Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Austin, Texas Permit No. 01949 This paper can be recycled Vol. 39 No. 27 Website: theaustinvillager.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 512-476-0082 Blog: EastAustinCommunityInfoCenter.blogspot.com November 18, 2011 Obama Jobs Confederate Plates Application Rejected Bill Blocked by Senate By Angela Wyatt Villager Reporter Republicans Cheers and applause Special to the NNPA rang out from the packed hear- from the Afro-American ing room in the John H Reagan Newspaper Building. The decision came af- President Barack ter nearly two hours of some- RAPPIN’ Obama continued to tout his times-emotional testimony, op- Tommy Wyatt jobs agenda Nov. 3 as Senate posing the issuance of a license Republicans dealt him another plate bearing the Confederate defeat, stopping a $60 billion in- battle flag logo, the Texas De- Happy frastructure bill. partment of Motor Vehicles, The bill, which was de- (DMV) with no debate, voted Thanksgiving! feated by a 51-49 vote, fell short unanimously to deny the appli- of the 60 votes needed to con- cation submitted by the Sons of It is hard for me to believe it, Confederate Veterans, the vote but next week is Thanksgiving. tinue work on the measure, ac- cording to the Associated Press. was 8-0, with Vice Chair Cheryl We have a lot to be thankful for Johnson absent. this year for all of us. Before the vote, Obama spoke at one of the Washington D.C. Texas State Con- There has been a lot of ference of NAACP Units joined change since last year. For us at metropolitan area’s dilapidated bridges, saying, “I trust in God, Progress Texas, a number of The Villager, it has been a year elected officials and many Tex- for a lot of changes. The big- but God wants to see us help ourselves by putting people ans of all races of good will, in gest change that happened for encouraging Texans to provide us is that we move to a new lo- back to work!” Republican leaders said their comments and perspec- cation during the year. I know tives concerning the hearing of that there are many people in the president was pushing the bill to gain an advantage in pub- the Texas Department of Motor Austin who does not remember Vehicles (TxDMV) and its con- when we were not on Rosewood lic perception ahead of next year’s elections, and had not sideration of a specialty license Avenue. plate that contains the Confed- In the past we have been all sought to compromise on its specifics. erate battle flag. National over the Eastside before land- NAACP Board Member and ing on Rosewood. I can count ”The truth is, Democrats are more interested in building a Texas State NAACP Conference at least five locations that we President Gary Bledsoe said, “it have had. However, all of them campaign message than in re- building roads and bridges,” is very important that the Board have been on the Eastside. We hears and understands what the are still on the Eastside in our Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky told the Confederate battle flag means to new location at 1213 N.IH-35. average Texans of minority de- We are thankful for that. I was AP. “And frankly, the American people deserve a lot better than scent. That flag remains a sym- very surprised to find an office Opponents--(l to r) Congressman Lloyd Doggett, NAACP President Gary Bledsoe, Congresswoman that.” bol of repression and a badge in East Austin that we could af- of slavery. The groups most Shelia Jackson Lee and State Senator Royce West spoke in opposition to the Confederate Flag on license ford. The current national un- plates. Photo courtesy of Lloyd Doggett’s office. employment rate stood at 9.1 per- closely associated with this Another thing that we can all tile to the military interests of able to resonate dissent from cent in September, according to symbol represent white su- Senator West. “Hopefully, this be thankful for is for surviving America. Then as now,...They across the state,” said Sena- federal statistics. In a statement premacy organizations which is a matter of state business this very unusually hot summer served with honor and were tor West. “But that should not issued by the White House, have historically sought to in- that can forever be put to and all of the fires that ravished given the name Buffalo Soldiers come as a surprise. Yes it’s Obama directly challenged Re- timidate people of color.” rest.” the area. It is heartbreaking to by Native Americans out of re- been 150 years since the Eman- publican leadership on the issue. “When elected officials Ending on a very sweet see the number of people who spect.” cipation Proclamation, but re- ”The American people de- try to compare the history of note Congressman Al Green and lost their homes and property to A emotional and to the minders of slavery, Jim Crow serve to know why their Repub- the Buffalo Soldiers to the his- the Unified Veterans of America the fires. But, we were very for- point, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson and segregation are still fresh lican representatives in Wash- tory of those who embrace the lead a recitation of the Pledge of tunate that there were a very few Lee, D-Houston, who was in the minds of African Ameri- ington refuse to put some of the symbol of the Confederate Allegiance and sang “God Bless lives lost in the disaster.. among a large crowd of lawmak- cans as the testimony today workers hit hardest by the eco- battle flag, they are completely America” while holding up a large I am sure that all of us have ers and citizens who testified bore out. However harmless nomic downturn back on the job off the mark. Buffalo Soldiers U.S. flag. “There are always many things that we can be against the plate as a racist sym- supporters of this effort may rebuilding America,” Obama wore United States Military those who take the wrong side thankful for. We sometimes get bol of Texas’ hateful past, said have considered it to be, I think said. “It’s time for Republicans Uniforms and they fought un- of history for the right side of so caught up in focusing on the vote was a victory. “Texas is they either underestimated or in Congress to put country der the Flag of the United politics,” he said. “This is an what we don’t have to be thank- better than this,” she said. were oblivious to the emotions ahead of party and listen to the States of America....Buffalo opportunity to take the right ful for the things that we do Dallas Sen. Royce still tied to matters related to people they were elected to Soldiers served bravely and side of history and the right have - family, friend close ac- West, who stated, “No doubt racial injustice. “I am thankful serve. It’s time for them to do protected against revolution- side of politics.” Says U.S. Rep quaintances, good health, and aries, outlaws, and others hos- that this was an issue that was for the board’s decision,” said Al Green. being in our right minds. That is their job and focus on Ameri- what my parents always said. cans’ jobs.” We cannot get so caught up HeavyD God Bless in our own situations that we America forget about the one who are Dead at 44 less fortunate. There will be Congressman Al Green many people looking to us to help them get through the holi- and the Unified Veterans day period. This is a great op- of American cheer after portunity to get involved with the hearing and sang God one of the many community ser- Bless America while hold- vice projects that are designed ing the American Flag. to help the homeless and the unfortunate. They were opposed to the One of the annual projects license plate that would Special to the NNPA from the that we have for our Youth Florida Sentinel Bulletin have featured the logo of Brigaders is to volunteer at one the Son of Confederate Heavy D died Tuesday after of our local churches who pro- Veterans, which includes vide Thanksgiving Dinners for collapsing in his California home. He was 44. the homeless. They also give an image ofthe Confeder- The Westchester County- ate battle flag. Texas them warm clothing and socks. raised entertainer was taken by am- It is heartwarming to see the bulance to Cedars Sinai Medical Cen- state law allows the Board youth get so involved in the ter in Los Angeles about 11:25 a.m. to deny a specialty plate projects that we participate in and died 90 minutes later, cops told design if it is offensive to during Thanksgiving and the Daily News. Christmas.. Heavy D was conscious and any member of the public. It is important to get our talking when officers responded to a :Photo by Angela Wyatt. youth involved and aware of 911 call from his Beverly Hills condo, African American farmers, and said Lt. Mark Rosen of the Beverly other benefits that were granted their responsibility early. They Hills Police Department. Black Farmers Finally Getting Paid to White farmers. It was noted, bring us closer to the ideals of also need to be able to appreci- Rosen said the portly rapper, whose when the Black farmers filed com- freedom and equality that this ate the fact that, except for the real name was Dwight Arrington Myers, The U.S.