Cynthia serves as a Juror on the Bertrand Russell Tribunal on Palestine. In this New York City Session, the role of the United States and the United Nations in the human rights abuses suffered by Palestinians was investigated. Cynthia wrote this Open Letter during the Tribunal proceedings.

The recent events unfolding in Libya raise more questions than answers. Cynthia's new book, The Illegal War on Libya, gives important background to these tragic events, information that is not going to be broadcast on CNN, FOX, CBS, MSNBC, NBC, or even Al Jazeera and Democracy Now! Here are Cynthia's questions and information on her latest book.

Ever wonder why Blacks are debased in front of the Silver Screen and in popular culture? Maybe it has something to do with what happens behind the scenes in Hollywood culture. Here is a glimpse into that backstage world thanks to two pioneering figures, Leonard Rowe and Marcus Washington, who dared to fight back.

Cynthia McKinney's Call to Action
in Support of Dennis Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment Against Bush

. . .

Today we find that the ball is back in our court. It's up to the People now to "flip the script" once again. A massive grassroots movement of the People must coalesce very quickly, which can move Chairman Conyers and the House Judiciary Committee to hold hearings on H.Res. 1258.

I call upon all the forces of the Black movement nationwide--whether they currently support my presidential bid or the candidacy of Senator Obama--along with all my Green and Reconstructionist supporters, Katrina survivors and their supporters, the election protection movement, and all progressive forces, to organize a mass mobilization to push the House Judiciary Committee to move on the 35 Articles of Impeachment, with an explicit emphasis on the Black demands for fairness, equality and justice as laid out in Articles 28, 29 and 31.

. . .

Statement by Cynthia McKinney,
Power to the People Candidate for U.S. President,
on the nomination of Barack Obama
as the Democratic Party's Presidential Candidate in 2008

On Saturday, June 7, 2008, Hillary Clinton announced that her 2008 presidential bid is over, making Barack Obama the first-ever Black presidential nominee of a major party in the history of the United States.

Congratulations to Senator Obama for achieving such a feat!

. . . Many of us never thought we would see in our lifetime a Black person with a real possibility of becoming President of the United States.

The fact that this is now possible is . . . also a sign of the deep discontent among the American people, and particularly among African Americans, with the corporate-dominated, business-as-usual politics that has prevailed in Washington for too many years. . . .

While congratulating Senator Obama for a feat well done, I would also like to bring home the very real need for change and a few of the issues that must be addressed for the change needed in this country to be real. . . .

I have accepted as the platform of the Power to the People Campaign, the 10-Point Draft Manifesto of the Reconstruction Movement, a grouping of Black activists who came together in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to advocate for public policy initiatives that address the plight of Blacks and other oppressed peoples in this country. . . .

The people deserve an open and honest debate on these issues and more. I encourage the Democratic Party and its new presumptive nominee, Senator Obama, to embrace these important suggestions for policy initiatives.

Cynthia McKinney today sent a letter of solidarity to citizens activists in the Czech Republic who's hunger strike is focusing attention on efforts by the Bush Administration to escalate a new arms race with its deployment of Star Wars installations in Eastern Europe.

STATEMENT ON HUNGER STRIKE
TO OPPOSE U.S. STAR WARS DEPLOYMENTS
IN CZECH REPUBLIC & POLAND

Dear Jan Tamas and Jan Bednar:

It is impossible for me to say strongly enough how important your efforts are in the Czech Republic to oppose deployment of U.S. so-called missile defense bases. Your leadership is being watched and is appreciated all over the world.

While in Congress I voted against every iteration of so-called missile defense--star wars--that was authorized or appropriated. I want you to know that I deeply understand the dangers that will come from a decision to accept the U.S. Star Wars radar in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland. There is no doubt that a new cold war is underway here that could once again bring Europe back into the middle of another U.S.-Russia conflict.

Your hunger strike in Prague since May 13, and now joined by others including Bruce Gagnon in the U.S., is an important effort to bring this issue to the public consciousness. The American people have been deceived at every turn by this Bush Administration and have yet to learn of the dangers and enormous cost of this new arms race we are creating. Thank you to you and to Bruce for your courageous and determined stand.

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Cynthia McKinney
Statement on the Sean Bell Verdict
April 26, 2008

And with [its assertion about "no rights which the white man was bound to respect"], the United States Supreme Court ensured that the 20th Century would be defined, as W.E.B. DuBois wrote, by the color line. So, while we might be outraged at the Sean Bell decision itself, it comes directly from the flawed jurisprudence that gave us the Dred Scott Decision in 1857, Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, Bakke in 1978, Croson in 1989, Adarand in 1995, Gratz in 2003, and all of the Ward Connerly-inspired attacks on the very same affirmative action hard won by students facing water hoses and dogs; men and women facing jail, lynch mobs, and death.

Interestingly, according to Attorney Roger Wareham of the December 12th Movement's International Secretariat, the criminal justice system in this country "always finds a rationale for letting off cops who kill black and brown people." Indeed, police officers seem to know that they can kill certain people with impunity.

A Message from Cynthia McKinney
A Discussion of Race Worth Having
March 18, 2008

Much has been made around the edges of this campaign about the issue of race. Sadly, nothing has been made of the public policy exigencies that arise because of the urgent racial disparities that continue to exist in our country.

. . .

I am glad that candidate Obama mentioned the existing racial disparities in education, income, wealth, jobs, government services, imprisonment, and opportunity. Now it is time to address the public policies necessary to resolve these disparities. Now it is time to have the discussion on how we are going to come together and put policies in effect that will provide real hope and real opportunity to all in this country.

To narrow the gap between the ideals of our founding fathers and the realities faced by too many in our country today: That must be the role of public policy at this critical moment in our country today.

I welcome a real discussion of race in this country and a resolve to end the long-standing disparities that continue to spoil the greatness of our country. I welcome a real discussion of all the issues that face our country today and the real public policy options that exist to resolve them. That must be the measure of this campaign season. For many voters, this important discussion has been too vague or completely non-existent. Now is the time to talk about the concrete measures that will move our country forward: on race, war, climate change, the economy, health care, and education. Our votes and our political engagement must be about ensuring that fairness truly for all is embodied in "liberty and justice for all."

Friends!

Some of you know that I am on a tour of our country's heartland, visiting Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois. We received a tremendous reception in Benton Harbor, Michigan--a majority black community that is fighting for its survival against powerful corporate interests that want to own its pristine beachfront land. Reverend Edward Pinkney has been a stallwart fighter for justice in the community and is leading its resistance to these powerful corporate interests.

I went to Benton Harbor to support Reverend Pinkney and the people of Benton Harbor in their struggle for self-determination. At this meeting, it was clear that Reverend Pinkney had succeeded in bringing whites and blacks together in this fight for justice. And we know that powerful interests view that as a no-no.

Unfortunately, today, the day after our wonderful rally with the residents, Reverend Pinkney was picked up by the police for allegedly violating the terms of his parole to not make "inflammatory statements." Reverend Pinkney's remarks were published as an article in a Chicago newspaper.

I am asking that you please write letters to the people below, asking for justice for Reverend Pinkney and the people of Benton Harbor. I know that our concerted work together will change things. Thank you for taking a stand.

Cynthia

He asks why Kerry is not in favor of impeachment, then the students applaud when the police attack him at the microphone. From the video, it appears that he is literally picked up by the police and carried to the back of the room where he is put on the floor, handcuffed, tasered, carried out, and in the background one can hear Kerry talking--not trying to get the police officers to stop attacking the student--but blathering on, reminiscent of George Bush when the towers were hit.