Unity in the Black and Brown Community

Unity in the Black and Brown Community

Early Saturday morning the West Fresno Community awakens to a surprise Block Party Celebration called “Unity in the Black and Brown Community”. This event was organized by the joint efforts of Rev. Floyd D. Harris Jr., Cammie Belt and Fresno Emergency Printing. Rev. Floyd D. Harris Jr., the founder of ‘National Network In Action’ a national civil and human rights organization the web site address is www.nationalnetworkin.org .  

There were over 300 hundred people who attended the Victory Block Celebration. The community approached Rev. Harris with the idea of bringing the people together from all parts of Fresno on the inspiration of celebrating victory over forces that has torn down the positive whole sprit of the community, which has promoted an atmosphere of apprehension and suspicion in the community.  

There was local entertainment R & B, Free Food, Free Medical Health Screening, Free Blood Pressure & Sugar Check, D.J. Music, Know Your Rights When Confronted by a Police Officer, HIV-AIDS Information, Bounce House, games, prizes for the children and the Senior Citizens received a gift basked of appreciation. Rev. Harris gave an electrifying speech to the community about the social justice needs and why the community must get involve and hold their government officials accountable. Rev. Harris reminded the diverse crowd that for eleven years we have been trying to get an independent police auditor for our community but there are individuals, on the Fresno City Council who do not feel you deserve what is best. We have police officers who don't live in our community and want you to believe that they care about you. They come into our community with a bounce house and hot dogs and pat our children on the head at the age of 5 years old, but when they become 15 years of age they shoot them in the back unarmed.  

Fresno County has the largest Juvenile Hall facility with Fourteen Hundred beds to place your children into. The Fresno Homeless community civil and human rights were violated by the Fresno Police Department by throwing away their clothes and personal belongings, but the progressive community took a stand for equality, Freedom and Justice.  

‘It's time to come out of the Church House and go into the community where Gods people are suffering, tell them there is still hope and we can accomplish great things through commitment and working together. The education system has failed for the black and brown children who are failing in public school. In order for our children to be leaders we must demand better education and take a greater interest in what is being taught to our children. Children who are in the 9 grade reading on a 3 grade level they are being set up to go to the prison.    

Who will benefit by your children going to prison?  Be informed; The Prison Industrial Complex is a growing industry comprised of a number of American corporations which develop household and business products, but human rights groups condemn them for gaining  profits which roll off the backs of prison inmates they claim are unjustly paid cents on the dollar.  

At issue, they charge, is a criminal justice system which herds primarily Black youth into the hands of private prison enterprises to work illegally under a modern day slave system called “involuntary servitude,” disguised as prison work release programs.   

According to a 2006 bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin, approximately 8 percent of Black males between 25 and 29 were incarcerated in 2005, compared to 2.2 percent Latinos and 1.1 percent Whites.  Black males in general accounted for nearly 550,000 of the 1.4 million federal and state prison inmate population, and Black females almost 30,000.  

Here are some big companies which utilize prison labor, according to The Mandala Project’s 2001 web posting, “U.S. Prison labor at Home and Abroad,” include:  MicroJet, Nike, Loakhart Technologies, Inc., TWA, Dell Computers, Microsoft, Eddie Bauer, Planet Hollywood, Wilson Sporting Goods, J.C. Penney, Victoria’s Secret, Best Western Hotels, Honda, K-Mart, Target, McDonald’s, Burger King, “Prison Blues” jeans line, New York, New York Hotel/Casino, Imperial Palace Hotel/Casino, “No Fear” Clothing Line, C.M.T. Blues, Konica, Allstate, Merriyl Lynch, Shearson Lehman, Louisiana Pacific, Parke-Davis and Upjohn.   

In 1934, Congress established the Federal Prison Industries (FPI), trade named UNICOR, to employ and provide job training to inmates within the Federal Bureau of Prisons, requiring those medically able to work for 12 to 40 cents per hour for institution work assignments, and 23 cents to $1.15 for work in UNICOR factories.  

In 2005, it generated $765 million in sales from its 106 factories.  And as of last September, its highest net sales in electronics at $233.2 million, derived from 3,348 inmate workers throughout Texas , Connecticut , New Jersey , California , Pennsylvania , Illinois , Tennessee , New York , Wisconsin , Arizona and Minnesota  

Are your eyes wide open………………….I ask you again who is benefiting by your child going to prison?  Is this a set-up?  

This block celebration is needed all over West Fresno .  If you would like a Victory Celebration in your neighborhood Contact National Network In Action ( NNIA ) Rev. Floyd D. Harris Jr., email address;  xyfloyd@aol.com P.O. Box 16127 Fresno, CA. 93755-6127, Phone# 559 803 – 0286

On The Move for Justice