Press Conference on Quitman 10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) January 23, 2012 -- ATLANTA (January 23, 2012) – Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur), chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC), held a press conference to bring awareness and support for the officials in the “Quitman Ten”, which includes three school board members and nine Brooks County residents indicted on Nov. 22, 2011, on several counts of alleged unlawful possession of ballots that favored the board members in the 2010 Brooks County school board election. The case involved only 10 defendants until November 2011 when two more people were indicted in the case.

All board members are outstanding teachers and highly regarded in their community and in their educational tenures. Before the election the school board makeup was majority Caucasian after the election the School Board make up was 4 African American and 3 Caucasian.

The three suspended Board members, who have not been convicted of anything, have been disenfranchised from their position when they were removed from office on January 10, 2012 by way of any Executive Order from Governor Nathan Deal. The indictments are not related to or adversely affect the administration of the office of Brooks County School Board of Education.
The suspension returns the Brooks County school board to a white majority.

Senator Emanuel Jones is demanding “all charges are dropped” against the Quitman 10. Reverend Joseph Lowery, Civil Rights Leader and Medal of Freedom recipient stated that “Everyone is in Jeopardy, as long as the Governor can suspend your term of office, no one is safe.” State Representative Tyrone Brooks, President of GABEO, stated that he “will take this case the U.S. Department of Justice”. GABEO will hold their winter conference on February 24-26 2012 in Quitman, Georgia and have planned a March and Rally on the courthouse to demand the charges be dropped and the suspension of their terms be lifted. Kevin Miles, Regional Director of NAACP, reminded the audience that the residents of Quitman were harassed and intimidated on their jobs and at their homes by officials about whom they voted for.
Dr. Dennard, one of The Quitman 10 and newly elected School Board President, stated that they have been accused of voter fraud, when all they did was go out, campaigned, and were elected by the people to office.
Reverend Samuel Mosteller, President of Georgia Chapter of SCLC, stated that “your voting rights are in danger.” Others in attendance were Joe Beasley of Rainbow Push Coalition, Dianne Mathowitz with AIC, Peace and Justice Committee and members of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.

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