February 2013 Civil Rights FROM PAGE 3


inequities that still exist in our beloved nation. Voting is but one of myriad civil rights inequities that persist:


African Americans are


incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of Whites; eight times more African American children attend high-poverty schools than do white children; poverty rates for African American and Hispanic families triple that of white families; disparities in housing and lending, including foreclosures and loan modification scams, continue to attack communities of color; and the unemployment rates for minorities remain in or bordering on double digits (African Americans at 14.0 percent and Hispanics at 9.6 percent), while the unemployment rate for whites is 6.9 percent.


The Lawyers’ Committee’s broad


and innovative programmatic agenda in the courts, legislatures, transactional services and public policy and public


www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com


education arenas will be critical in combating these barriers and opening up our society for true racial equality and social justice.


In 2013, we must remain vigilant


and engaged and demand that state and federal governments are proactively leading the entire nation toward justice and equality for all. The Lawyers’ Committee and our many allies will continue to win battles, as we did fighting voter suppression tactics that could have impeded as many as 5 million Americans from casting ballots in the presidential election. Through the courts and good old-fashioned voter education and mobilization, we demonstrated to the enemies of democracy that they would never have a free hand to oppose justice. We have also demonstrated that whenever evil tactics abound, “we the people” will rise up with a standard of justice to oppose it.


Moving into 2013 and beyond,


we must keep our eyes on the prize that remains elusive even 50 years later: remaining unified and ever vigilant


HRM’s Photo of the Month


The Hampton Roads Messenger 15


against the ignorance and intolerance that impedes racial progress in America. Indeed, we must learn from our past and must never forget as we move forward toward justice.


Barbara R. Arnwine is president


and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. The Lawyers’ Committee is a


nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to enlist the private bar’s leadership and resources in combating racial discrimination and the resulting inequality of opportunity — work that continues to be vital today. For more information, please visit www.lawyerscommittee.org.


Norfolk Public Library Celebrates with special events


Local Military Retirees Bowling Team attended the 56th Annual High


Roller Bowling Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada held in last month at the Gold Coast Hotel. The team members pictured here are (L-R) Al Dandridge, Joe Thornton, Bob Brown, Ed Castania III, William Dixon and Ted Watts.


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