Project 21: Press Releases

With former singing star Harry Belafonte's anti-American rhetoric apparently increasing in fervor, members of the black leadership network Project 21 call upon prominent Americans - especially those who find themselves sharing a stage with Belafonte - to disavow his anti-American radicalism and his practice of harshly attacking the character of those who disagree with his policy views. During a recent visit with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, Belafonte and praised the anti-American, anti-human rights Chavez regime, saying, "No matter what the greatest tyrant in the world, the greatest terrorist in the world, George W. Bush says, we're here to tell you: ...

Citing the hypocrisy of Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) members in criticizing federal relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina while their own nonprofit foundation held onto hundreds of thousands of dollars of corporate donations intended for rebuilding the shattered Gulf Coast, black activists with the Project 21 leadership network are demanding that all funds collected by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation be accounted for and immediately distributed to needy survivors. "We know of no plausible reason for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation to continue the shameful abandonment of the victims of Hurricane Katrina through continued procrastination," said Project 21 ...

With the execution of former gang leader and convicted murderer Stanley "Tookie" Williams virtually assured to occur tonight, members of the black leadership network Project 21 are calling on the public to remain calm as justice is administered. They are also critical of those who seek to elevate Williams to hero status despite his conviction and his history steeped in violence. "There can be no clemency for someone directly responsible for the murders of four innocent people and indirectly responsible for the deaths of possibly thousands more through his founding and leadership of one of the America's worst street gangs," ...

Members of the black leadership network Project 21 are criticizing the decision of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to formally oppose and call for a filibuster of the nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court in advance of Senate hearings. Confirmation hearings on Judge Alito are scheduled to begin on January 9, but CBC members - including Senator Barack Obama, who will actually cast a vote on the nomination - voted unanimously to oppose the Alito nomination over a month in advance of those hearings. "The Congressional Black Caucus's rush to condemn Judge Alito in advance ...

In light of the racial indignities being foisted upon Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele, a black Republican who recently announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate, members of the black leadership group Project 21 call on all candidates and political parties to shun both the use of such tactics and individuals who employ them. Steele most recently was portrayed as a white minstrel in blackface on a left-wing blog, but has suffered other racial indignities such as being pelted with Oreo cookies at the historically-black Morgan State University in Baltimore and being called "Uncle Tom," among other epithets.  Project 21 members ...

Members of the black leadership network Project 21 are condemning a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial in which United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas is said to need as "asterisk" next to his name with regard to his race because he "does not represent the views of mainstream black America." In an editorial written by Greg Stanford that appeared in the October 31 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that was largely critical of the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court, Stanford also chose to take issue with Justice Thomas's racial allegiance.  ...

Commenting on Harriet Miers's decision to withdraw her nomination for the currently open seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, members of the black leadership network Project 21 are asking President George W. Bush to abide by his stated commitment to nominate individuals to the Court who will adhere to the original intent of the Founding Fathers. "Harriet Miers knew it was best to withdraw her nomination for the good of the country and for her own well-being," said Project 21 member Deneen Moore. "When President Bush told the country he was going to nominate a Supreme Court justice with viewpoints ...

Members of the conservative black leadership network Project 21 are saddened by the passing of civil rights icon Rosa Parks, and honor her actions as a catalyst for positive change toward making America an equal-opportunity society. Parks died of natural causes at her home in Detroit, Michigan on Monday night.  She was 92 years old.  This year marks the 50th anniversary of her arrest in Montgomery, Alabama for not giving up her seat on a city bus to a white passenger.  Her arrest led to the 13-month Montgomery bus boycott and was a factor in the rise of civil rights ...

Uncertainty regarding the beliefs, affiliations and legal career of White House counsel Harriet Miers has produced a wide array of opinions from conservatives. To follow are comments from black conservatives affiliated with Project 21: Deneen Moore (New York, NY): "Is she a David Souter in a dress?  That's just something we don't know.  It's disappointing that the ease of this nomination is taking precedence over her views of the Constitution.  Given the important issues to be decided by the Supreme Court, now is not the time to gamble on an unknown judicial philosophy.  A nomination should not be based on ...

Members of the black leadership network Project 21 demand that the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) join with them in condemning remarks made by CBC member Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) in which he called President George W. Bush "our Bull Conner," referring to the 1960s segregationist icon. "Charles Rangel's comments are morally vacant and beneath the pale, but obviously not out of character for him and his supporters," said Project 21 member Mychal Massie.  "How many blacks today suffer from beatings, fire hoses or have dogs set on them for trying to seek a seat at ...

Members of the black leadership network Project 21 condemn Wednesday's ruling by a federal judge holding that the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, with its reference to God, in a public school is unconstitutional. Project 21 members say the decision in the case of Newdow v. Congress of the U.S., handed down during the Senate confirmation hearings for Judge John Roberts, serves as a timely reminder of the importance of jurists who adhere to a strict originalist interpretation of the Constitution. "This is yet another in a series of attacks on the religious traditions on which our nation was ...

Liberal Activist Group Cited as Key Player in "Political Hate Crime" Against Hispanic Candidate Members of the African-American leadership network Project 21 will join the Coalition for a Fair Judiciary, Hispanic activists and others in front of the Washington, D.C. offices of People for the American Way at 10:00 am on Monday, September 8, 2003 to protest the group's leading role in an ongoing campaign that is denying President George W. Bush of his constitutional right to choose judicial nominees and expect timely hearings and votes on those nominations by the U.S. Senate. People for the American Way is located ...

President Bush's decision to nominate Judge John Roberts to become chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court is applauded by members of the black leadership network Project 21 as an indication of the President's faith and confidence in Roberts's abilities as both a jurist and a leader. "Nominating Judge Roberts at this time is both logical and reasonable.  While it can certainly be said that this indicates the President's confidence in Roberts, I believe it also speaks highly of Roberts's ability to lead and continue the atmosphere of collegiality fostered by the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist," said Project ...

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Hubbs Rehnquist's passing is mourned by members of the black leadership network Project 21. "Chief Justice Rehnquist will be remembered as one of a few historic heads of the Supreme Court," said Project 21 member Horace Cooper, a law professor at the George Mason University Law School.  "A conservative jurist who was appointed to an activist liberal Court, Chief Justice Rehnquist helped restore a new federalism in constitutional law and strengthened local law enforcement.  His tenure marked a new tolerance for faith and religion in the public square.  Overall, the Rehnquist Court significantly moderated ...

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus held a press conference today in which it was that asserted God "cannot be pleased" with the Bush Administration's response to Hurricane Katrina and suggested race is a factor affecting the likelihood of a person's survival in the aftermath of the hurricane. Speaking at the press conference, Rep. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), said "To the President of the United States, I simply say that God cannot be pleased with our response."  Cummings also said: ""We cannot allow it to be said that the difference between those who lived and those who died in this ...

Responding to an ad hominem attack from a left-wing front group, members of the black leadership network Project 21 defend the assertion that the beliefs of civil rights legend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are more in line with the record of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge John Roberts than they are with the agenda of left-wing special interest groups currently laying claim to Dr. King's legacy. In an August 24 press release, Project 21 member Mychal Massie said: "John Roberts is the type of jurist who represents the beliefs of great Americans such as James Madison and Martin Luther ...

National Press Club Event Highlights Minority Support for Supreme Court-Nominated Jurist Project 21 member Mychal Massie will take part in a Thursday, August 25 press conference to discuss African-American support of the record and beliefs of Judge John Roberts, who was recently nominated to fill the current vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court. The press conference will be held at 10:00am in the Zenger Room of the National Press Club (529 14th Street NW, 13th floor) in Washington, DC. "John Roberts is the type of jurist who represents the beliefs of great Americans such as James Madison and Martin Luther ...

Liberal Senators may attempt to delay a confirmation vote for Judge John Roberts by forcing a fight with the Bush Administration over privileged work-related memos. Citing other instances where procedural tactics have been used to obstruct confirmation processes, members of the conservative black leadership network Project 21 are renewing calls for senators to give the nomination fair and timely consideration as required by the Constitution. "Liberals understand Judge Roberts is a qualified, accomplished and deserving candidate for the Supreme Court. This obstructionism speaks to the level they will go just to fight President Bush," said Ak'Bar Shabazz, a member of ...

Liberals on the Internet took a quick trip to the gutter with regard to the nomination of Judge John G. Roberts, Jr. to the U.S. Supreme Court. On the left-wing Daily Kos web site, a participant suggested the behavior of the nominee's four-year-old son, Jack, warrants investigation while another speculated about the toddler's sexuality. "Is nothing sacred anymore? Is no one exempt from insulting partisan attacks?" asked Project 21 member Michael King. "If someone mentions the relatives or personal lives of a liberal, there are wails and caterwauling from the left. But it seems that it's always open season on ...

Initial liberal reactions to the nomination of Judge John G. Roberts, Jr. bear a striking - and amusing - resemblance to the left's reaction to the nomination of then-Judge David Souter in 1990, say members of the black conservative network Project 21. "This kind of reaction just goes to show that the liberals harbor a lot of preconceived notions about anyone nominated by a conservative president," said Project 21 member Donald Scoggins. "They'd probably have the same complaints about Ted Kennedy if President Bush nominated him to the High Court." In the July 25 Weekly Standard, David Skinner recounts liberal ...