upon senators to refrain from engaging in the obstructionist tactics that have hindered the fair and timely consideration of past nominees. "There was a time when our elected representatives worked in the best interests of America and her citizens," said Project 21 chairman Mychal Massie.  "Today, it is unambiguously apparent that liberal members of the U.S. Senate do not feel bound to such service.  They now seem to think they are there to disrupt, obstruct and destroy the good names of qualified ...
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As proponents of amnesty for illegal aliens stage nationwide protests and work stoppages, members of the black leadership network Project 21 point out that the movement's comparison of illegal aliens' quest for preferential and expedited citizenship benefits bear no comparison to the hardships endured by African-Americans during the civil rights era. "The amnesty issue is being distorted.  This is not about the rights of people here legally or of equal rights - it is about people who are here illegally wanting everyone to ignore the fact that they broke the law to get into this country," said Project 21 member ...
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