[Q]said Craig DeLuz, a Sacramento black community leader and a former member of the Sacramento NAACP chapter. “Unlike the NAACP, we understand that marriage is between one man and one woman.” [/Q]
[Q]California : AFRICAN-AMERICANS OPPOSE HOMOSEXUAL-MARRIAGE LICENSE BILL
Posted by Senior Editor on 2005/4/19 10:14:59
Sacramento – Today, the real civil-rights community spoke out. African-American pastors and citizens gathered outside the State Capitol in Sacramento Monday to speak in support of marriage between a man and a woman, and to straightforwardly oppose AB 19, the “same-sex marriage license” bill.
Fifty black Californians stood shoulder-to-shoulder at a noon news conference which openly criticized the California NAACP for selling out on marriage and for ignoring the overwhelming number of African-Americans in California who support keeping marriage for a man and a woman.
“The California NAACP does not speak for us,” said Craig DeLuz, a Sacramento black community leader and a former member of the Sacramento NAACP chapter. “Unlike the NAACP, we understand that marriage is between one man and one woman.”
“Assembly Bill 19 is nothing more than an attempt to get around the will of the voters of California,” said DeLuz. “We want the members of the Legislature and the California NAACP to know that you will no longer be able to enact these laws without us watching. You’re no longer going to be able to slink into the corners of this building and pass legislation with us being completely unaware. We are watching you and we are voters. You will either support the will of the people or the people will make sure that you no longer represent us.”
“We want to be very, very clear that we who are Christian in the black community understand the issue,” concluded DeLuz. “We understand that marriage is between one man and one woman. We wanted to come here together to send a message to both the California State Legislature as well as to the California NAACP that we do understand this fact.”
Another speaker was Minister Alfred Walker of Calvary Christian Center in Sacramento, the largest multi-ethnic church in California. “I am appalled as an African-American male to have all of the other protected groups being added to an Act that was originally designed to protect the rights of African-Americans,” he said, referring to the 1964 federal Civil Rights Act.
Addressing state legislators, Walker said, “You were elected to uphold the vote of the people. The people have clearly indicated what their preference is. It should not be an issue that judges and legislators and other people try to override the vote of the people.”
Brenda Bennett, head of the Sacramento Alliance for Civil Rights, which hosted today’s news conference, said, “We are offended when the homosexual community compares what they do to the civil rights that were fought for in this country for minorities. It is not a civil right for anyone to be married. Marriage is a privilege. It is not a right. The civil rights movement was not fought for that issue.”
“The people have spoken,” said Bennett, “but our legislators are ignoring the will of the people. They’re ignoring us! We as minorities – blacks, Hispanics, and every minority – we’re offended. We’re offended every time we hear them compare what they want to civil rights. We’re disgusted with our legislators. They’re not listening to the will of the people.”
Immediately following the news conference, the citizens entered the State Capitol Building to lobby members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, which has tentatively scheduled AB 19 for an April 26 hearing. The “gay marriage license” bill is coauthored by 25 state legislators, all Democrats.
[/Q]
[Q]California : AFRICAN-AMERICANS OPPOSE HOMOSEXUAL-MARRIAGE LICENSE BILL
Posted by Senior Editor on 2005/4/19 10:14:59
Sacramento – Today, the real civil-rights community spoke out. African-American pastors and citizens gathered outside the State Capitol in Sacramento Monday to speak in support of marriage between a man and a woman, and to straightforwardly oppose AB 19, the “same-sex marriage license” bill.
Fifty black Californians stood shoulder-to-shoulder at a noon news conference which openly criticized the California NAACP for selling out on marriage and for ignoring the overwhelming number of African-Americans in California who support keeping marriage for a man and a woman.
“The California NAACP does not speak for us,” said Craig DeLuz, a Sacramento black community leader and a former member of the Sacramento NAACP chapter. “Unlike the NAACP, we understand that marriage is between one man and one woman.”
“Assembly Bill 19 is nothing more than an attempt to get around the will of the voters of California,” said DeLuz. “We want the members of the Legislature and the California NAACP to know that you will no longer be able to enact these laws without us watching. You’re no longer going to be able to slink into the corners of this building and pass legislation with us being completely unaware. We are watching you and we are voters. You will either support the will of the people or the people will make sure that you no longer represent us.”
“We want to be very, very clear that we who are Christian in the black community understand the issue,” concluded DeLuz. “We understand that marriage is between one man and one woman. We wanted to come here together to send a message to both the California State Legislature as well as to the California NAACP that we do understand this fact.”
Another speaker was Minister Alfred Walker of Calvary Christian Center in Sacramento, the largest multi-ethnic church in California. “I am appalled as an African-American male to have all of the other protected groups being added to an Act that was originally designed to protect the rights of African-Americans,” he said, referring to the 1964 federal Civil Rights Act.
Addressing state legislators, Walker said, “You were elected to uphold the vote of the people. The people have clearly indicated what their preference is. It should not be an issue that judges and legislators and other people try to override the vote of the people.”
Brenda Bennett, head of the Sacramento Alliance for Civil Rights, which hosted today’s news conference, said, “We are offended when the homosexual community compares what they do to the civil rights that were fought for in this country for minorities. It is not a civil right for anyone to be married. Marriage is a privilege. It is not a right. The civil rights movement was not fought for that issue.”
“The people have spoken,” said Bennett, “but our legislators are ignoring the will of the people. They’re ignoring us! We as minorities – blacks, Hispanics, and every minority – we’re offended. We’re offended every time we hear them compare what they want to civil rights. We’re disgusted with our legislators. They’re not listening to the will of the people.”
Immediately following the news conference, the citizens entered the State Capitol Building to lobby members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, which has tentatively scheduled AB 19 for an April 26 hearing. The “gay marriage license” bill is coauthored by 25 state legislators, all Democrats.
[/Q]