“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe”  Frederick Douglass

February 15, 2012

Open Letter to the Congressional Black Caucus-Judiciary Committee Members

Dear Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC):

It has come to my attention that several members of the CBC who serve on the Judiciary Committee attempted to invalidate the Frederick Douglass Foundation and went on to attack me personally last week during the markup of the Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PRENDA). These inaccurate and inappropriate statements were made in direct response to Rep. Franks reading into the records my letter supporting the original title. If it weren’t for the fact that I have became immune to attacks during my tenure as the Vice Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party (the first Black vice Chairman and highest party official since its inception, March 27, 1867), I might have been offended. However, I am honored to know Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA), in particular, took so much time in his attempt to smear me. (Page 47, Lines #1090-1106-Transcripts from the Feb 8, 2012 Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act of 2011 markup)

 

(Pictured from left to right: Rev. Dean Nelson, FDF Chairman & Founder, Kenneth Morris, Great-Great-Great Grandson of Frederick Douglass, Dr. Timothy Johnson Founder & President and Troy Rolling, FDF Founder)

 

 

Perhaps you haven’t notice, but a number of things have changed since the CBC was founded in 1969. Yet there are those of you who believe there are certain rules by which all Blacks should follow! Well, this is your official notification that the rules have changed and organizations, like the Frederick Douglass Foundation, will not sit silent while you go about the business of profiting off the hardship of those you supposedly represent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frederick Douglass said during his address on West India Emancipation (08-04-1857):

 

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what a people will submit to, and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress. Men may not get all they pay for in this world; but they must pay for all they get. If we ever get free from all the oppressions and wrongs heaped upon us, we must pay for their removal. We must do this by labor, by suffering, by sacrifice, and, if needs be, by our lives, and the lives of others”.

 

On December 6, 2011, Representative Trent Franks (R-AZ) made the following comment while introducing PRENDA:

 

“In 1847, Frederick Douglass said, ‘Right is of no sex, truth is of no color, God is the father of us all and all are brethren,’” Franks proclaimed as he announced what he calls the “Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act of 2011.”

 

 

House GOP Memo: “Abortion Is the Leading Cause of Death in the Black Community”

 

In response, to Representative Franks, Representative John Conyers (D-MI) said:

 

“I’ve studied Frederick Douglass more than you,” said Conyers. “I’ve never heard or read about him saying anything about prenatal nondiscrimination.”

 

Maybe Rep. John Conyers has read more about Frederick Douglass but it appears he failed to read about Susan B. Anthony. If you had read about her, then you would know that Susan B. Anthony and A.M.E. lay preacher Frederick Douglass were the best of friends. Furthermore, you would definitely know she made the following statement in the 1869 publication, The Revolution, 4(1):4 July 8, 1869:

 

“Guilty? Yes. No matter what the motive, love of ease, or a desire to save from suffering the unborn innocent, the woman is awfully guilty who commits the deed. It will burden her conscience in life, it will burden her soul in death; But oh, thrice guilty is he who drove her to the desperation which impelled her to the crime!”

 

“Abortion was referred to as “child murder.”

Rep. John Conyers said the following on February 8, 2012:

 

“It is offensive that the sponsors of this bill would invoke the names of two of our Nation’s historic civil rights pioneers…”

 

Rep. Conyers, I know you have been in Congress since 1965. And while I respect your tenure, by no means does this mean you get to coop the Civil Rights movement as your own prize possession! Furthermore, it was extremely inappropriate for the Democratic members serving on the House of Representative Judiciary committee to attack the Frederick Douglass Foundation.

 

Therefore, on behalf of the members, friends and supports of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, I am cordially inviting you and the Democratic members of the CBC to join us to discuss this and a number of other issues in a public forum which we believe are directly assisting in the genocide of the Black community during the 4^th Frederick Douglass Foundation. This should be especially enticing since Representatives Hank Johnson and Maxine Waters have accused this organization to be run by one person, whose PhD is in question and a front organization for some mysterious body. We will be meeting at the Washington Marriott Hotel March 15-17, Washington, DC while Congress is still in session. You can confirm your attendance by emailing info@tfdf.org

 

 

Sincerely,

Timothy F. Johnson, Ph.D.   Founder and President                                                                

Rev. Dean Nelson  Founder and Chairman                                                                              

Troy Rolling Founder

Kevin McGary President, FDF of California                                                                              

Rev. Leo Bogee President, FDF of HI                                                                              

Rev. Isaac Hayes President, IL

Jessica Ann Tyson President, FDF of MI                                                                          

Pastor Lorenzo Neal President, FDF of MS                                                                               

Thomas Smith President, FDF of MO

Chaplain Ayesha Kreutz    President, FDF of NY                                      

Kevin Daniels   President, FDF of NC                                                          

William Green President, FDF of OH

Kevin Glasco President, FDF of TN                                                                                         

Lee Felder President, FDF of TX                                                                                             

Chuck Smith President, FDF of VA

CJ Jordan Coordinator, FDF on Capitol Hill

“I am a Republican, a black dyed in the wool Republican and I never intend to belong to any other party but the party of freedom and progress”-Frederick Douglass

 

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Join Today

www.TFDF.org

 

“…And if the Negro cannot stand on his own legs, let him fall also. All I ask is give him a chance to stand on his own legs! Let him alone…your interference is doing him positive injury. … I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs. Man’s greatness consists in his ability to do and the proper application of his powers to things needed to be done.” — Frederick Douglass

 

 The Frederick Douglass Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 50273, Washington, DC 20091

 

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