RDLN Graduate and Board Vice Chair Shirley Sherrod was appointed Georgia Director for Rural Development by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on July 25. Only days earlier, she learned that New Communities, a group she founded with her husband and other families (see below) has won a thirteen million dollar settlement in the minority farmers law suit Pigford vs Vilsack.
In announcing the appointment of Shirley and other new officials, Secretary Vilsack said that “These individuals will be important advocates on behalf of rural communities in states throughout the country and help administer the valuable programs and services provided by the USDA that can enhance their economic success.”
http://www.ruraldevelopment.org/shirleydirector.html
New Communities is due to receive approximately $13 million ($8,247,560 for loss of land and $4,241,602 for loss of income; plus $150,000 each to Shirley and Charles for pain and suffering).
There may also be an unspecified amount in forgiveness of debt. This is the largest award so far in the minority farmers law suit (Pigford vs Vilsack).
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July 20, 2010 at 12:18 pm
World Wide News Flash
USDA Official Forced to Resign over her ?Racist? Remarks; Records show she was hored at USDA Just Days after winning a $13 million Dollar Lawsuit against Dept. of Ag…
I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog
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July 20, 2010 at 12:44 pm
HistorianDude
And she’s probably going to win another huge lawsuit because, again, she was forced to resign unjustly; pretty much driven from her job by a right wing reporter’s release of a dishonestly edited recording of her remarks.
http://www.ajc.com/news/farmers-wife-says-fired-574027.html
July 20, 2010 at 2:26 pm
JAMES
The full transcript has been requested. Like he did with the Cambridge Police, the empty suit acted without all the facts. Has nothing to do with a right wing reporter and dishonestly edited recordings. And that video would have come from someone within the NAACP attending the meeting back in March. Would the tape of the person carrying a rifle or shotgun at a rally be an example of a “dishonest editing”, since they edited out the view of the individual— a black man. The Atlanta Journal Constitution— now there is a fair and ethical piece of journalism.
Ms. Sherrod is the scapegoat because of the NAACP and the Obama race-baiting!!
July 20, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Interested Bystander
Hey All,
What I find most interesting is that the USDA hired someone who was suing them.
13 million dollars for 5 years seems like a large amount of money.
I wouldn’t doubt that the Administration “fired” her so that she could sue again.
Seems par for the course for this President.
But they won’t pursue the Black Panther case at Justice?
HMMMMMMMM