SCLC Called Emergency Board Meeting and Summit in Swing State of Ohio to
Develop National Civil Rights Agenda

Dayton, OH. As the 2008 Presidential Election draws near, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Southern Christian Leadership Conference called an emergency board meeting to discuss the development of a comprehensive civil rights agenda. In a joint statement, SCLC Chairman Raleigh Trammell and President & CEO Charles Steele, Jr. stated:

“The National Board of Directors of SCLC gathered on October 18-19 in Dayton, Ohio to bring together a coalition of civil rights groups and activists to begin the development of a comprehensive civil rights agenda. The November 5, 2008 Presidential Election will be a defining moment in history as we shall either see the First African-American President or the First Woman Vice President, and the civil rights community needs to be prepared to present the next presidential administration with a set of core values and expectations as it relates to critical policy decisions that have civil and human rights implications. The next United Stated President, whether its Senator Barack Obama or Senator John McCain, must fully understand that civil rights has to be a central component to their agenda. When either of these gentleman make their inaugural address, a necessary part of their 100 day plan must include the return of civil rights as an element of America’s political agenda. The issue is no longer simply about race, although that issue remains near the top of our agenda, but the issue has to be expanded to ensure that every American has the real opportunity to make a livable wage, achieve the dream of home ownership, have quality and affordable health care, and ensure that their children can receive a quality and affordable education. In order to ensure that the recent $700 million federal bailout does not simply save the astronomical salaries of corporate executives, Americans must be diligent in holding out elected officials accountable. Economics has become the civil rights issue of the 21st Century and as such a plan must be formulated to ensure that no American is left behind.”

Former SCLC President, Mr. Martin Luther King III and Mr. Jonathan Jackson took part in the summit.