Ten Important Supreme Court Decisions

Ten Important Supreme Court Decisions in Black History
From Dred Scott to Affirmative Action
　
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
Decreed a slave was his master's property and African Americans were not citizens; struck down the Missouri Compromise as unconstitutional.

Civil Rights Cases (1883)
A number of cases are addressed under this Supreme court decision. Decided that the Civil Rights Act of 1875 (the last federal civil rights legislation until the Civil Rights Act of 1957) was unconstitutional. Allowed private sector segregation.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
The Court stated that segregation was legal and constitutional as long as "facilities were equal"—the famous "separate but equal" segregation policy.

Powell v. Alabama (1932)
The Supreme Court overturned the "Scottsboro Boys'" convictions and guaranteed counsel in state and federal courts.

Shelley v. Kraemer (1948)
The justices ruled that a court may not constitutionally enforce a "restrictive covenant" which prevents people of certain race from owning or occupying property.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
Reversed Plessy v. Ferguson "separate but equal" ruling. "[S]egregation [in public education] is a denial of the equal protection of the laws."

Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States (1964)
This case challenged the constitutionality of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The court ruled that the motel had no right "to select its guests as it sees fit, free from governmental regulation."

Loving v. Virginia (1967)
This decision ruled that the prohibition on interracial marriage was unconstitutional. Sixteen states that still banned interracial marriage at the time were forced to revise their laws.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)
The decision stated that affirmative action was unfair if it lead to reverse discrimination.

Grutter v. Bollinger (2003)
The decision upheld affirmative action's constitutionality in education, as long it employeed a "highly individualized, holistic review of each applicant's file" and did not consider race as a factor in a "mechanical way."

Civil Rights-Era Cold Case Initiative

As part of the Civil Rights-Era Cold Case Initiative, the FBI is currently re-assessing more than 100 unsolved or inadequately solved racially motivated homicides from the civil rights era. The FBI intends to notify the victims' families of the results of the investigation. Unfortunately, however, due to the passage of time and the migration of many families, the FBI has been unable to identify the next of kin in 33 cases.

The names and circumstances of these victims are listed below in hopes that the public may be able to provide information that can assist the FBI in locating surviving family members.

Atlanta Division:

A.C. Hall:

A.C. Hall was shot and killed on October 11, 1962, in Macon, Georgia, after being identified by a Caucasian woman as the man who stole a pistol from her car. The woman observed a person breaking into her car and the police responded. The officers drove her and her husband through the neighborhood to find the perpetrator. The couple identified Hall as the person who may be responsible and after a foot chase he was shot and killed by the officers.

Arthur James Hill:

Arthur James Hill was allegedly shot and killed on August 20, 1965, by an individual during an altercation with a group of Caucasian men in Villa Rica, Georgia. One of the men who shot Hill stated that Hill was pulling out a shotgun when Hill was shot.

Ernest Hunter:

Ernest Hunter was arrested in Savannah, Georgia, on September 13, 1958. Later that day, he was shot and killed by a police officer following an alleged struggle inside the holding cell at the police station. Hunter was arrested after he interfered with the officer's attempts to give Hunter's wife a traffic citation.

Maybelle Mahone:

On December 5, 1956, a Caucasian male shot and killed Maybelle Mahone in her home in Molena, Georgia.

Clarence Horatious Pickett:

Clarence Horatious Pickett was beaten by a police officer on December 21, 1957, in Columbus, Georgia, while Pickett was in jail. Pickett died as a result of his injuries on December 23, 1957.

Birmingham Division:

Nathan Johnson: On May 8, 1966, two police officers in Alabaster, Alabama, stopped Nathan Johnson for driving under the influence of alcohol. Johnson was transported to the station where he allegedly struggled with one of the officers and was shot and killed.

William Lewis Moore:

On April 23, 1963, William Moore was shot and killed by an individual near Attalla, Alabama. Moore, a postal worker from Baltimore, Maryland, and a former Marine had begun a solo march from Chattanooga, Tennessee, en route to Jackson, Mississippi, to deliver a letter to the governor urging the integration of the University of Mississippi.

Johnny Robinson:

Johnny Robinson was a 16-year-old African-American who was shot and killed by a police officer in Birmingham, Alabama, on September 15, 1963, during the aftermath of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.

Columbia Division:

James Waymers: On July 10, 1965, James Waymers was killed in Allendale, South Carolina, after an argument with an individual regarding Waymers' efforts to string electrical wires into the home of an African American.

Dallas Division:

John Earl Reese: On October 22, 1955, John Earl Reese, a 16-year-old African-American male was shot and killed by two men who fired several rounds into a predominantly African-American café in Gregg County, Texas. Two other African-American females were shot, but survived the attack.

Jacksonville Division:

Joseph Hill Dumas: On May 5, 1962, Joseph Dumas was killed in Perry, Florida, by a law enforcement officer who may have shot him accidentally during a traffic stop. Dumas and his family were detained during the stop in Taylor County, Florida.

Jackson Division:

Eli Brumfield:

Eli Brumfield was stopped for speeding in McComb, Mississippi, on October 13, 1961. When Brumfield allegedly jumped from his car with knife, he was shot and killed by the police officer.
Silas Ernest Caston: Silas Ernest Caston was shot and killed by a law enforcement officer in Hinds County, Mississippi, on March 1, 1964.

Jimmie Lee Griffin:

Jimmie Lee Griffin's body was discovered on a local highway near Sturgis, Mississippi, on September 24, 1965.

Ernest Jells:

Ernest Jells was shot to death on October 20, 1963, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, by a police officer after Jells allegedly pointed a rifle at officers who were attempting to arrest him for stealing a banana from a local grocery store.

William Henry Lee, aka, John Patrick Lee: Lee's body was discovered near railroad tracks in Rankin County, Mississippi, on February 25, 1965. Lee may have walked away from his disabled vehicle to seek assistance.

George Love:

George Love was shot and killed near Ruleville, Mississippi, on January 8, 1958, by police officers after Love allegedly shot and seriously wounded a Ruleville night marshal who sought to question Love about a robbery.

Neimiah Montgomery:

Neimiah Montgomery stopped at a gas station on August 10, 1964, in Cleveland, Mississippi, and asked the attendant to put gas in his car. Montgomery allegedly refused to pay for the gas and attacked the attendant. A police officer shot and killed Montgomery when he arrived on the scene.

Jessie James Shelby:

Jessie Shelby was shot and killed by a police officer in Yazoo City, Mississippi, on January 21, 1956.

Ollie Shelby:

Ollie Shelby was shot and killed on January 22, 1965, while he was incarcerated in the Hinds County Jail in Mississippi.

Ed Smith:

Ed Smith was allegedly shot and killed on April 27, 1958, in State Line, Mississippi.

Isaiah Taylor:

Isaiah Taylor was shot and killed on June 26, 1964 in Ruleville, Mississippi, by a police officer following a traffic stop.

Mobile Division:

Hiliard Brooks: On August 13, 1952, Hiliard Brooks was shot and killed by a police officer over a dispute regarding whether or not Brooks paid his bus fare.

Rogers Hamilton:

On October 22, 1957, one or two men came to Rogers Hamilton's home in Lowndes County, Alabama, and took him out of his house. Hamilton got into the truck with the men. His mother found Hamilton's body in the road. He had been shot and killed.

Bessie McDowell:

Two men went to Bessie McDowell's home in Andalusia, Alabama, in 1956 to collect a debt from an individual who resided with McDowell. When the individual fled, the men shot into the house and accidentally struck McDowell killing her.

James Earl Motley:

On November 20, 1966, James Motley was detained by a police officer in Elmore County, Alabama, during a traffic stop. After an alleged altercation with responding officers, he was transported to the police station. He was later found dead in the holding cell.

SFA - 13 Million Dollar Nursing Facility

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison stops by SFA to visit with students and faculty
　
Nacogdoches, TX - Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison made a stop by Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches to talk with students and faculty.

The student center was filled, as the Senator highlighted the school's academic programs, as well as a brand new 13 million dollar nursing facility. Bishop L.J. Guillory, Ombudsman General was on hand to give his support to the students wishing to take advantage of the opportunity to invest in their own future.

"We very much hope the Democrats will not push this health care through any further. We need to have reform of health care by lowering the cost by making access more affordable for people. So I hope they'll stop and start all over, work with Republicans and try to get something that everyone will think is a step forward," said Hutchison.

LEGAL MURDER....."BABIES-ONLY"

Thousands gather for abortion protest in Houston

On Martin Luther King Day Jan. 19, 2010, thousands of people, including nationally renowned pro-life leaders came from across the U.S. to protest the future six-story home of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Houston, Texas.

The building, formerly belonging to a bank and shaped like a cash register, will be transformed into a 78,000 square foot clinic and is expected to be one of the largest in the nation. It will also include a surgical wing capable of providing late-term abortions.

“Planned Parenthood's Houston abortion super center will most likely become the prototype for so-called 'preventative care' centers under President Obama's health care plan,” warned Tony Perkins, Family Research Council President on Monday, speaking on the wider implications of the facility renovation.

“Already, Planned Parenthood is counting the millions, if not billions, of dollars the organization will receive under the current Obama plan,” he charged.

“And that's just federal funding. As the legislation stands now, Planned Parenthood would be considered an 'authorized care provider' by private insurers, which would flood the organization's coffers with even more money regardless of its predatory record against minorities,” Perkins said.

Joining Perkins was Lou Engle of the organization Call to Conscience, Shawn Carney of the Coalition for Life, numerous other pro-life leaders and a multi-racial crowd of protestors.
The rally was held on Martin Luther King Day in honor of the civil rights leader and in protest of what many feel is Planned Parenthood's racially targeted efforts towards minorities.

Lou Engle has previously spoken on his belief that Planned Parenthood has chosen the building as their future site partly because it is surrounded by minority neighborhoods. Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Rochelle Tafolla argued that the site will primarily host office space and provide reproductive services other than abortion.

“Since the facility will be situated near predominately black and Hispanic neighborhoods, it is clear that Planned Parenthood is targeting minority groups,” said Engle in a press release on Jan. 5. “That is why we are gathering minority leaders in Houston and around the country who are grieved, and who are committed to raising awareness and ultimately halting Planned Parenthood's brazen assault on innocent life.”

Many of the protestors wore red duct tape marked with the words “life” over their mouths while they marched, prayed and maintained silence to highlight the fact that the unborn who are killed by abortion have no voice.

Other speakers and attendees of the rally were Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference; Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; Bishop Harry Jackson, senior pastor of Hope Christian Church; Star Parker, president of the Coalition for Urban Renewal and Education as well as Abby Johnson, the former Bryan, Texas Planned Parenthood Director.

On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court handed down the still controversial Roe v. Wade decision. That ruling effectively took the massive moral question of abortion out of the hands of the American people, and in the 37 years since, an estimated 50 million unborn children have been aborted. Since that time, we have learned that "Roe," Norma McCorvey, was used by radicals and taught to lie about the circumstances of her pregancy in court.

Today, she is strongly pro-life. There are Walks for Life today all over the country and Texas, including Dallas, Houston, at the capitol in Austin and in Washington, DC to mark the day.Rather than recite Roe's legacy of division and rancor that by now we all are familiar with, today's anniversary is an appropriate time to note a few things that are happening right now.

The American people are, for the first time since the question has been polled, more pro-life than not. In May 2009, Gallup found that 51% of Americans identify themselves as pro-life, while 42% identify as pro-choice.Among the reasons for the shift in opinion, is the increased availability of sonogram technology. Sonograms show unambiguously that the unborn are alive. The power of the sonogram image led College Station Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson to turn against abortion last year.

The Republican Party of Texas has put the question of mandating sonograms on our primary ballot this year.Meanwhile, in Houston former mayor and now Democratic contender for governor Bill White has presided over the construction of what may be the world's largest abortion clinic. White bills himself as a moderate Democrat, but his administration allowed this 6-floor, 78,000 square foot facility to be built. Its location shows that it clearly markets its late-term abortion services to Houston's minority communities.

And there's more to this awful story: White's director of Health Policy was one Elena Marks. Ms. Marks is (or was) also the Texas head of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Bill White's connection to this gigantic abortion mill is undeniable; he holds no claim to being a moderate Democrat.

The Bay State ReverberatesIt has been quite an interesting week in politics. The one-year anniversary of President Obama's inauguration saw a Republican, Scott Brown, elected senator from Massachusetts for the first time in a generation. That he captured the seat that the late Ted Kennedy held for a generation puts the victory in bold print. Following that win, the Democrats' health care takeover bill appears to be on life support.

It is not dead yet - liberals like Nancy Pelosi are still trying to push it through even though the American people have loudly rejected it. The Obama administration's plan to try arch terrorist Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in New York may also now be in doubt. It should be. Even New York's Democratic governor has been cool to the idea of trying KSM as a civilian in the city he attacked. All of this might help explain by the latest Gallup poll shows that 57% of adults are disappointed with President Obama.

The fact is, he's governing from the far left, and that's not where most Americans are. The other fact is, he has broken major campaign promises by proposing massive tax increases and having his health care bill brokered in back room deals, and the American people are aware of it. That's why he has fallen farther faster in job approval in his first year than any other US president ever has.Meanwhile, the Supreme Court struck down parts of the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance law this week.

That was a clear victory for free speech.And then on Thursday, news broke that the liberal Air America talk radio network is bankrupt and will cease operations. Air America's sordid history of stealing from Boys and Girls Clubs never quite made the mainstream media splash that it should have. The network was on so few stations and attracted so few listeners that it won't be missed.

Have We Gone Back To: "Whites-Only" ?

A whites-only basketball league?
　
A sports promoter is launching a league for U.S.-born white men. Racism or just 'a league of their own'?
　
Controversy is raging over Don "Moose" Lewis' plans to launch an all-white basketball league. The former wrestling promoter claims that the NBA has devolved into "street ball" dominated by "people of color" who carry guns, abuse fans, and—above all—don't play "fundamental basketball." Lewis' proposed All-American Basketball Alliance (AABA), scheduled to debut later this year in 12 Southeastern U.S. cities, will restrict team rosters to "natural-born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race." Claiming to harbor no "hatred" against "anyone of color," Lewis describes his venture as a chance to move pro basketball in a "better direction." Is the AABA anything but a pure expression of racism?

(Watch the commissioner defend the whites-only basketball league)

This is beyond ridiculous—but it's for real: I first took this as a joke, says Rick Chandler at NBC Sports. Then "I made a couple of calls" and "sadly, it's indeed legit." Equally depressing is the fact that it's getting some grass-roots support, at least in Augusta, Ga., one of the 12 cities the AABA is targeting to host franchises. So much for progress on the race front."Promoter wants to start all-white basketball league"

An all-whites league makes some sense: "Moose" Lewis does have a point—of sorts, anyway, says Marlone Viardo in Siopao Heaven. "Since the '60s, the game of basketball has been dominated by African-Americans." The AABA would "give white guys, who are used to being dunked on by the Wades and the Bryants, a chance" to excel. Setting up a league where everyone is at "the same skill level" may be the only way "whites get their share of hard court action." That said, American society (admirably) shuns even the appearance of racism, so I can hardly see this happening."'White' league dissed"

Good luck finding players: Forget the overt racism for a moment, says Mark Lorenz in Manolith. Let's boil this down to a practical question: "Where are you going to find people willing to play in ... the most boring sports league in the history of sports leagues?" Even if you signed a white player who happens to be both "insanely good at basketball and also terribly racist" —he'd have to be second-generation "Caucasian," and not, say, a Croatian immigrant. Let's face it, all the NBA's "gigantic white guys" are foreigners.

Bishop Guillory, will support the five nominees to Serve as U.S. Marshalls

President Obama Nominates Five to Serve as U.S. Marshals

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama nominated Christopher Hoye, Gervin K. Miyamoto, Peter Munoz, Kelly M. Nesbitt and Brian T. Underwood to serve as U.S. Marshals.

“These nominees have dedicated their careers to protecting their fellow Americans, and in so doing they have displayed exceptional selflessness and courage,”

President Obama said. “I am confident that they will serve the American people with integrity and I am honored to nominate them today to continue their work as U.S. Marshals.” Christopher Hoye: Nominee for United States Marshal, District of Nevada Christopher Hoye is a Lieutenant with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department where has risen through the ranks since joining the Police Department in 1988. He was appointed by the mayor of Las Vegas to serve as Commissioner of the City of Las Vegas Housing Authority from 1998 to 2003. He previously worked as a casino security officer from 1986 to1988. Lt. Hoye received a Master’s Degree from the University of Phoenix in 2007, a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University in 1985, and an associate’s degree from the College of Southern Nevada in 1980.

Gervin K. Miyamoto: Nominee for United States Marshal, District of Hawaii Gervin Miyamoto is the Law Enforcement Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Honolulu, a position he has held since 1999. He served 10 different assignments with the Honolulu Police Department from 1971 to 1999, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant. From 1996 to 1999, Mr. Miyamoto was activated to serve with the Hawaii Air National Guard as its Counterdrug Coordinator. He served with the Hawaii Army National Guard from 1968 to 1970. In addition to extensive professional law enforcement training, Mr. Miyamoto received a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix in 1999. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Chaminade University in 1980 and an Associate’s degree in Police Science from Honolulu Community College in 1976.

Peter Munoz: Nominee for United States Marshal, Western District of Michigan Peter Munoz is the Director of the Michigan Department of State Police, a position he has held since 2006. He previously served as the Deputy Director of the Field Service's Bureau from 2003 to 2006. He joined the State Police as a Trooper in 1978, rising through the ranks to his current position. Mr. Munoz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from the University of Detroit in 1978.

Kelly M. Nesbit: Nominee for United States Marshal, Western District of North Carolina Kelly Nesbit is currently the Chief Deputy United States Marshal for the Western District of North Carolina. He joined the United States Marshals Service as a Deputy U.S. Marshal in 1983 and rose through the ranks to his current position in 2006. Chief Nesbit is a graduate of the University of North Carolina where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in political science in 1982.

Brian T. Underwood: Nominee for United States Marshal, District of Idaho Brian Underwood is a Warden with the Idaho Department of Correction, a position he has held since 2002. He joined the Department in 1992 as a Senior Probation/Parole Officer, rising through the ranks to his current rank. Mr. Underwood supervised the most difficult and dangerous adult felons on the “Intensive Supervision Team.” Prior to his service with the DOC, Mr. Underwood worked as a police officer in Pocatello, ID, from 1988 to 1992. His professional education includes over 1,000 hours in criminal justice, law enforcement, and parole/probation training. Mr. Underwood earned an Associate’s degree in 1993, and a Bachelor of Science degree in 1998, both from Idaho State University.

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Bishop L. J. Guillory, A Member of The Presidential Prayer Team Ask That Americans Continue To Pray For Our Leaders

The worldview our President and leaders have in directing our country is critical. A worldview is a set of presuppositions and beliefs that someone uses to interpret and form opinions about his humanity, purpose in life, duties in the world, responsibilities to family and country, interpretation of truth, social issues, etc.

A Christian should view all these things, and more, guided by the light that is shed upon them by the Bible. As a prayer ministry, we pray that the President and the leaders of the United States approach the challenges of our nation within the context of such a Christian worldview. Our history is rich with former Presidents embracing such a worldview throughout their presidencies.