Forum/Discussions

Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association, Inc. (BFAA, Inc.) staff members will conduct two workshops in Birmingham, Alabama this coming Saturday, June 23, 2012. The first workshop will start at 10:00 AM and will end at 12:00 Noon. The second meeting will start at 1:00 PM and will end at 3:00 PM.

On September 1, 2011, BFAA, Inc. "objected" at the Fairness Hearing (District Court) (Document No. 208) and later filed a timely objection to the US Court of Appeals regarding civil rights and due process violations in the Pigford II lawsuit (Case No. 12-5019 Consolidated with 11-5334 and 11-5326).

The United States Supreme Court requires a party (associational representative) to object at the Fairness Hearing in a class action lawsuit in order to preserve its right to appeal a lower court's ruling to the Appeals Court (Devlin v Scardelletti, 536 U.S. 1). BFAA, Inc. was the only organization that met this Supreme Court requirement.

It is being reported by some Black farmers advocates that of the 90,000 claimants in Pigford II --- over 60,000 have been denied entry (or did not file the claims on time) --- by the lawyers and the Claims Administrator in Pigford II. These advocates and their supporters wrote letters to Judge Friedman asking him to extend the May 11, 2011, deadline for another 90 days. He denied their request.

BFAA, Inc.'s objection and the corresponding standing it has before the Court of Appeals will, we are arguing, allow our members to receive the full measure of relief that (1) Congress intended for them to receive and (2) receive the exact same relief equal to that which other groups (Native American, Hispanic, women farmers and their heirs) are receiving --- equal protection under the law. After all, this is what we fought and died for in the 50's and 60's. The fight continues --- to the United States Supreme Court if necessary.

Join us in Birmingham this Saturday and show your support for this just and worthy cause. Thank you!