(NAME-MCE) TransAfrica Forum Action Alert

[Aukram Burton]

From: Mwiza Munthali [mailto:mmunthali at transafricaforum.org]
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 2:03 PM
Subject: TransAfrica Forum Action Alert: National Call-In Day April 8  
on Durban Review


April 6, 2009

TransAfrica Forum Action Alert

...working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds,  
and that in fact we have no choice if we are to continue on the path  
of a more perfect union.
Presidential Candidate Barack Obama, March 2008

National Call-In Day
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Contact the White House;
Urge President Obama to Send an Official U.S. Delegation to the Durban  
Review Conference
White House Comment Line:  202-456-1111

President Barack Obama returns to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, and he  
needs to hear from you!  As a country we have traveled a great  
distance along the path of racial reconciliation toward the goal of  
social justice for all.  However, our racially defined history of  
injustice still shapes today's realities, both national and  
international.  The February controversy comparing President Obama to  
a chimpanzee is only one of the most recent public examples indicating  
how far we still must travel.  Yet, like candidate Obama, at  
TransAfrica Forum we continue to feel that "working together we can  
move beyond some of our old racial wounds...."

U.S. participation in the April 20-24, 2009 Durban Review Conference  
(the follow-up to the 2001 World Conference on Racism, Xenophobia, and  
Intolerance), which is being held in Geneva, Switzerland is an  
important step on our country's "path of a more perfect union."

Yet, despite encouragement by many G-20 leaders, the European Union,  
and Black Diaspora groups around the globe, the administration has not  
reversed its earlier decision to boycott the conference.  In light of  
specific U.S. reservations regarding the Conference's draft outcome  
document, the UN Human Rights Commission has made significant changes,  
removing language to which the U.S. objected (see www.transafricaforum.org 
  for details).  A continued U.S. boycott will have serious  
repercussions for the international event, specifically:

·         Other nations, who would rather not deal with the legacy of  
racism within their own countries, are likely to pull out, undermining  
the entire process.
·         Of the over 100 countries that endorsed the 2001 Programme  
of Action, only 54 have developed national action plans to combat the  
legacy of racism.  The absence of U.S. participants will signal to  
other nations the lack of importance of confronting racism and  
developing concrete remedies.
·         The lack of participation will be a significant blow to  
African descendent groups around the world who have been able to make  
concrete advancement in the struggle against racism and discrimination.

The Durban decision is the administration's first test of President  
Obama's commitment to increasing racial awareness and racial healing.   
To date the President has largely heard from opponents of the  
Conference--both from voices inside his administration as well as  
those outside.  President Obama needs to hear from you.

There is widespread belief in the administration that our communities  
simply do not care about the upcoming conference.  We know  
differently.  Please join us!  Call the White House today.

There are several ways to contact the President:

White House Comment Line:   202-456-1111

TTY/TDD Comment Line:       202-456-6213

On-line Comment:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ click here and leave a brief message

Please forward this message to your friends and colleagues.  Only  
forward to those that you know; spam hurts our cause!


Cabral/Truth Circle at Busboys and Poets on UN World Conference  
against Racism: Durban Review Conference--TONIGHT APRIL 6


 From April 20th to the 24th most of the world will be in Geneva,  
Switzerland for the Durban Review Conference, the follow-up to the  
2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination,  
Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa.

Date: April 6, 2009, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Venue: Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC


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