A Memphis based group of black farmers rallied today in Washington, DC demanding Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, to be fired after USDA official Shirley Sherrod was quickly asked to resign over false charges of racism.
The group wants Vilsack to honor his own department’s zero tolerance policy against discrimination.
President of the National Black Farmers Association, John Boyd, doesn’t want Vilsack fired, but supports the ongoing efforts to unite America and have an open conversation about race.
However, there is another issue that many black and Native American farmers are facing.
WATCH JOHN BOYD DISCUSS THE ISSUES BLACK FARMERS ARE FACING
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With the help of Sherrod and the support of President Obama, black and Native American farmers won a discrimination lawsuit against the Department of Agriculture that awarded them with $1.25 billion. Yet, Congress has not funded this settlement.
Boyd says that he wants the Senate to vote on this bill tomorrow. This will be the sixth attempt that the organization has made to get the Senate to vote for the settlement.
“We’re calling on all members both Republican and Democrats to vote for this bill tomorrow. Black farmers have been waiting patiently, losing land, loosing farms based on discrimination by the Department of Agriculture and it’s time that black farmers get on with their lives,” Boyd said.
Boyd wants the bill passed before Congress leaves for recess.