Black Caucus opposes Thomas By LARRY A. STILL Capitol Newt Service Washington, D.C. - (CNS) ? At major civil rights organizations and black community leaders debated the next move in blocking President George Bush's apparent "Turn Back The Clock" conserva tive agenda, the political Congres sional Black Caucus assumed leadership by "pledging to vigor ously fight the confirmation" of Federal Appeals Court Judge. Clarence Thomas to the United States Supreme^Cotirt and still seek passage of a 1991 Civil Rights Bill . The 27 predominantly Demo cratic Party House of Representa tives members "went on record to ? make clear to the people of this nation and those we serve ... our irrevocable stand on this matter. . . We will not shrink from our responsibility to challenge this president to bring before the American people, and the Cohgress, a fit and appropriate nominee who will do justice to the legacy of (retiring Supreme Court Justice) Thurgood Marshall" said CBC statement released by Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), CBC chairman. "Our preliminary finding shows that Clarence Thomas*, does not meet this (Justice Mar-* shad's) standard. We are complete ing an exhaustive review of the Thomas record for testimony before the Senate Judiciary Com mittee,~and for presentation to a national meeting of African-Ameri can leaders which we will convene in the nation's capital," Towns declared following the 26-1 vote at which lone Republican member. Rep. Gary Franks of Water bury, Conn, cast the single dissenting ballot. Thus, the CBC prepared to put its projected influence and par* tisan weight among its con stituents on the national line as the members moved ahead of other black and white membership organizations in calling for direct action against Judge Thomas before the capital hill hearings on by October. The annual CBC leg islative weekend in late Septem ber promises to be more than a political celebration, but an unusu ally significant session affecting African-Americans and all African- - Americans. Meanwhile, after a week-long convention of some 8,000 NAACP members and supporters in Hous ton, Executive Director Benjamin L. Hooks called for a joint meeting of leaders and officials with Thomas before deciding whether to oppose the nomination. "We will not be stampeded into making a decision affecting our constituency without seeking all information available, "Hooks told the commu nity representatives and dele gates. The National Urban League is expected to take action at its annual convention in Atlanta this month (July) but is not a mass membership organization. ~~ Back in Washington, Ralph Neas, executive director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, a coalition of some 200 religious, labor, ethnic, and human rights groups, was the first to express opposition to the Thomas nomination when it was an Clarence Thomas nounced, but he later announced the LCCR's executive committee must meet to discuss their position because many groups must first consult with their boards and members. "We urge the Senate nox to rush to judgmerrt/ said Neas. Also, in Washington, over 1,000 delegates to the liberal "bipartisan" National Women Polit ical Caucus convention, founded by such feminists as former Reps. Bella Abzug and Shirley Chisholm, "supported a Tesolutlon opposing the nomination of Thomas because "it would be hostile to the fundamental righls_of privacy and to the Supreme Court decision in Roe vs Wade, (on abortion) . Commenting later on her position, Chishoim said "We respect him for his qualifications and ability, but we cannot go backwards. . * Although a variety of media polls and speculation indicate that a majority of African-Americans disagree with the reportedly con servative views of Thomas, most respondents say they consider him qualified for the post. The fed eral judge and former chairman df the Equal Employment Opportuni ty Commission reportedly objects to preferential treatment based upon race according to previous statements, but he appears to be moderating his position to give credit to civil rights efforts for help ing him overcome poverty and - racism in achieving individual suc cess as a lawyer, government administrator and federal judge. Amidst all the furor, Judge Thomas publicly smiles and makes no comment while visiting members of the Senate Judiciary Committee headed by Sen, Joseph Biden (D-DE) and John C.Danforth (R-MO), a former employer and sponsor before the committee." Even with the Bush adminis tration's well orchestrated cam paign to take over the court, the question remains whether Thomas * can survive the intense scrutiny of congressional investigations and media "research" into his public record , private llfe~and business" activity even before the proposed CBC session and required senate -hearing ; City offers parking ticket moratorium People with unpaid parking er $25 added ? making $50 the tickets have a one-time chance to amount owed in penalties for each save big bucks and clear their ticket. record. The City of Winston- The 45 days between July 16 Salem is going to drop all penal- and Aug. 29 is considered the ties on parking tickets that are moratorium period. After this peri past due as of July 16, 1991. od, the city will take violators to By paying the actual amount court where they will be forced to of the violation ? the amount stat- pay court costs in addition to the ed on the ticket ? between July amount of the ticket and all penal 16 and Aug. 29, anyone will avoid ties. having to pay previously added penalties. But anyone who doesn't pay tickets in full by the Aug. 29 cutoff date will find a $25 penalty added to each ticket. Anyone who fails to pay by Sept. 30 will find anoth M . 1 1 1 < > ? t . 1 1 R I < 1 1 y I I h 1 1 < I ? 1 1 v ? ? 1 1 1*1 ticks W< > i I - 1 I ' i ? 1 1 * i ? m i Y o 1 , 1 1 1 < I . i h 1 1 1 1 ) All | ? A I " 1 ? ? I V. i k ? 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