It looks as though Pat Quinn is showing his vampire teeth by the very sinister way he and his campaign team have challenged the petitions of Democratic Primary gubernatorial candidate William "Dock" Walls. First, he had a Springfield campaign aide review and purchase Walls's petitions. Secondly, he found Janice B. Dortch, of 8049 S. Harper Avenue, in Chicago, to act as an objector to the petitions. Then, he dispatched an all white hoard of North-side, Democratic operatives to review the petitions in a State of Illinois Board of Elections binder check. Can you imagine an African American woman, who lives in a 100% Black community, who attends an Apostolic church with a 99.9% African American congregation, who has not personally reviewed or participated in the binder check, being the objector? Quinn's has exposed the true vampire in his soul, but William "Dock Walls will overcome his petty challenge. Pat Quinn is no longer the North-side liberal, but the North-side Democratic Party hack. It also says that, while the south-side Irish support for him may be lukewarm and lip service, it seems as though they are angling towards Danny Hynes.

Why should Black Democrats vote fo Pat Quinn? William Walls is gong to be more aggressive in eliminating unemployment in Illinois. Walls will dismantle Illinois bankrupt prison industrial complex and will provide more to the Illinois economy than just prisons and prison guards. He will fight harder for public school children in Illinois, because he himself was once one and knows, from the bottom of his heart, what must be done to improve the Illinois educational system. Walls has a history of fighting Daley corruption in Chicago and he is a direct descendant of Chicago's last democratic political reform movement ie. the election and administration of Harold Washington. Walls is a stronger advocate of a green economy than all of his democratic opponents and he is committed to building public/private partnerships in Illinois that best serve the people. Quinn brags about his reduction of the state legislature as one of his accomplishments, but even more significant than the racial gerrymandering tactics of House Speaker, Mike Madigan, it has been the single most effective method to eliminate Black people from the legislature. Following the era of Rod Blagojevich, Illinois needs real fundamental, structural and constitutional reform. The only Democratic Primary candidate for governor who can deliver change we can believe in is William "Dock" Walls. He has cut no deals with Daley, Madigan or Stroger. William "Dock" Walls represents the unshackled leadership Illinois needs now.

A special note to the editorial staff of the Chicago Sun-Times and its affiliates:

I have been following the progress of the Walls for Governor Campaign in the press since the inception of the Illinois gubernatorial race to be held in early 2010, and find your coverage of Walls to be non-existent. Being a university trained media professional myself, I must say that your past policy of whiting-out any coverage on William "Dock" Walls, in respect to the role of media as an informational tool, is a total disgrace. An informed public is necessary, if the democratic process be fair. The sun brings light into darkness - it does not blot it out. So, "let the sun shine in" and shed some light on your readership about the only African American in the race; because, I hear that he's throwing around statements in the media, framed around a terrible word, for African Americans - "racist."  

The Launching Pad

When will democracy come to Illinois? Is Illinois really the launching pad for African American political empowerment in America? With over 40% of the Democratic Party vote coming from the African American community in and around Cook County, Illinois has seen the election of Harold Washington over the democratic machine. It has seen Roland Burris, Jesse White and Carol Mosley Braun, the first woman and the first African American elected to the United States Senate from Illinois. Ever since Barack Obama moved from Hawaii to Chicago, and became a United States Senator for the State of Illinois, there's been a feeling around the land that Illinois is that launching pad. It is because of the fear of this becoming a reality, that we now see the anti-democratic forces of Illinois' white Democratic establishment, rising to cap it off.

There's a plan under way to take Cook County back through Terry O'Brien, a candidate for Cook County Board President. All he has to do is beat disgraced President Todd Stroger, the liberal establishments joy, Alderman Toni Preckwinkle and Louisiana's own, sister Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. A host of other candidates, including Alderman Sandy Jackson, State Senator, Rickey Hendon, Terry Link, Scott Lee Cohen, Thomas Michael Castillo, Mike Boland, Don W. Crawford and State Representative, Arthur Turner, are vying for the office of Lieutenant Governor.

It seems that the only races, which present launching pad opportunities, are the races for the United States Senate and Governor of Illinois. The senate race is one that has first time candidate and former head of the Chicago Urban League, Cheryl Jackson, Illinois State Treasurer, Alexi Giannoulias and David Hoffman, Inspector General for the City of Chicago. Other candidates who filed petitions for the democratic ticket were Robert Marshall, Jacob J. Meister, Corey Dabney and Willie "Will" Boyd, Jr.

So far the race for governor has felt most of the white establishment's kickback. William Walls, the only African American candidate in the race, is up against incumbent governor, Pat Quinn, Illinois State Comptroller, Danny Hynes and Oak Park Attorney, Edmund Scanlan. Since the announcement of his campaign in early May, the Chicago print media, radio, and television has consistently whited out William Walls; his press conferences, statements and special event appearances. It wasn't until after Walls filled his petitions with the State Board of Elections in Springfield, that Fox TV interviewed him on their morning show; still the rest of Chicago media ignores his candidacy. Both the Union League Club, which just sponsored a debate of all eight of the white Republican candidates and the Illinois League of Women Voters have failed to invite Walls or Scanlan to their scheduled debates. Union League Club spokesman, Dave Kohn, stated "I don't think an invitation was ever extended to Mr. Scanlan [or Walls]. You have to show 5 percent in polling in a media organization." (To date, there has been no such media organization poll conducted, inclusive of all of the candidates who filed petitions.) For past debates, the club invited only candidates who polled more than 5 percent, but this policy was mysteriously changed, when altered for the Republican gubernatorial debate hosted two weeks ago, which allowed five candidates, including the long-shots, to participate.

Pat Quinn, Daley's man in Springfield, is underhandedly challenging Walls's nominating petitions by using Bishop Arthur Brazier's daughter, Janice Dortch, who currently serves as manager of the Apostolic Church of God's membership and contribution database, as the objector to Walls's petitions. Illinois State Board of Election records show that Dortch did not review or obtain a copy of the petitions filed. Only two individuals obtained copies of Walls’ signature sheets. One of them was Martin Morris, a campaign aide for Pat Quinn. The other was an aide to Illinois State Comptroller, Dan Hynes, another candidate in the governor’s race. Hynes's aides say they are not behind the Walls challenge and did not turn over their petitions to Dortch. Hynes has acknowledged being behind a challenge, but that challenge was to the petitions of Oak Park lawyer Edmund Scanlan, another candidate in the race. That leaves Morris as the obvious source of the copies of Walls’ petitions provided to Dortch. Again, state records show that Morris sought to look at Walls' petitions on Oct. 26. When asked, by Tribune reporters, Quinn (who in the past has run on a record of his efforts to bring ethical reform and transparency to government) if his campaign was behind the effort to oust Walls? Quinn stated, “I don’t know all the details, I really don’t,” Asked if that was a ‘yes’ or a ‘no,’ the governor replied, “I don’t know. I don’t know.” What do you think?

Walls, who is a descendant of that group who ran and elected Harold Washington, and who worked in Washington's reform administration, is poised to win the election and become Illinois first African American governor, if he stays on the ballot? Will the launching pad launch? Or, will the bombs being dropped by the Illinois anti-political democratic establishment neutralize him? 2010 promises to be a very interesting year.

On February 2, 2010, Illinois voters will select a governor and a United States Senator; while voters, who solely live in Cook County, will select a Cook County Board President. Recent Illinois primaries have shown some significant political gains for Blacks and Hispanics The 2004 primary was a successful campaign by an Illinois Senator named Barak Obama. He was elected to the United States Senate and became the only African American member of that body since Carol Mosley Braun. The 2008 primary elected that same state senator as the nominee of the National Democratic Party for President of the United States; as well as Virginia Martinez as the first Hispanic Cook County States Attorney. It is expected that, Cheryle Jackson, former head of the Chicago Urban League, will file petitions to run for the Senate seat, currently held by Senator Roland Burris, which was vacated by President Barak Obama. The 2010 primary is shaping up to be very interesting, since William "Dock Walls, former aid to Mayor Harold Washington, announced his candidacy for governor.

This past Monday, William Walls filled nominating petitions with the State Board of Elections in Springfield, IL. Walls was present and in line before 8AM; therefore, his name (and the names of his opponents) will be in a lottery for the number one ballot position. Considering that (on average) 40% of the Democratic parties' vote is African American, and comes from Cook County and the Northern Illinois region, Walls can win a siginficant victory based on African American turnout. This will make him the first African American ever to win the Democratic parties' nomination for governor and will position him to become the first African American ever elected Governor of Illinois. What makes Walls interesting, is that he is one of the last survivors of Illinois' last progressive political movement, one which transformed the Democratic Party at that time. While Walls is woefully short, in terms of the millions that recent gubernatorial election victories have cost, he is running against the establishment. His opponents are the incumbent, Governor Pat Quinn, successor to Rod Blagojevich, and Illinois Comptroller, Daniel Hynes. Walls is the only candidate who clearly represents a "break from the past" - just what a corrupt, broke and unethical government needs.

See attached video:

Candidate for Governor of the State of Illinois, William “Dock” Walls (D) has hired Bill Hillsman of the Minneapolis, Minnesota North Woods Advertising firm, the nation's preeminent Creative Political Consultancy. Hillsman, who excels at pulling off upset and challenger political victories for "underdog" independent-minded and third-party candidates, developed the campaign media strategies of Presidential candidate Ralph Nader, the late U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Congressman Alan Grayson, and Senate Candidate Ned Lamont.

North Woods consistently advances the state-of-the-art in political communications and has been called "one of the nation's foremost authorities on swing voters and independent voters" by The National Journal.

North Woods Advertising consistently captures headlines, as well as the imagination of swing voters, to put candidates over the top on Election Day (usually to the shock of their opponents).

Hillsman’s political work for the late U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone's 1990 campaign won the Grand EFFIE - awarded by the American Marketing Association for the most effective marketing and advertising in the nation - and changed political advertising in the process. His work for Jesse Ventura's gubernatorial campaign in 1998 received even more accolades, and is generally considered to be the biggest upset in American political history.

Bill was named a Resident Fellow at Harvard's Institute of Politics in the spring of 2002. That fall, he served in Washington as Director of Communications for interim U.S. Senator Dean Barkley (I-MN).

In 2003, Bill created critically acclaimed television advertisements that propelled political neophyte John Hickenlooper to mayor of Denver. In fact, the successful communications campaign enabled Hickenlooper to run up the largest margin of victory ever in Denver's mayoral election. Bill also worked on Arianna Huffington's independent campaign for governor during the California recall election of 2003.

According to Candidate Walls, who on Monday submitted his petitions and nomination papers, “This Illinois Democrat Primary for Governor is more wide open, than any before. Corruption has taken a toll on voters, the economy continues to stress people out, and Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes are threatening to raise taxes on people who already believe they are over taxed. Despite a barrage of commercials by both Quinn and Hynes, recent polls shows the majority of voters do not want to elect either of them. The addition of Bill Hillsman and North Woods Media to our growing team makes it much more likely we will achieve victory in the February 2, 2010 Democratic Primary.”

Candidate for Governor of the State of Illinois, William “Dock” Walls (D) will visit several Waukegan area churches on Sunday November 1, 2009. The schedule is as follows:

8:00 AM Gideon Baptist Church; Rev. Stevenson; 1500 Ridgeland, Waukegan, IL Tel. (847) 431-7423

9:00 AM Shiloh Baptist Church; Rev. Wall Stone; 800 S. Genesis, Waukegan, IL Tel. (847) 275-8463

10:00 AM New Hope Baptist Church; Pastor Johnson; 404 S. Butrik, Waukegan, IL Tel. (847) 691-1270

11:30 AM First Corinthians Baptist; Rev. Roberson; 1529 Elizabeth, Waukegan, IL Tel. (847) 902-3559

12:00 PM Mt. Zion Baptist Church; Pastor Gass; 409 Wainlow Ave., Waukegan, IL Tel. (847) 721-7700

Walls recently hired Bill Hillsman of the Minneapolis, Minnesota North Woods Advertising firm, the nation's preeminent Creative Political Consultancy. Hillsman, who excels at pulling off upset and challenger political victories for "underdog" independent-minded and third-party candidates, developed the campaign media strategies of Presidential candidate Ralph Nader, the late U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Congressman Alan Grayson, and Senate Candidate Ned Lamont.

According to Candidate Walls, who on Monday submitted his petitions and nomination papers, “This Illinois Democrat Primary for Governor is more wide open, than any before. Corruption has taken a toll on voters, the economy continues to stress people out, and Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes are threatening to raise taxes on people who already believe they are over taxed. Despite a barrage of commercials by both Quinn and Hynes, recent polls shows the majority of voters do not want to elect either of them. As we continue to deliver our message of jobs creation directly to voters, we increase the likelihood that we will achieve victory in the February 2, 2010 Democratic Primary.

The attached video production is a film which needs be seen, digested and seriously evaluated by all African Americans; particularly in lieu of the socio-economic crisis we face, as a people, in these days and times in America. We are losing control of our very exixtence; one which is rooted in our success at protecting our means of regeneration, and it is open season on young, African American men.

In the aftermath of Mayor Daley’s losing effort to bring the Olympics to Chicago, Candidate for Governor William Dock Walls labels Daley a Lame Duck Mayor.

According to IL gubernatorial candidate William Dock Walls, “Daley has pushed through a series of unpopular deals which have turned his most solid supporters against him. Daley’s Sky-way lease deal, underground parking garage lease deal and his Parking meter fiasco have obviously eroded his support. Because Daley’s Olympic bid was so soundly rejected he is now less powerful and more vulnerable than ever before.”

Furthermore, Walls added, “Daley had consistently promoted the building in preparation for the Olympics as his primary plan for Economic Development. Unfortunately, he had no alternative plan. Daley’s failure to properly plan leaves he people of the city of Chicago scrambling to determine ways to create jobs and shore up our economic base.”

Arguably, Daley and his policies have become increasing unpopular. Recent polls showed that support for his Olympic bid was diminishing. In the weeks and days leading up to the fateful host committee selection, many groups and individuals became increasingly vocal. They demonstrated in opposition to the spending of millions of dollars, public or private, in pursuit of an opportunity to host Olympic games, while school children are being killed and the homeless get no support.

Walls said, “I am eager to see how many Alderman are willing to follow Daley’s lead now that his bad judgment has been exposed. What will happen with the Michael Reese site now that private developers will have to invest their own money? I do not expect Daley to seek re-election in 2011”

Former President Jimmy Carter's remarks yesterday in the Carter Center in Atlanta puts a real face on the Illinois Democratic Primary race for governor. Just as Jimmy Carter points out, the racism that many white Americans harbor towards President Barak Obama, is evidenced by the behavior, demonstrated daily, in Illinois main media i.e. the Chicago Tribune, Sun-Times and Chicago television and radio stations, towards William "Dock' Walls in his bid for the nomination to lead Illinois' Democrats for governor. The Illinois media does not feel that a Black man who graduated from Chicago's public schools is qualified to lead the state. They can only project a governor's race between two Irish leaders, Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes; even though fifty percent of Illinois Democratic vote comes out of Cook County and the city of Chicago. That Democratic vote is majority Black, but every article written in the Sun-Times, every article written in the Tribune, footage viewed on television or broadcast on the radio consistently fails to mention William Walls as a candidate for governor. Be it tax policy, Burr Oaks Cemetery or labor relations, it's all done with a Quinn/Hynes spin, which fails to even mention William Walls. Walls, a former top aid to Chicago's first Black mayor, Harold Washington, is a Tuskegee graduate and native Chicagoan. Walls is also a graduate of the Kent College of Law and a leading progressive advocate of reform politics. Obviously, all these salient attributes are being disregarded, simply because William Walls is a Black man, and the media is fearful of informing Illinois Democrats (particularly Cook County Democrats) that a progressive Black candidate is in the race. In this post Blagojevich era, the media is fearful of informing an Illinois Black Democratic electorate that there is an alternative to the Irish dominated Democratic machine, which has mislead the State of Illinois for the past eight years. The Chicago media was never truly comfortable with Harold Washington (the reformer) as Mayor of Chicago and did everything in its power to split and confuse the electorate following his untimely death. While editorializing for campaign reform, ethics reform and tax reform, the Chicago media really only wants reform if it's tied to white leadership. The media was willing to accept Blagojevich; who, while not Irish, represented white ethnics from Chicago's north-side; until he pissed off the south-side Irish block of the Democratic party. It was this south side Irish Democratic block, lead by Democratic Speaker of the House, Micheal Madigan, that orchestrated Blagojevich's removal as governor and replaced him with their choice of Pat Quinn (a north-side Irishman), who now is dressed up by the south-side Irish as their man for governor. This was made evident by the Cook County Democratic Party's recent endorsement of Pat Quinn for governor.

Real reform in Illinois has to come from a real reformer. William Walls is a real reformer. William Walls constantly challenges Daley's corrupt policies. He has challenged them in the courts. He has challenged them in the elections and he has all of the characteristics of a governor that's going to take on the Illinois status-quo. This includes the lobbyists, the corporations and the unions in the pocket of the corrupt Democratic machine. William Walls represents the only true change for Illinois state government, but the media has no respect for a Black man. The media does not think a Black man is qualified to run the State of Illinois. I hope soon that we see a change in this racist attitude by the media. Until then, I urge Bill Walls to keep talking to the people of Illinois - keep talking change to the people. Don't count on nor trust the media. The media is only trying to find a way to confuse the people again. Maybe, after they come up with their plan of confusion, they will begin to mention William Walls as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Illinois.

I, as many of you (I would gather), have heard reports of persons being shot, at random, during the catastrophe which flooded New Orleans when hurricane Katrina hit shore. The words I kept hearing were "Black Water," and eluded to the belief that said troops were sent in by federal authorities with orders to perform summary executions of those persons they believed to be looters and others committing criminal acts. Since then a much more alarming report has surfaced concerned with the goings on in "The Big Easy" during the flood.

In an article entitled (Vigilantes Free to Roam?), which appeared in The Nation, Esther Kaplan, another brave soul, spoke out. Word had been circulating around New Orleans for months about white men performing such acts during the confusion, but the claims had simply been ignored. Famed filmmaker, Spike Lee, was the first I'd heard of to address the happening, when he interviewed one of the victims in his film "When the Levees Broke." Mayor Ray Nagin, reportedly, attended the films New Orleans premier. Yet, neither he or anyone in his police department addressed the alleged victims' complaints. Now, along comes little Ms. Solnit with her suspicions and she has film footage of the culprits bragging about their exploits. According to A.C. Thompson, the investigative journalist whom Kaplan quotes in her article, he initially began his investigations on a tip from author Rebecca Solnit. Solnit had stumbled across evidence, which she surmised; was Pulitzer Prize material. Solnit told Thompson that she'd "come across a pattern of evidence, including footage of white Algiers Point residents boasting that they'd shot people and several witnesses who'd either heard murder confessions or seen bodies of what appeared to be murder victims." Solnit had first approached two Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters before revealing her findings to Thompson. That was two years ago. Mind you now, the New Orleans Police Department has done absolutely no follow-up investigations to any of the complaints lodged up until this time.

It was a tedious task, but with the help of funding from The Nation and The Nation Institute's Investigative Fund, Mr Thompson amassed a mountain of evidence to support the victims' claims. It had taken repeated trips. Stated Thompson, "Most victims and potential witnesses had been displaced and were nearly impossible to find; police officers refused to talk, out of fear of retaliation." What Thompson found was overwhelming "evidence." Thompson's searching yielded calls from emergency room doctors, witnesses, vicitms and even the actual shooters. According to Thompson, It took an Investigative Fund lawsuit to obtain the autopsies of at least several African Americans who had been shot by white vigilantes. Others who had witnessed the acts reported that the whites were shouting racial slurs. Even more disturbing was the testimony that Henry Glover, a shooting victim, was left to bleed to death, while the NOPD beat and handcuffed his rescuers. According to Donnell Herrington, he was chased by vigilantes shouting - "Get that nigger!" - all the while, pumping him full of buckshot. Stated Herrington, "My life is important to a lot of people. I mean something in this world. For me to think the guys who shot me got away with it, it makes me angry and it makes me feel bad. "Well, Brother Herrington, the news makes me feel bad too - real bad and mad!

The Ides of September hit an international flare at the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly this past week. The meeting was highlighted by two history making oratorical presentations; one by President Barak Obama of the United States of America and the other by President Mummar Gaddafi of Libya. Following the U.N. General assembly meeting there were two major summits. The first was the G20, which held its meeting in Pittsburgh, PA. The following weekend the African and Latin American developing nations convened in Venezuela.

The G-20 was formed to address the world financial crisis of the later 1990s. Its aim was to give recognition to the fact that many key emerging-market countries were not included in global economic discussion and regulation. Its primary aim was to involve non-G-7 countries in resolving the financial crisis then affecting such nations. After two subsequent meetings held in March and April 1999 (G-33) a schedule for meetings, involving a constant set of partners was institutionalized by the creation of the G-20 in 1999. The G20 is a regional representation of the world's most industrialized countries. The most industrialized countries in every region of the world are represented in the G20. The members are listed below:

Africa: South Africa

Asia: Japan, China and South Korea and Saudi Arabia

Central Amer.: Mexico

Europe: France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and Russia

India

Latin America: Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela

North America: Canada and U.S.

Pacific: Australia and Indonesia

The G-20 is comprised of the finance ministers and central bank governors of these 19 countries. The European Union, which is represented by a the rotating council presidency and the European Central Bank, is its 20th member. As you can readily ascertain, the continent of Africa has very little representation. This lends credence to Gaddafi's statements concerning the intentional omission of an entire continent in the setting and making of those policies which regulate our global economy and it appears that many African and Latin American world leaders took Gaddafi's position to heart, because the following weekend the Latin American and African nations meet in Venezuela to explore joint ventures for economic development in this post colonialism era. Though there are both African and Latin American members in the G20, such nations interests are in line with the G20's.

Let's put this in its historical perspective: Woodrow Wilson, following World War I, took the lead in forming the League of Nations. Following World War II, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, transformed the League of Nations into what we call today, the United Nations. During this period a large majority of both African and Latin American countries were the colonies of various European nations. After the formation of the United Nations, there were many wars of liberation across Africa and Latin America. Consequently, the status of countries like Libya, Ghana, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Panama, Granada, Vietnam and many others changed from former colonies to that of nation states. While their status has changed, the international rules of the game have stayed the same. This was very evident in President Gaddaf'i speech to the United Nations, where he pointed out the unfairness of having permanent members on the U.N. Security Council, the location of the United Nation's meeting and the fact that permanent members of the Security Council will not follow the dictates of the International World Court of Justice or the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Gaddafi denounced the U.N. Security Council as an elite club wherein nations, such as Libya, have no voice. The two-day meeting on Venezuela's Margarita Island was attended by 30 African leaders and addressed common concerns, from poverty to calls for reform at the United Nations. All the leaders agreed and issued a summit declaration, saying the council should be more "democratic" and "representative." "South-South" cooperation was the basic theme of the summit, which endeavored to bring two regional blocs together: the African Union and South America's fledgling Unasur group. Gaddafi proposed the two continents form a NATO-like defense alliance. In an article published by Associated Press on September 27th Chavez was quoted to say "We're going to form two of the large poles of power in that ... multipolar world that has begun to be born." He went on to say that "by uniting, the two regions can more effectively eradicate the legacy of poverty left "by the empires of the North — by the empires of Europe, by the U.S. empire...with this summit, a new era begins in the unity of South America and Africa."

Many of South America's leaders were agreed and and called for the two continents to unite to demand change. Venezuela signed agreements to work together on oil projects with South Africa, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan and Cape Verde. Chavez's government agreed to partner with South Africa's state oil company PetroSA in developing oil fields in Venezuela, and offered to help with oil projects in the other countries. Venezuela also intends to form joint mining companies with nations including Namibia, Mali, Niger and Mauritania, Chavez said, adding that "we're going to get results." He said the two regions together have enormous economic potential. he offered Venezuela's help in oil projects, mining and financial assistance. Chavez has already announced that Venezuela may help build an oil refinery in Mauritania that could process 30,000 to 40,000 barrels per day and supply fuel to Mali, Niger and Gambia. Deals to work together in tapping energy and mineral resources are also expected.

The summit laid out plans for cooperation in energy, trade, finance, agriculture, mining, education, hunger in Africa, the world economic crisis and a collective perspective on dealing with climate change. Stated Chavez, "In the 21st century, the African Union and South America will be truly great powers." African leaders including South Africa's Jacob Zuma and Algeria's Abdelaziz Bouteflika met eight South American presidents at the summit. African leaders including Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe and Algeria's Abdelaziz Bouteflika gathered at a beach-side hotel amid crowds of bodyguards and aides. South American presidents from Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to Bolivia's Evo Morales were also attending. Chavez called Gaddafi and Bouteflika the historic "liberators" of their countries and said socialism — both in Africa and in Latin America — will be "the path to the world's salvation." Presidents from Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe agreed on a need for U.N. reform, and called for unity to speak with a stronger voice. "We're 65 countries with more than 1 billion inhabitants who want to be heard," Silva said. The Brazilian president urged countries in the Africa-South America bloc — dubbed ASA — to "stop guiding ourselves by the compass of the developed countries." He said closer integration will help the two regions confront the economic crisis. Zimbabwe's Mugabe criticized economic sanctions imposed against his government by the U.S. and the European Union, but said "we are going ahead" nevertheless. The EU and other Western nations say that even though Mugabe now presides over a coalition government, not enough has been done to begin democratic reforms after years of authoritarian rule. Chavez defended Mugabe saying "they demonize him" in the news media because he's an "anti-colonialist." "We have to line up in his defense," Chavez said. Chavez has also built close ties with other countries at odds with Washington such as Iran and Syria, and has defended Iran's nuclear program while saying that Venezuela also plans to develop atomic energy for peaceful purposes — and that it shouldn't concern nations such as the U.S.

A first, smaller gathering of African and Latin American leaders was held in Nigeria in 2006. The timing this year — immediately after the U.N. General Assembly in New York and G-20 economic summit in Pittsburgh — suggests it may turn out to be a forum for many non-G-20 nations to respond and focus on their concerns about the way the global financial crisis is being handled. South American leaders also signed an agreement to create a regional development bank with $20 billion in start-up capital, and Chavez offered to help create a "South-South bank" with African countries in the future. He criticized the "imperialism" of some wealthy countries, saying through an interpreter, "They think the planet is divided into two parts: masters and slaves. The masters are in the North and in the South are the slaves. We have to create a new international system, and we're doing it," the socialist president said. "The solution is in our hands. It's not in handouts from the North."

William "Dock" Walls, Illinois gubernatorial candidate for the upcoming 2010 Democratic primary election, in a press conference, held at the State of Illinois Building, Plaza Monday, called upon Govenor Quinn to rescind his demand for the resignations of two African American hold-outs in the wake of the recent University of Illinois admissions clout scandal. Said Walls, "It is inappropriate for Pat Quinn to publicly attempt to force U of I Trustees Montgomery and Carroll to resign amid a sweeping scandal that does not necessarily involve them. Absent evidence of wrongdoing, Pat Quinn’s insistence that these Trustees resign is reckless. Furthermore, Walls added, "There is no room in Illinois government for double standards. Governor Quinn did not demand the resignation of his aide, Holly Copeland, who admittedly solicited $15,000 in campaign donations from special interest groups and trade associations in exchange for a meeting with him."

Following is an excert from the report filed by the commision which Govenor Quinn appointed:

State of Illinois Report and Review Commission Report of Findings and Recommendations

1. Executive Summary

A. Introduction: The Influence of Power and Money on University of Illinois Admissions

For years, a shadow admissions process existed at the University of Illinois ("University"). Unknown to the public and even most university employees, this shadow process - referred to as "Category I" - catered to applicants who were supported by public officals, University Trustees, donors and other prominent individuals (collectively "sponsors"). While applicants who lacked such clout sought admission through the University's official admissions process, Category I applicants were given seperate and often preferential treatment by University leasdership. And while the official process took into account the applicants characteristics (e.g., academic achievment, special talents, personal circumstances), the Category I process tended to focus on the "power and money" of the applicants sponsor.

The seven-member commission made the following recommendations:

--Eliminate Category I
--Make the appeals process public
--Allow only students and families to inquire about applications
--Establish a state inspector general dedicated to higher education
--Make third-party inquiries public

Attorney James Montgomery, one of the Trustees refusing to resign, has taken a staunch position. Says Mongomery, "I'm not going to take the responsibility for conduct that I had nothing to do with, and I don't want to voluntarily acknowledge that I did something that I did not do." Montgomery, who served as Corporation Council for the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington during his tenure in office and former law partner of famed Attorney Johnny Cochran, had planned to seek an injunction to stop the action, then try to force the governor to prove in court that he was incompetent, neglected his duties or was guilty of malfeasance, but Quinns reversal has precluded those actions.

Govenor Pat Quinn reversed course Wednesday and said he would keep them on the troubled board. Quinn defended his decision by saying that he didn't want to expose the state to a protracted legal battle, which the two had vowed to pursue. However, he faced harsh criticism for backing down. Quinn stated, "If we get involved in a litigation battle over the governor's removal power, that will distract from the important job at the moment and that [is] reforming everything at the university.We're marching on."

Other trustees, who reluctantly resigned, wondered whether they had played their cards correctly? Among those who questioned Quinn's decision was Trustee David Dorris, who resigned last week at the governor's request, even though he said he did nothing wrong. "I trusted him," said Dorris; "only time will tell if that trust was placed in the hands of somebody I should have trusted," Dorris stated. "It's in the best interest of the governor to re-appoint me. If he doesn't, I will be very disappointed. I did the honorable thing."

Another trustee, Edward McMillan, appointed by Quinn in May, said he was "puzzled" by the governor's decision, and "a bit troubled" that Montgomery and Carroll forced his hand. Quinn did not rule out the possibility of reappointing the five trustees who honored his request for their resignations, saying "he would review their records." Quinn on Wednesday said that McMillan "very well could be appointed" to the board again. The Govenor's office has received 239 applications for the nine unpaid board spots the governor controls.

In efforts to move forward on the controversial issue, the governor named two new trustees Wednesday, as he sought to get beyond a months-long investigation into admissions abuses at the state school, a crisis that Quinn called "the worst university scandal we have ever had in the state of Illinois." Quinn appointed businessman Christopher Kennedy, son of the late Robert F. Kennedy, and former assistant U.S. Atty. Lawrence Oliver II, who served on the Illinois Reform Commission. Neither are U. of I. alumni. Quinn said "Montgomery and Carroll should have voluntarily stepped aside, because the admissions abuses occurred on their watch;" however, he "decided not to force them out, because their threatened lawsuit would have left a cloud over reform efforts."

According to Senate GOP leader Christine Radogno, "the governor's decision does little to clean up the scandal and shows his inability to stick to his word. "We have a situation now where some were forced to resign and others weren't. I think it almost makes the situation worse. He should have researched the options, decided what he was going to do and stuck with a plan ... not just roll something out publicly and hope that it stuck." Kent Redfield, a political scientist of the University of Illinois at Springfield, stated that "the standoff between Quinn and the trustee holdouts became a distraction that could have been avoided. Demanding resignations in public without knowing that the trustees would comply painted [Quinn] into a corner." Said Redfield, "This is a case where I'm not sure you ask the question unless you know the answer. He's put himself in a situation where he's drawn a line in the sand, and then drawn another line in the sand."

It is apparent that U of I admissions reform should be a priority. Said Walls, "Certainly, there is a need for action. "However", stated Walls, "we must not rush to judgment and falsely implicate all U of I Trustees. We cannot, in good conscience, paint them all with a broad brush. Forcing these Trustees to resign would cast them under a cloud of suspicion and possibly cause immeasurable damage to their reputations. The danger in Quinn's course of action lies, not only in the tarnishing of the reputations of these individual Trustees and discrediting of their service to this State and this fine institution of higher learning, but also in the mitigation of Due Process. If nothing else, government officials have a responsibility to implement policies that protect and strengthen the rights of citizens. Government officials must not engage in arbitrary actions that diminish citizen rights. The citizens of Illinois deserve deliberate calculated action. Requiring Board Members to resign without a factual basis is symptomatic of an unhealthy shotgun approach to Illinois Government." Walls added, "Pat Quinn' must abandon his irresponsible 'Shoot first and ask questions later' approach. I urge Quinn to order an investigation, carefully gather all of the facts, establish whether these hold-out Trustees had any direct role in the Category I scandal, ascertain any mitigating circumstances and, thereafter, take only that action which is properly warranted."

What many in the Illinois media have failed to recognize or report, is that Govenor Quinn is losing favor in the African American community. Remember, it was Govenor Quinn who lead the charge for Illinois Senator Roland Burris to resign; the only African American presently serving in the US Senate. Quinn, just recently, appointed Jacky Grimshaw, former Inter-governmental Affairs Director to the late Mayor Harold Washington, to a paid position on the RTA board. Both Montgomery and Grimshaw are neighbors to President Barak Obama. Bill Walls, is the former Administrative Assistant to Mayor Harold Washington. His challenge to Quinn on Monday and Quinn's abrupt turn-around on Wendsday, are clear indications of a blatant effort, on the part of Govenor Quinn, to reduce the racial tensions, which are slowly erupting in the 2010 Democratic Primary.

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What kind of law abiding citizen would question the integrity of an elected official? My response would be - a true patriot. The news is overflowing with reports of bribery and scandal involving elected governmental officials; yet, there is no public outcry. When I say no public outcry, I don't mean that things aren't being said; things are being said, in private discussions and to and by those in attendance at varied social activist gatherings. However, the lack of any real meaningful public reaction to these scandals is what allows them to continue and that's exactly why it goes on and on and on... We as 21st Century African Americans, should be clear in our minds in respect to who's last on any government officials list. Therefore, we should be highly concerned about things like hiring preferences and political rewards through city job appointments. The last I heard Chicago's city employees make a decent buck and have excellent benefits to boot.

In our world clout is not a new word. I can remember when precinct captains bought votes for a bottle of wine on election day to leverage up into clout. Clout, more clearly defined, is influence which translates into control; control of who gets in, who gets hired, who gets fired, etc... That's why Governor Quinn's present situation with the University of Illinois clout scandal is so embarrassing to elected officials across the board, because they've all been in-trusted, some by vote, others by appointment, which raises another question - appointment by who? Well, in the case of the trustees at the U of I it was our former governor, so Quinn can plead innocent on that. Governor Rod Blagojevich's "scandal-plagued" tenure provided him a shield, but citizens are beginning to wake up out of their sleep. I'd guess that that's the reason for the increase in the private meetings between Quinn and the legislative leaders in Illinois government. They realize that the old stonewalling tactics used by their predecessors is not going to work. Citizens are beginning to demand more public access to governmental records, more transparency. The key word here is records. Records tell the story; the story nobody wants to be told. That's why Quinn was wise to back up from his attempts to oust our two very esteemed African American board members. Unlike in the case of Senator Burris, where he still persists in spreading doubt concerning the integrity of Roland Burris (the man), Quinn retracted his position calling for the resignations of Montgomery and Clark - flip-flop move.

In 2004, Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan, created the Public Access Bureau. Hers was the first effort in Illinois to assist the public in getting a better understanding of how both state and local governments make decisions. A statement, published in the Chicago Tribune with regard to the Illinois' Freedom of Information Act, concluded that "The Illinois Freedom of Information Act is a tool not just for the press, but also for the public." In an article entitled "Illinois' leading lawmakers privately circulate proposal to undercut effort for better open records law," the Chicago Tribune reported that the Illinois House, lead by House Speaker Mike Madigan (father of Lisa Madigan) had overwhelmingly passed a rewrite of the law, making it easier for the public to get information from state and local government, but that the measure had left the provisions most commonly used to deny records intact. The article further stated that Illinois' leading lawmakers had privately circulated their own proposal for a new public records law Wednesday and concluded that the law essentially guts the work of interest groups attempting to strengthen public access to government records.

On Tuesday, September 22, 2009, President Barack Hussein Obama of the United States of America and President Mummar Gaddafi of Libya, two of Africa's own sons, addressed the U.N. General Assembly. It was, indeed, an historic event, given the political posture of the two men. Heads of state and leaders of one hundred and ninety-two countries of the world traveled to New York to hear these two sons of Africa make their addresses.These speeches were the first ever made before the U.N. General Assembly by both presidents and set the overall tone of this historic gathering. Each eclipsed the addresses other leaders who would speak later on in the day (President Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela; as well as President Ahmadinejad of Iran) and laid the foundation of the week's meeting. The road to the presidencies of their countries was different. President Obama was elected to a four- year term by the American people, while Gaddafi is president for life, based on a coup de' etat in 1964. While many critics saw President Obama's speech as making America look weak and apologetic, President Obama's goal for this speech was to put a new face on American foreign policy. His concerns were with climate change, nuclear proliferation and the world economic crisis. He let world leaders know that his country, America, did not want to set all the rules and call all the shots and that his country, America, felt that it was a joint responsibility to show leadership in these particular areas. President Gaddafi attempted to be the voice of Africa and smaller nations. Gaddafi pointed out the inherent contradictions between the United Nations charter and its preamble. He also pointed out how permanent members of the security counsel make life uncomfortable for Africa and smaller nations by the use of their veto power. Basically, he showed how the United Nations, The International World Court of Justice and the International Atomic Energy Commission (IEA) sanction and rule against smaller nations, while avoiding sanctions against larger nations. President Obama's speech lasted for thirty minutes. President Gaddafi's speech lasted for one hour and thirty minutes. Many American analysts attempted to dismiss President Gaddafi as one who had a long rambling speech full of conspiracy theories. For example: He called for a full investigation into the assassinations of Patrice Lumumba, John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Maurice Bishop (former President of Granada) and the freeing of Panama's imprisoned President, Manuel Noriega. The future will be interesting as we watch how these two leaders recommendations play out in the annals of time.

Gov. Pat Quinn, made his second major, bad decision in two days, when he told reporters that he believes Illinois residents are happy to have "steady leadership that's getting things done for ordinary people." My question is this: Who is our dear govenor referring to; certainly not himself? Leadership is a job that requires conviction. It's nothing near conviction to move on an objective and then abruptly abandon the mission. That's discouraging for one's troops to say the least. Quinn seems to have a habit of doing such manuvers. As Senator Donnie Trotter (D-Illinois) stated in an article published in the Chicago Tribune today, "We expect [a leader] to take stands, take positions and then stick to them." So do I.

It is written in the Holy scriptures that "It is a sin to forget." That was the slant that Moses gave to the topic, when passing his mantle of leadership over to Joshua; before the Children of Israel crossed the Jordan River to enter "The Promised Land." Emmett Till had reached that place in the Northern haven of Chicago, far from the reality of what it meant to be a young Black man in southern America. Emmett paid the ultimate price for his ignorance, or better still, his elders' lack of providing him proper orientation for life in cotton country in the 1950's. I've had a picture of his smiling face on my wall ever since when. I keep it there as a reminder of the price he paid for his young innocence.

Emmett, like many of our youth today, was oblivious to the magnitude of his "crime." It was a crime in those days you know, raising his eyes to a white woman; still is for those of us who've had the misfortune of being Black with a white woman in the "wrong place." The major difference today is that she's liable to be in just as much touble, given the new social order of things in America amongst the races.

I "need to back up off of my racist position," I'm told. My brothers, everytime I mention the fact that things have'nt changed much for us in modern day America, I'm branded a racist. What I am rhymes - I'm a realist. Ask the brothers, still on death row from Lt. Burg's shenanigans, what they feel about the issue? And he was just the boss; there were many others involved amongst "Chicagos Finest" - the same ones who "serve and protect us," daily, from ourselves. Remember "Bull" Connor? He was sworn to keep the peace to, and his attitude about us wasn't too much different than the fathers of the kids who nearly beat Leonard Clark to death for riding his bicycle across the bridge into Canaryville, across the dividing line to their territory. Their fathers run this town. If you don't believe me, start taking down the names on the chests of the police who interact, daily, with your community.That holds true anywhere that Blacks reside in a majority within our city limits. All the time, our young men are falling like rocks; falling into caskets, prisons, drugs, out of school and into the streets. Yeah, the streets! Where they're "Homies" all congreagate, on the corners, like clay pigeons for the "sweep."

Yes, I remember Emmett Till. He was not much older than myself when he was murdered. I experienced the waves of anger, pain and despair that swarmed over America at his demise and the gruesome nature of the horrible death he suffered should surely be remembered, but not in a museum. It should be seared into our minds and hearts.

Reparations or Socio-Economic Readjustments?

There's a lot of criticism floating around about our brother in the White House and his motives for pushing a variety of innovative, new economic programs. Conservative radio talk show host, Rush Limbaugh, stated in a June broadcast that "Obama's entire economic program is reparations." I was waiting to hear his reasons for making such an allegation, but he never came forth with any facts to substantiate such a statement. That's par for the course with Mr. Limbaugh. If anything, I'd label brother man's plans as "socio-economic readjustments." God knows we need some. And, if race is an issue in the scenario; it's about time that we Americans face the music.

Here We Go Again...

Aren't you sick and tired of hearing about studies that indicate some sort of consistant abuse of Blacks by police? Well, here's yet another one - our last state traffic study. I know this isn't news for the fellas in the hood, but, according to a 2008 study of police actions, which was released earlier this month, minorities are more likely to be subjected to so-called "consent searches" by police. This applies to police on a statewide level. The study also showed that whites are more likely to be in possesion of contraband. Whites were found to be in possesion of contraband 24.7 percent of the time; whereas minorities clocked in at 15.4. Regardless, minorities are targeted for such search procedures. I very seldom hear police asking permission to do them. Maybe I'm in the wrong neighborhood?