5th annual Civil Rights Conference at the UTM

Gray to headline fifth annual Civil Rights Conference

University Relations
Volume 77, Issue 18
Issue Publication: 2005-02-15

Civil rights attorney Fred Gray will headline the fifth annual Civil Rights Conference at UTM.
http://www.yankton.net/stories/021505/community_20050215035.shtml


Fred Gray, civil rights attorney, who represented both Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., and won hundreds of school desegregation cases in Alabama, will headline the fifth annual Civil Rights Conference at the UTM. "Then and Now: The Road to School Desegregation in West Tennessee," is the theme for the conference, set for Feb. 21-26.

"The purpose of the week's events is to tell the story of school segregation from the perspective of the Native Americans and the African Americans who experienced segregated schools and desegregation in West Tennessee. The conference brings together a group of scholars, professionals and individuals who witnessed desegregation firsthand," said Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls, chair of the UTM Civil Rights planning committee.

The event will kick off, Feb. 21, with a mock trial of "Brown vs. Board," sponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA), the Black Student Association (BSA) and the Office of Multicultural Affairs at UTM. Poet and writer, Marilou Awiakta, author of "Selu: Seeking the Corn Mother's Wisdom," musicians, Tommy Wildcat, member of the Cherokee nation of Oklahoma, and J.J. Kent, member of the Sioux tribe, Oglala Lakota, from Pine Ridge, will be available for autographs, Feb. 22. A Native American exhibit also will be ongoing outside Watkins Auditorium in Boling University Center.

Gray is scheduled to speak at 7:15 p.m., Feb. 24, in Watkins
Auditorium in Boling University Center. Among several others, he has won cases including, "Browder vs. Gayle," which integrated buses in Montgomery, Ala.; "Gomillion vs. Lightfoot," which opened the door for redistricting and reapportioning the various legislative bodies across the nation and laid the foundation for the concept of "one man one vote;" and "NAACP vs. State of Alabama," a case that first outlawed the NAACP from conducting business in Alabama and, after being taken to the Supreme Court three times, eventually granted the NAACP the right to resume business.

Gray also won a case reinstating students who were unconstitutionally expelled from Alabama State College, a class action suit, which led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and filed suits that integrated all state institutions of higher learning in Alabama.

TNSCC's Monthly Friendship Gathering

Traditional Native Survival and Cultural Center
Monthly Friendship Gathering



This is a time for Native People of our region to come together
for sharing and meeting new acquaintances and old friends.
We ask that people bring a covered dish for sharing.

Our Elders and Council members extend a warm welcome to all the Native American Indians that are able to come together at this time. We feel it's very important that we share our histories, our thoughts; networking as a community of people, supporting each other so we become stronger in ourselves, our families and communities. This makes stronger Nations. Our People are not bound by towns, states or National boundaries.

Our survival depends on our working together for future generations to come,
so the more we work on sharing and learning our cultures,
the better we are prepared in this important duty.

We look forward to meeting and sharing with those people that are ready to put our hearts and minds together to meet this important work.

with respect,
Elders and Council of T.N.S.C.C., Inc.

Where:
108 Main Street
New Tazewell, TN

When:
The last Saturday of each month, from 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Monthly Schedule for 2005
January 29th, February 26th, March 26th, April 30th, May 28th, June 25th,
July 30th, August 7th, September 24th, October 29th, and November 26th

Have a Safe Journey!

Traditional Native Survival and Cultural Center, Inc.
A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization
P.O.Box 929
New Tazewell, TN 37825
Phone: (423) 526-5778

For more information, please call the Center at (423) 526-5778
Or e-Mail us at: tnscc_larry@hotmail.com

Commission's life extended

Senate Bill 1423, introduced thursday by Senator Thelma Harper of Nashville, chair of the Senate Government Operations Committee and co-sponsor of the 2001 and 2003 bills to re-create the Commission of Indian Affairs, proposes to change the termination (sunset) date of the Commission from 2005 and replace it with a 2009 date, extending the life of the Commission of Indian Affairs another four years.

The House Government Operations Committee will also need to concur, and it's expected that a House bill will be co-sponsored by its chairman, Representative Mike Kernell of Memphis, co-sponsor of the 2001 and 2003 bills, to re-set the timer of the Commission of Indian Affairs for another four years.

It's a very good sign indicating that the new Commission will be with us for a while longer.

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SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-230(a) [Governmental entities terminated on June 30, 2009], is amended by adding a new item thereto, as follows:
( ) Commission of Indian affairs, created by § 4-34-101;

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SB1423: Filed for intro on 02/03/2005
SENATE BILL 1423 By Harper

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 4, Chapter 34, relative to the commission of Indian affairs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-226(a), is amended by deleting item (25) in its entirety.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-230(a), is amended by adding a new item thereto, as follows:
( ) Commission of Indian affairs, created by § 4-34-101;
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
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Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-230. Governmental entities terminated on June 30, 2009.