Black Farmers Justice Depends Upon 100% Senate Support

WASHINGTON DC -- John W. Boyd, Jr., president and founder of the National Black Farmers Association released the following statement in advance of the anticipated vote Monday night on a unanimous consent measure to be introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in an effort to add the Black farmers settlement funding to the small business bill still under consideration in the Senate:

"We are calling on each and every U.S. Senator to support the unanimous consent measure. This is a historic opportunity to support justice in the Black farmers case.

"It is unusual but welcome that such a historic measure would come for consideration as a unanimous consent - that would resolve two of the largest civil rights class action cases in American history - and we are hopeful that each and every Senator will approve this bipartisan amendment.

"This bill has the support of President Obama, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Senators and House members of both parties and the Congressional Black Caucus. The bill also has the support of NAACP, RainbowPUSH Coalition, Inc., the National Action Network and National Urban League.

"But let's be clear, for this amendment to pass by unanimous consent we need the support of Senator Mitch McConnell and each of his Republican colleagues. Senator McConnell told me personally that he supports congressional action on justice for the Black farmers."