Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 7 December 2000 — Page 5

The Muncie Times, December 7, 2000, page 5

NEWS BRIEFS

mobilize the African purged, without prior granted the fact that we can confidence to be restored in Judson said he called American voters in the 12th notification to the voters. vote freely without the electoral process, election officials about the Congressional District,” said “It was quite obvious that suppression,” said Neal. particularly among people box, but there was no Neal. the Bush camp knew what “In Tampa, people were of color.” response. A coalition of we knew, George W. Bush amazed to see how a Mfume said the NAACP ‘This the first time this organizations had come could not win the state of system of government would present testimony happened,” said Judson. together to register people Florida if the black voters would use its authority to and evidence collected at “At first I was a little leery prior to the election. came out in record keep people from exercising the hearing to the Justice about alerting anybody. I The NAACP and The numbers,” said Neal. their free will.” Department. Earlier Mfume started meditating and Tom Joyner Show” were a Some African Americans ****** asked U. S. Attorney praying about it and the few of the organizations that were mistakenly listed as NAACP hearing reveals General Janet Reno to Lord told me to contact participated in the drive. “Caucasian” on their voter Fla. voting problems order a full Justice Bishop Victor T. Curry, Neal’s responsibility was registration cards. Department investigation of president of the NAACP’s to come up with strategies Although, these individuals MIAMI, Fla.—More than election complaints. So far, Miami branch. After to make sure that every brought their picture Ids 700 people listened she has refused to say what NAACP officials determined voter who wanted to with them as proof of their intensely as witness after action, if any, the Justice the ballot box was stil participate was able to get ethnicity, proof of residency witness dramatically Department will take locked, Jordan reported the to the polls to vote on and voter registration cards, testified about differing regarding alleged Voter missing box to the Miami Election Day. they were still denied the treatment between black irregularities. police.” For weeks, she said, we right to vote. and white voters, Mfume chaired a hearing Miami Police Lt. Diego had community education This occurred over and intimidation by election panel that included NAACP Ochoa, said police found a and mobilization events that over in heavily black officials, bureaucratic General Counsel Dennis locked ballot box on Friday, included fish fries, Democratic districts, she snafus and ballot boxes that Hayes, Ralph Neas, 3 days after the election, in candidates forums, and said. were left unattended for president, People of the a downtown Miami hotel, promotional spots on radio Verification lines stayed several days after the American Way; Barbara The box was picked up and and the black press.” busy throughout the day, election. Arwine, executive director, placed in the police property “It was exciting to see which prevented officials Twenty witnesses Lawyers Committee on Civil room, after election officials the people puimped up from validating voter testified about alleged voter Rights Under Law; and failed to respond to calls for about his presidential complaints on the spot. irregularities and potential Penda Hair, co-director, The its pickup, election,” Neal said. “It was a mess,” said civil rights violations during Advancement Project. The election department But the excitement Monroe Mack, state a nationally televised Andreei “Andy” was called yesterday,” said turned into sadness and committeeman for hearing conducted by the Berkowitz, of Palm Beach, Ochoa, a 26-year police anger for many voters on Hillsborough County National Association for the Fla., tearfully testified about veteran, “but since it was a Election Day. “It was very Democratic executive Advancement of Colored how polling officials holiday, nobody was found.” disheartening to see that committee in Florida. “What People (NAACP) at the challenged African Mfume has asked Reno after all of the success that happened here, in this Visions of Victory American voters and to order a full Justice we had raising the election was worse than Community Center. demanded they produce a Department investigation of consciousness of the what happened in the 60s, NAACP President and photo identification, without election complaints. African American people to “Macksaid. CEO Kweisi Mfume said; doing the same to white During the last 18 vote on Nov. 7, an attempt Complaints have also “This was an effort to voters. months, the NAACP spent to steal the vote from them, been filed that Florida State establish public record that They didn’t ask me for a an unprecedented effort to “As we speak, I have Patrol stopped vehicles will assist the U. S. Justice photo ID, but they did ask education, register and turn nine pages of complaints from going to voting polls. Department, which does not African Americans in Rivera out millions of new voters all from voters who were not But the people kept seem eager to Beach,” a middle class across America. Mfume allowed to vote,” Neal said, marching to the polls. Of establishments its own Palm Beach neighborhood, credited the NAACP and The complaints come the targeted predominantly record, determine if federal said Berkowitz. other groups, including the from individuals whose African American precincts, Voting Rights and civil rights One of the most faith community, for the rights were restored after the turnout was better than laws were violated during dramatic moments of the exceedingly high black they had served their prison 60 percent. the election. hearing occurred when the voter turnout in many terms but were now law- “We got the people out,” “We’re here today, not to Rev. Clyde W. Judson, states, including Florida, abiding citizens. Other Neal said. One longtime determine who wins the pastor, the Good News ****** complaints included married resident of Florida jokingly Presidential election, but Little River Baptist Church Black press chooses couples where one person said that there were so because it appears to us in northwest Miami, testified Gore over Bush in the same household was many black people out that not a lot is being done that he found ballot Box 501 denied the right to vote, voting until it looked like a to address serious in his church on Thursday. A presidential election while the other was allowed colony of ants. allegations that need to be Judson said about 1,000 poll conducted by the to vote. “In Washington, D. C., dealt with in a timely people voted at this church, National Publishers Many names were we sometimes take for manner. It’s important for a polling place for 22 years. Association showed the