Proposed coalition would speak out, hold officials accountable: Everything from PCBs to prisoners’ rights discussed at meeting

By Jessica Centers
Star Staff Writer
04-05-2004

HOBSON CITY — After the service at Rising Star United Methodist Church let out on Sunday, a dozen parishioners lingered inside the Hobson City chapel to hear what their pastor had to say about the issues on their minds —issues they say not enough people are talking about. "I am appalled at the sinful silence of this community," the Rev. Randy Kelley said. "There’s a leadership vacuum that has to be filled. We need a voice that’s going to deal with social justice issues." Kelley is working to form a coalition of leaders called the Concerned Black Clergy and Laity that will speak out for people and hold elected officials accountable. He believes that racism is not dead in Anniston and people of different races should stop denying that and start talking about it. "We need a group that’s going to deal with black issues unapologetically," he said. On Sunday, he stood before a predominantly female audience to talk about issues he felt weighed heaviest on the community — the injustice of the federal PCB settlement, the state of Anniston High School, and restoring rights to released felons. He said the entourage of high-profile lawyers that took millions away from the Tolbert PCB suit and left the injured people with insufficient compensation should be sued for malpractice and that the Monsanto corporate officials who polluted the community should be in prison. "If we can’t change it, we at least need to speak out against it," he said. "We need to be determined not to let anything like this happen in our community again." Opal Strong Thomason said she’s been told she has PCBs on the property where her grandchildren play, but not enough to clean it up. She signed her whole family up for the federal lawsuit years ago, but now the paperwork for two of her sons is missing. She’s got lawyers here and lawyers there, and no clear answers. "It’s very unfair what the lawyers have done," she said. "I just don’t understand it all." Wiley Jackson said it’s wrong that money in the federal case seems to be going everywhere but to the people. He thinks the community needs to take a very careful look at what went wrong. "Our leaders seem to be sitting back doing nothing, but they call themselves leaders," he said. "If you are going to lead, lead." In regards to other issues, Kelley is asking community leaders to do more than speak out. To address the condition of Anniston High School, an issue that is far from settled, he is calling on them to take action by surrounding the school with their support. Jackie Evans said Anniston High School was in terrible shape. She said there had been numerous bomb threats in recent weeks, and kids then leave to hang out at McDonalds or Hardee’s when their parents think they’re in school. "They need concerned parents to come up there and walk the halls or anything," she said. "They need repairs and people up there to help clean the building." She said it was up to the parents to improve the school, and some act like they don’t even care. "Responsible parents can strengthen the school," Kelley said. "There are some brilliant young people at the school." He said the community needs to understand that the school can be the No. 1 tool for attracting businesses and people to come to Anniston. More businesses need to adopt the school, he said, and young people need to see positive role models. Maybe then, he said, Anniston could not only improve the children’s education, but also attract the jobs that will keep the successful students from leaving to start their careers in other cities. For released felons, Kelley and his supporters at the meeting asked that they be given a chance when their time is served. He said there are 240,000 released felons in Alabama, and 150,000 of them are black men. They can’t get student loans and the state makes it hard for them to get a job, which causes entire families to suffer and contributes to recidivism rates, he said. One solution is a law that protects businesses that hire released felons. Kelley said California just passed legislation giving businesses an incentive to give people a chance. By lobbying the state Legislature and keeping abreast of the board of education, city council and county commission, he hopes a coalition of clergy and laity would fill the leadership void he’s felt in Calhoun County. He said he would like that group to include females and white ministers that have a passion for social justice issues.

About Jessica Centers

Jessica Centers, a University of Missouri graduate, covers business for The Anniston Star.