CHAPTER ACTIVITIES: SCLCNOLA.ORG

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH

Family Youth Service Center, 1120 Government St., Baton Rouge, LA - Dr. Lue

JEFFERSON PARISH

St. Joseph M.B.C., 236 Robinson Ave., Marrero - Pastor Zeno

First Zion BC, 1221 Causeway, Jefferson - Pastor Nunnery

JACKSON PARISH

Jackson Parish NAACP, W. Callahan, Dist. Vice-President

LAFAYETTE PARISH

Lafayette Parish Branch NAACP, J. Chargois, Dist. Vice-President

ORLEANS PARISH

Nazareth B.C., 9108 Pritchard Place - Pastor Napoleon

Temple of Divine Light B.C., 540 4th St. - Pastor Tilton

Glory Land C.B.C., 4541 America St. - Pastor Lee

Thessalonian C.O.G.I.C., 4224 N. Prieur - Pastor King

Greater Liberty B.C., 1230 Desire St. - Pastor Woods

LA Retired Teachers Assn/Dist. 1, 8540 Spruce St. - President George

Mt. Tabor B.C., 4128 Franklin Ave. - Rev. Dr. Vinson, Pastor

People's U.M.C., 2001 Simon Bolivar - Pastor Robertson

LGBTIA, S. Broad at Washington - T. Gulliver-Garcia, Chairman

First Zion B.C., 7201 Olive St. - Pastor D. Berryhill

SAINT BERNARD PARISH

Greater Mt. Olive, 1904 Goodwill Dr., Violet - Pastor Riley

St. Bernard Branch NAACP - Rev. Gabriel, President

ST. JOHN PARISH

Bethlehem Baptist Church, East 28 Street, Reserve, LA - Pastor Bering

ST. TAMMANY PARISH

St. Tammany Branch NAACP, W. Perryman, President

TANGIPAHOA PARISH

Hearts of Fire Ministry, 1316 W. Thomas St., Hammond, LA - Bishop Russell

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP!

WE WANT TO PREFACE BY STATING THAT - We, the Members of the New Orleans Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the SCLC, stand in support of Veteran Jorge Gomez and pray that his recovery and the recovery of his family will be swift.

We want to commend the Public Integrity Bureau and the New Orleans Police Department for their swift and decisive actions in initiating the termination process of Officers Sutton and Galman.

For 300 years, the City of New Orleans has been an international city.  We believe that the City of New Orleans is a place of equal opportunity for all regardless of race, creed, gender, age, disability, ethnic background or sexual orientation.  Native Americans, French, Spanish, English, Africans and their decedents – all make up the gumbo we call New Orleans. 

This past Tuesday, two police officers – Officer Spencer Sutton (24) and Officer John Galman (26), although they claimed not to remember – aggressively confronted and attacked Mr. Jorge Alberto “George” Gomez (36).  Mr. Gomez was hospitalized for his injuries.

The officers were initially released on their own recognizance within an hour of their arrest by Magistrate Commissioner Jonathan Friedman AFTER BEING JAILED ON TUESDAY. 

On Wednesday, the two defendants entered the courtroom through a back entrance not accessible to the general public. 

They pleaded not guilty and began making arrangements to post bond so that they would avoid being jailed again. During the hearing on Wednesday, Municipal Court Judge Steven Jupiter set their Bond at $1,500.00 each.  The former Officers were booked with SIMPLE BATTERY. IT IS OUR APPRECIATION THAT THAT MAY CHANGE.

We are requesting that (WE NEED) the Federal Bureau of Investigation look into this assault by then NOPD Officers Sutton and Galman considering the Deprivation of Rights Under the Color of Law. More specifically:

· Title 18, U.S.C., Section 241 - Conspiracy Against Rights 

· Title 18, U.S.C., Section 242 - Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law  

· Title 18, U.S.C., Section 249 - Hate Crimes Prevention Act

AND ANY OTHER SECTION OR ACT THAT MAY BE APPLICABLE! 

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE SCLC AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE MONITORING THIS SITUATION.

Thank you,

Dr. Levon A. LeBan, President

SCLC New Orleans Chapter

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us that "our lives begin to end that day we become silent on things that matter!"  We are greatly concerned about enterprises that come into our beloved communities and our City with friendly names and exploit our neighborhoods, putting profit over development - what's good for them versus what's good for the community.  

We will not take up too much of your time with FBI statistics on convenience store offenses; not speak of the numerous killings of African American Males in front of or near convenience stores - the latest being the nationally televised killing of Mr. Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The proposed "tobacco/liquor/fried foods/gas outlet" will have an adverse impact on both the current and potential residents - on health, crime, and housing opportunities.  Simply stated - the quality of life.  In addition, we are concerned about the large number of our homeless residents in the area - near Homeless Shelters; Residential and Senior Housing Developments; several Churches; and a growing homeless population.

In what communities are these "convenience stores" located?  What area of the City do you find them?  More importantly, where you won't find them?  Do these "convenience stores" contribute t o the schools or communities where they do business or simply take from it?  Do these "convenience stores" go beyond the token hiring of an area  resident that reflects the community where the store is located?  In the long run, these stores aren't very "convenient."

We, the members and friends of the New Orleans (LA) Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) stand with and support the Guste Homes Residential Council, area Clergy and other concerned citizens that are opposed to another "tobacco, liquor, fried foods, gas" convenience store near there homes.

Thank you,

Dr. Levon A. LeBan, President

SCLC New Orleans Chapter

 The Officers and Executive Committee of the SCLC New Orleans Chapter are: Rev. Dr. Levon A. LeBan, President; Catherine Carr Benjamin, Board Chair; Rev. Dr. Leon Tilton, Jr., 1st Vice President; Bishop Willie Littleton, 2nd Vice President; Honorable Rev. Dr. Glenn Green, 3rd Vice President; Jeanette Hardy Smith, Secretary; Theodore H. George, Sr., Treasurer; Jake Hardy, Sargent-at-Arms; Gwendolyn DuPree, Alice Lewis, Rev. Dr. Ernest Marcelle, Jr., Florida Carr Hargrove, Evangelist Norma Chapman, Maria Sly George, Bernice Johnson, Ronald Coleman and Bobby Pierce.

With the motto: “Redeeming the Soul of America,” the current areas of focus of the SCLC New Orleans Chapter are: education; criminal justice; economic sustainability; and healthcare. Specifically, the Chapter has aggressively engaged in Voter Engagement to include registration, education, and active participation. In addition, the Justice for Girls Committee centers around heightening the awareness of human trafficking activities and assisting young girls to reach their greatest potential. Also, the Chapter partnered with the Peace Keepers of New Orleans to receive community engagement training. Another partnership is with the American Red Cross, assisting with the “Sound the Alarm” Campaign which educates residents on the importance of having an escape plan in the event of a fire and to install free smoke detectors. Finally, the Chapter initiated a “keep toy guns from our children” campaign. That campaign seeks to eliminate “realistic-looking” toy guns from area stores AND homes.

Respectfully,

Dr. Levon A. LeBan, President

SCLC New Orleans Chapter