Project 21: Press Releases

Lack of Action by the Times Shows “Leftist Privilege,” Says Project 21 Leader Washington, D.C. – Anti-white social media posts made by newly-hired New York Times editorial writer Sarah Jeong are “vulgar” and “racist,” say members of the Project 21 black leadership network, who note the inconsistency and irresponsibility of the newspaper in dealing with intolerant statements by its staff. “Sarah Jeong’s comments are antithetical in an age when we should be moving beyond racism to embrace our greater American identity,” said Project 21 member Rich Holt, a political consultant. “This racist liberal engages in a divisive anti-white narrative that is just as ...

Washington, D.C. – Because of its ability to make new cars and light trucks safer and more affordable, the Trump Administration’s proposed rule to freeze a fuel efficiency mandate imposed on vehicle manufacturers by the previous administration is being applauded by the Project 21 black leadership network. This regulatory relief was specifically recommended in Project 21’s “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America” as a way to lower economic barriers and increase opportunity for small businesses and low-income households, among other groups. “We commend the Trump Administration for its common-sense approach to fuel economy standards. It’s essential to have ...

Washington, D.C. - Excessive regulation stifles economic growth and has a disproportionate negative impact on small businesses, say members of the Project 21 black leadership network. To prevent any new and unnecessary hardship due to overregulation, Project 21’s “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America” recommends reining in agenda-driven government agencies by requiring “Minority Impact Assessments” that preemptively determine and remedy how new federal regulations might harm minority communities. “Regulations come at a cost. In the past, the government has imposed regulations while only occasionally assessing the associated costs to the overall economy. We almost never ask if marginalized ...

Washington, D.C. – Applauding President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, members of the Project 21 black leadership network praise Judge Kavanaugh’s dedication to the Constitution and his impressive record of accomplishment. “This is a judicial grand slam! As someone familiar with Judge Kavanaugh’s record, I can say that – though the left may be upset – those who love our Constitution will be thrilled,” said Project 21 Co-Chairman Horace Cooper, a former professor of constitutional law at George Mason University and senior counsel to congressional leadership. “His record in over 300 opinions ...

Project 21 Offers Recommendations Complementary to Trump Administration Move to Help Black Students Succeed Washington, D.C. – Black students will be more likely to succeed in higher education thanks to new action by the Trump Administration against race preferences in school admissions, say members of the Project 21 black leadership network, who offer additional guidance toward the same goal. “I’ve always felt that acceptance to higher education should be merit-based and means-tested. I believe President Trump is wise to rescind the aggressive Obama-era affirmative action directive for the use of race in student admissions,” said Project 21 member Dr. Carol ...

Washington, DC - Although poll taxes and literacy tests have been illegal for many decades, blacks are still being denied their rights to fully participate in elections today, according to the black leadership network Project 21. While the techniques used now to restrict the black vote are more subtle and sophisticated, Project 21 says, the end result is the same: Blacks aren't being given an equal voice in elections. To ensure that every black citizen has an equal voice in selecting elected officials at all levels of government, as intended by the 1963 Voting Rights Act, Project 21 recommends specific voting reforms ...

Project 21 Releases Plan to Reinvigorate Black Churches, Including Tax Incentives for Supporting Church Day Care and Schools, Bans of Race-Based Abortions and Ending Federal Restrictions on Church Speech Washington, D.C. – Black churches have long been the most important institutions in the black community and reinvigorating them is critically important to further black progress, according to the black leadership network Project 21. Project 21 is urging policymakers to create Tax Credit Scholarships that would allow individuals and businesses to earn tax credits for donations in support of church-sponsored daycare and K-12 educational programs. This recommendation – one of seven ...

Rollback of CAFE Mandate Is Compliant with Project 21’s “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America” Washington, D.C. - The Project 21 black leadership network is thanking two members of President Trump’s cabinet for easing regulations that disproportionately hurt black Americans and jeopardized driver safety. Noting that excessive regulatory costs are among the most significant non-racial obstacles to black economic progress, Project 21 thanked Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt for their decision to roll back Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) vehicle emissions standards.  Project 21 deems this action to be “Blueprint Compliant,” ...

"Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America" Could Improve Lives of Millions Washington, DC - Celebrating "Juneteenth," the oldest and most popular commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, leaders of the Project 21 black activist organization urge black Americans seeking more opportunity and prosperity to question political beliefs that have failed them. Project 21's new "Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America" furthers Juneteenth's goals of self-improvement and stronger communities by offering innovative policies that address longstanding problems affecting black households. "Blacks and conservatives both value freedom, and that's what Juneteenth is all about. It's ...

Prohibit Illegal Immigrants from Accessing Public Services Washington, DC - Illegal immigrants should be prohibited from accessing all but emergency public services because the cost of these services unfairly and disproportionately falls on black families, according to the black leadership network Project 21 in its "Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America." The Blueprint is Project 21's 57-point plan for removing barriers blocking blacks from empowerment and ensuring that they have their chance of attaining the American dream. The influx of millions of illegal immigrants has strained public services and placed a disproportionate burden on black communities, Project 21 notes ...

... Make Them Safer By Arming Personnel, Black Leaders Say Washington, D.C. – Students trapped in failing schools can be freed by encouraging competition among public schools through the provision of vouchers and “Tax Credit Scholarships,” according to the black leadership network Project 21 in the latest installment of its “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America.” Project 21 suggests funding these programs by reducing funding for schools failing to meet certain minimum academic standards and by replacing the “Presidential Campaign Fund” tax form check-off with one supporting needs-based educational support. Education is considered the key to upward mobility, ...

Washington, D.C. – Excise taxes should be repealed because they harm the poor disproportionately by requiring them to pay a higher portion of their incomes in taxes, say members of the Project 21 black leadership network. In its “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America,” Project 21 calls for repealing both gasoline taxes and “sin taxes” on items such as alcohol, soda, tobacco, non-tobacco nicotine products and fatty foods. This, they say, will reduce the burden on those who are economically at risk. “With fuel prices on the rise, repealing taxes that can add up to 60 cents per ...

Black Leaders Offer Better Deal From the Criminal Justice System Washington, D.C. – Law enforcement agencies focus too much on revenue-generating activities that have a negative impact on poor and minority communities, further straining the relationship between police and the communities they serve, according to the black leadership network Project 21. As part of its “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America,” Project 21 recommends 10 criminal justice reforms. Among them: Requiring convictions be obtained before assets are forfeited, prohibiting incarceration for fine-only misdemeanors, requiring fines and forfeitures go to general funds rather than an enforcing agency’s budget and ...

Black Activists Ask Justice Department, EEOC to Investigate “Troubling Trend” Targeting Employees’ Race and Gender Washington, DC. – Over 8,000 Starbucks locations nationwide will close today to counsel approximately 175,000 employees about how to avoid their “implicit bias… [to] ensure everyone inside a Starbucks store feels safe and welcome.” Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), at the request of the Project 21 black leadership network, are considering whether to investigate if such training is actually a violation of Starbucks employees’ civil rights. Last month, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson mandated company-wide “racial bias training” ...

HUD Welfare Reform Efforts “Compliant” With Project 21’s “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America” Washington, DC. – During a meeting with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson, representatives from the Project 21 black leadership network informed him that a welfare reform measure he had proposed is considered by Project 21 to be “Blueprint Compliant.” This means the proposal, allowing local housing authorities to institute work requirements for eligibility in subsidized housing, is considered consistent with a recommendation included in the organization’s “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America.” “Secretary Carson is creating a path for ...

Black Leaders Suggest Linking Federal Student Aid to Policies That Help Black Students Succeed Washington, D.C. – Failures by K-12 school systems to prepare black students for college are compounded by inadequate college admissions policies and support programs, according to the black leadership network Project 21. This, the group says, can make black students’ completion of a college education a difficult prospect. As part of its “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America,” Project 21 recommends tying federal student financial aid eligibility to minimum graduation rates as a means of incentivizing colleges to provide black students with the support ...

Provision “Compliant” With Project 21’s “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America” Washington, D.C. – A provision of the “Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018” (HR 2, the “Farm Bill”) requiring able-bodied recipients who receive food stamp benefits to work is “Blueprint Compliant,” according to the black leadership network Project 21. This means it is consistent with a recommendation included in the group’s “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America,” says the group. “We don’t live in a world of unlimited resources. We absolutely must separate out the greedy from the needy,” said Project 21 Co-Chairman Horace Cooper. “When those ...

Costs to be Covered by Disarming Federal Agencies Washington, DC. – To improve community-police relations, police should get out of the regulation business, be given greater training in identifying and dealing with those with autism and other cognitive disabilities, build stronger bonds with the communities they serve by offering gun safety training and be given greater recognition for the good deeds they do. These innovative policy proposals and more are being offered by the Project 21 black leadership network as part of its “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America.” Tens of thousands of police officers from across the nation ...

Project 21 Calls for Repeal of Discriminatory Laws Hindering Black Economic Prosperity Washington, D.C. – Jim Crow-era regulations created for the express purpose of denying blacks economic opportunity are still on the books and must be repealed to promote black prosperity, according to the Project 21 black leadership network in its forthcoming “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America.” Recommendations in Project 21’s Blueprint meant to encourage employment opportunities for black communities are being released just after the U.S. Department of Labor announced its April jobs report. While the latest jobs report indicates that the overall black unemployment rate ...

Project 21 Proposes Bold, Innovative Reforms to Promote Black Opportunity and Prosperity Washington, D.C. – Project 21, the black leadership network, has asked the White House and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office for a “better deal” for African-Americans, urging both to support its new 57-point plan for promoting black opportunity and prosperity. During meetings last week, Project 21 leadership presented White House and Majority Leader staff with its “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America,” which identifies 10 key areas for reform – covering everything from educational reform to deregulation to criminal justice reform. “The Blueprint represents a dramatic ...