In the wake of the release of the ACORN Philly video, which shows conclusively that ACORN continues to lie to the public, press and its own supporters, ACORN is marshalling its remaining allies for a ‘rally.’ Scheduled for tomorrow in Los Angeles, the ‘rally’ is a last-ditch effort by ACORN to change the subject away from its lies and misdeeds. Full press release:
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For Immediate Release Contact:
Barbara Maynard or Erica Zeitlin
(213) 387-0780; Zeitlin cell (310) 968-0367
Communities Standing Together
Powerful Coalition of Clergy, Community, Labor Leaders to Hold Press Conference Denouncing Attacks on ACORN and Other Organizations Working for Change
A powerful new coalition of educators, clergy, civic, labor, and other leaders, “Communities Standing Together” – will hold an important press conference to denounce the recent slew of smear campaigns, factual distortions, and ugly attacks on ACORN and other organizations and individuals working for justice.
The press conference will take place at the home of Tommy and Debora Beard in Watts, longtime residents who saved their home of 24 years from foreclosure by organizing with ACORN. Civic leaders will denounce the attacks on ACORN and others – attacks that are clearly part of a broader coordinated effort to weaken the power of diverse groups working to level the playing field in America. As unemployment, foreclosures, and other problems continue to rise, community, faith, labor, and other leaders are standing together to restore the issues that matter to Americans, and to proclaim, “We will not be divided.”
Coalition members and event participants do not condone the behavior of several ACORN employees seen on videotapes circulated recently, but know that the value and vital contributions that ACORN makes toward improving the lives of working families is much greater than the unprofessional acts of a few individuals.
Who: Coalition of ACORN Allies: “Communities Standing Together”
What: Press Conference Denouncing Attacks on ACORN
When: Thursday, October 22; 9 a.m.
Where: Home of Tommy and Debora Beard
1544 E. 101st St., Los Angeles, CA 90002
The following is a partial list of tomorrow’s participants and supporters:
Rev. Cecil “Chip” Murray, Senior Pastor (Ret.) First AME Church
Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Exec. Director, Community Coalition
Angelica Salas, Exec. Director, CHIRLA
Father Richard Estrada, CMF/La Placita Church
Rabbi Jonathan Klein, Exec. Director, Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE-LA)
Father Greg Boyle, SJ, Exec. Director, Homeboy Industries
Maria Elena Durazo, Exec. Secretary-Treasurer, LA County Federation of Labor
Mike Garcia, President, SEIU Local 1877 (Justice for Janitors)
Rev. William Monroe Campbell, Senior Pastor, Mt. Gilead MBC
Arturo Ibarra, Director, Watts Century Latino Organization
Betty Day, Director, Watts Gang Task Force
Mari Lopez, California Partnerships
Joshua Pechthalt, Vice President, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA)
Celes King IV, Director, Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)
Michael Bilbrey, First Vice President, CA School Employees Assn. (CSEA)
Keisha Stewart, Deputy Trustee, SEIU United Healthcare Workers West
Tim Watkins, Watts Labor Community Action Committee
SEIU United Long Term Care Workers (ULTCW)
Ralph Miller, President, AFSCME Local 685 (LA County Deputy Probation Officers)
Frank Torres, Political Director, SEIU Local 99
Kim Duran Portello, Housing Developer, Mercy Housing California
Noreen McClendon, Exec. Director, Concerned Citizens of South Central LA
Marilyn Johnson, Exec. Director, SCOPE
Rev. Mark Whitlock, Christ Our Redeemer AME Church
Saira Soto, Community/Political Director, SEIU Local 721
Rev. Eric Lee, Exec. Director, Southern Christian Leadership Conference
SEIU Workers United
Roxana Tynan, Deputy Director, LA Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE)
Rebecca Thornton, Co-President, National Lawyers Guild, LA Chapter
No doubt, you noticed the many representatives from SEIU. Not long ago, SEIU’s Anna Burger testified to Congress that the union had ‘cut ties to ACORN’, pending the embattled group’s ‘internal review.’ It seems SEIU has a different understanding of ‘cuting ties’ than we do.