For immediate release: March 10, 2014
Media Contact: Jason Alston, jasonalston@gmail.com
The Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), condemns the
American Library Association’s (ALA) decision to continue with plans to hold
the ALA 2016 annual conference in Orlando, Fla. in the wake of the George Zimmerman
verdict and that state’s refusal to revise or repeal “Stand Your Ground” laws,
which were included in jury instructions in Zimmerman’s trial for second degree
murder for fatally shooting unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla.
in 2012.
BCALA believes that “Stand Your Ground” laws enable a “shoot first, ask
questions later” mentality against African-American men perceived without merit
to be threats or assumed without evidence to be engaged in criminal behavior.
Kenneth Nunn, a professor at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law,
wrote in the New York Times in 2012 that, “African-Americans, black males in
particular, have been constructed in popular culture as violence-prone and
dangerous,” and that this construct produces a fear in Americans that deadly
force against such people is consequently reasonable in general.
BCALA therefore contends that Florida law should require more than
perception of a threat before use of deadly force is deemed justifiable. BCALA
predicts “Stand Your Ground” will be used in future killings where racial bias
played a factor in the actions of the accused. Months after the Zimmerman
verdict, another travesty of justice occurred when a Florida jury failed to
convict Michael Dunn of murder for shooting into a car and killing 17-year-old
Jordan Davis. Dunn said he fired because he felt threatened by Davis and other
Black teens in a car Davis was riding in, but the unarmed Davis had not exited
his vehicle or physically confronted Dunn. Dunn was convicted only for
attempted murder after he continued firing at the vehicle as the teenagers
attempted to flee.
BCALA believes that ALA, which claims various commitments to diversity and
tolerance, should have begun plans to find a new venue for ALA 2016 following the
July 2013 acquittal of George Zimmerman. BCALA must question ALA’s true
commitment to diversity and racial tolerance when ALA, North America’s largest
and strongest library association, still plans to hold its largest and most
financially lucrative function in a state that has become Ground Zero in
initiating weapons laws, as well as voting policies, that potentially put the
rights and safety of African-Americans at risk. ALA annual conferences are
generally well-documented and publicized, and BCALA fears that librarians,
20,000 strong, conducting business and spending money in Orlando will negate
any claim that librarians have to being advocates of equality and social
justice.
BCALA, rather, is committed to creating, supporting and cheerleading
initiatives that facilitate success in young Black males. The organization is
particularly encouraged by President Barack Obama’s recent unveiling of the “My
Brother’s Keeper” initiative, which the president hopes will, “(I)mprove
significantly the expected life outcomes for boys and young men of color
(including African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans) and
their contributions to U.S. prosperity.” An initiative to support Black male
success coming from national leadership will hopefully catch on with those who
otherwise wouldn’t care or would see these youths as a threat.
BCALA was formally established in 1970 and remains the forefront networking
and professional development vehicle for African-American librarians. An
independent non-profit organization, BCALA sponsors scholarships and travel
assistance, produces a quarterly publication and holds a biennial conference.
BCALA serves in an advisory role to the American Library Association and
collaborates with other ethnic affiliate organizations on diversity initiatives
in libraries.
More
information about BCALA is available at
www.bcala.org.
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