Black Leaders Warn Congress About Gang of Eight Bill's Impact on Black Americans
A group of Black Leaders sent a letter to Congress on Monday warning them about the negative impacts the Gang of Eight's immigration bill will have on Black Americans. The group sent their letter to Members of the Congressional Black Caucus and Senators from states with the highest levels of Black unemployment.
"It is our position that each Member of Congress must consider the disastrous effects that Senate Bill 744 would have on low skill workers of all races, while paying particular attention to the potential harm to African Americans. Credible research indicates that black workers will suffer the greatest harm if this legislation were to be passed," the letter from the Black American Leadership Alliance said.
The letter states that Blacks typically have education levels similar to illegal aliens and new immigrants putting them in direct competition with immigrant workers.
"Of course, some of the immigrants referred to by Senate Bill S. 744 work in high-skill sectors, but the vast majority of them will compete with young Americans for entry level jobs, including jobs traditionally held by black workers in the low skilled wage sector," the letter said.
The current unemployment rate for Black Americans is 13% - about twice the national average.
The Black American Leadership Alliance includes Frank Morris, former executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and board member of Progressives for Immigration Reform; Reverend Jesse Lee Peterson, president and founder of The Brotherhood Organization of A New Destiny (BOND); Bishop Felton Smith, Prelate of the Tennessee Eastern First Jurisdiction and Senior Pastor of New Covenant Fellowship Church of God in Christ in Nashville, TN; Charles Butler, veteran Chicago area talk show host of "The Take with Charles Butler;" Leah V. Durant, Former US DOJ immigration attorney and executive director of Progressives for Immigration Reform; T. Willard Fair, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Miami; Vernon Robinson, former council member, Winston-Salem, N.C. and former candidate for U.S. Congressional Office; Kevin Jackson, radio host and executive director of The Black Sphere; Leo Alexander, broadcaster, writer and political commentator in Washington, D.C.; Kevin Martin, author, writer and political commentator; Assistant Bishop Curtis A. Rodgers, Northern Illinois Church of God in Christ; and Tom Broadwater, national chair of Americans 4 Work.
To read the full letter, click here.