"Since 1964, when the racist poll tax was abolished by the 24th Amendment to the Constitution, every eligible American has had the same opportunity to vote. Persons who put themselves forward as candidates for elective office should not face barriers that are equally invidious."In an amazing act of self-condemnation, the Boston Globe, whose editorial board penned the above statements in an editorial published July 28, 2001, is threatening to commit exactly the racist act they condemn, and exclude the only African American candidate in the Massachusetts 9th Congressional District race from their televised debate scheduled to be taped on August 3, 2001. That candidate, Bill Ferguson, who is Lyndon LaRouche's representative in Massachusetts will file an official complaint with the FEC on this matter."Life is not fair, as John Kennedy noted, but our democratic institutions are supposed to help make it more nearly fair, not less. Anyone who seeks elective office and who meets the basic qualifications should have a chance to convince voters he or she has skills and goals that will serve them well. This is especially true at the beginning of a campaign, when the field is still forming. Yet repeatedly in the race now under way to succeed the late Joe Moakley in Congress, ... candidates have not only been ignored generally but actually excluded from most of the public debates and forums." ... Boston Globe, editorial "Open Campaigns", July 28, 2001
I am encouraging the public, public officials and the other candidates in this race, to take a stand against this outrage by the Boston Globe and WBZ-TV.
I served for 12 years as a State Senator in Massachusetts, one of the highest-ranking African American officials in the state. I feel very strongly that it is time we stopped allowing the media to name our leaders and unfairly influence the outcome of elections . I call upon other concerned citizens and officials to join my demand that Mr. Ferguson be given his just place at the table of democracy, and be included in all upcoming debates -- including that sponsored by the Boston Globe, which so self-righteously printed the above quoted editorial. I have known Bill Ferguson to be a passionate fighter for economic justice,in the areas of housing and energy policy; he and Mr. LaRouche have for years warned of the global financial and economic crash which we are now suffering and the solutions he has to offer must be given a hearing in this Congressional race.
What was the sense of fighting for the Right to Vote, if our candidates are pre-selected by racist editorial boards? We must be ever-vigilant in our fight to keep the "right to vote,"and the people must decide who will represent them, not the media.
In May of 2000, the Voting Rights Act was nullified when Al Gore petitioned the Supreme Court to bar Lyndon LaRouche's delegates -- a number of whom were African American -- elected by 53,000 Democratic voters in Arkansas. Later that year, minimally 27,000 African American voters were unjustly disqualified in Broward County, Florida. Again, in December of 2000, Supreme Court bypassed the U. S. Congress to unconstitutionally determine the U. S. Presidency. What would our objections to the above acts mean, if we do not demand that Bill Ferguson be allowed to participate fully in the electoral process in this current Congressional race?
Respectfully,
Bill Owens
Massachusetts State Senator (Retired)