Tuesday, August 29— I am here on behalf of human beings, but, specifically, people of color. I am in agreement with many of you who are here today and those who in their hearts wanted to be here, but were unable to. I agree and believe that we will not have quality schools, heath care, housing and livable jobs as long as we don’t take advantage of any and all resources, not just resources available to us, but any and all resources available to create a change.

I agree that the government spends billions after billions on violence and war in other countries; however, it is our responsibility to work towards a change by creating change for our self. We are people of all difference cultures, talents, blessings and personalities. We are the ones that can and are capable of creating a change for us. Depending on the government, state officials, politicians and others who don’t practice what they preach, will keep us Katrina-ized. Meaning left for dead. We must make change happen. We must come together as a team and create our own jobs, establish our own real estate capital, our own insurance companies and our own educational institutions.

We need to build a pool of resources for us, where we can get money when we need it, where we can get shelter when we are out doors, where we can get fed if we are hungry. Don’t let another natural incident leave us vulnerable to criminal neglect by this government.

I also stand here on behalf of the Boston Workers Alliance (BWA) an organization of people from the greater Boston area who have come together as a team to end CORI discrimination and the crisis of joblessness. We are here to fight for CORI Reform and create jobs for the unemployed in our communities. We are in support of the Boston Rosa Parks Human Rights Day Committee Community Rally because we are a group of people who feel the pain of being left behind, left to die. We are left behind to die because of a modern discrimination tool called the CORI. Whether meant for the good or bad, it is used as a modern tool for discrimination towards people of color.

This rally is not only to entertain you, but it is also to educate you about how Blacks, Native Americans, Latinos and other people of color are Katrina-ized from the lack of adequate money for a decent way of life. We still live in critical times where we are still experiencing neglect and oppression as people of color. It’s hard to believe that a year has gone never to return, but we continue to live devastated lives. Four days of devastation where people were left for dead when the levee broke.

This criminal negligence on the part of the government leaves us to ask, who will incur a CORI from this crime? Who will get turned down job after job, who will not be able to further their education, get affordable housing, licenses, even credit or a loan? Who will pay for this crime and generate a CORI?

Yes, we want to stop spending money on war and use it for social programs at home, yes, we want jobs with a livable wage, and yes, we want all the other necessities that will create a life for people of color to have adequate money for decent housing, education and health, but it will take our united efforts to create the change we desire. The BWA’s Job Creation Committee has begun to establish our own temp agency where we can have control, authority and freedom to provide jobs to ex-offenders who we know have truly turned their lives around and want to contribute to society rather than take away from it.

Creating our own change

Let me give you an example of creating our own change. Under the leadership of Councilor Chuck Turner and the Boston Workers Alliance, in collaboration, of hard work, support and the efforts of MARC, at the State level, Senators Wilkerson and Creedon’s CORI Reform amendment 688 was successfully passed, which prevents blanket CORI discrimination in hiring, gets rid of non-convictions and dismissals, and allows for mistaken identity CORIs to be purged in court. As a team we worked together to create this change for us. If we had not, it would still be on the books. This is sure evidence of how we can make change happen for us.

Let’s think of this rally as one more step towards creating a change for us; a change to be admired, to be highly respected, to be put on display for all people of color to emulate.

Rosa Parks said she was just tired of being pushed around, tired of seeing the bad treatment and disrespect of children, women and men just because of their skin; she was just tired of being oppressed. Katrina left many people of color in a modern day of oppression, but working together we can make our own change to get out of modern day oppression.

You folks without a CORI can open doors for us; it is your responsibility as criminals never caught to open doors for us; folks who never faced a judge for your crime, it is your responsibility. It is your responsibility to open doors for ex-offenders trying to change and improve their life. So when you are lying back waiting for someone else to create change, think of what you can do.

I also have my own non-profit organization, which provides transitional support programs and services to ladies’ transition from homelessness, substance abuse, domestic violence and incarceration. DALLSS helps them to rebuild their life.

contacts

Boston Workers Alliance

(617) 427-8100

The Massachusetts Alliance to Reform CORI (MARC) is a statewide coalition to reform Criminal Offender Record Infor-mation [CORI] laws and policies.

DALLSS, Diane and Louise Ladies Support Service

www.DALLSSInc.org

(617) 524-1777