Justice For Black Farmers
Donation protected
Black Farmers have been suffering by the hands of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for decades. It is believed by 1992, the number of Black Farmers in the United States had decreased by 98% because of southern laws and disenfranchised by the political system.
In December of 2010, Congress approved a $1.2 billion (Pigford) settlement brought forth by Black Farmers that the USDA used practices of racial discrimination between the years of 1981-1996. Initially filed in 1999, the lawsuit was recognized as the largest federal class-action lawsuit to date.
But ten years after the Pigford settlement, Black Farmers are continuing to not only lose their land, but also their health. While many believe that the financial settlement between the Black Farmers and the USDA had ended the ongoing ordeal, it had only matters for much of the affected farmers worst. 14,000 cases assigned during the Obama's administration were never resolved, and "real farmers" in the Pigford settlement never received any justice. Much of the $1.2 billion settlement went to attorneys for their legal fees, farmers who did receive a settlement only received $50k and was heavily taxed and/or hand to be returned, consent decrees were not honored as outlined in the settlement and more.
Take Mr. Michael A. Stovall for instance... Stovall is a man of many hats that has shown his identity as a father, entrepreneur, community advocate and many others. But the one hat that means the most to him and worn a great majority of his life as a farmer has been stripped from him. Hailing from three previous generations of farmers, Stovall takes pride in his life-long history as a farmer, but these past 29-years as an independent farmer has been a struggle.
Stovall has been dealing with multiple battles of racial discrimination issues with the United States Department of Agricultural (USDA). To prevent Stovall from farming in his community Town Creek, Alabama, the locals and USDA employees have used a number of tactics to prevent his operation from being successful: killing his cattle, destroying his chicken coops, delaying his farm operation loans and more.
Currently, Stovall has a matter that is being tried in front of an USDA Administrative Judge on a loan that he is being accused of being in default on. But that very same loan has been deemed noncollectable due to the USDA breaching a contract with Stovall on the grounds of racial discrimination. I have personally attended the November 2019 hearing in Alabama and was also a participant of the January 2020 hearing that was held by conference call.
CBS recently did a national news story on Stovall:
While Stovall was fortunate to land his matter in court, he still faces health and financial matters, and there are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of farmers who were not as fortunate to find themselves in court to continue their fight for the land and/or farming operation. It is my goal is to raise $50,000 to help Stovall with his current legal battle with the USDA. Also, research and assist other affected Black Farmers and their descendants with financial aid to properly maintain their land. There are a lot of Black Farmers such as, Harry Young, who have lost their lives while locked in legal battles with the USDA, leaving the USDA to take advantage of the unfortunate matter and take possession of their hard-earned work afterward.
As presidential candidates, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Senator Bernie Sanders, both have held conference calls with Black Farming groups and advocates to express their interest in assisting them with their ongoing battle with the USDA. It is also our goal to help push this ongoing matter with the USDA further with an advertising campaign to help educate the general public.
We have slowly been making progress with our own private, limited use of funds and resources, but with your help, we will be able to assist Stovall with his current legal battle with the USDA, and also assist other Black Farmers with their legal matters. Please contact me if you have any questions. I am currently developing a website that you can find updated information about our progress at: www.justiceforblackfarmers.com .
This fundraising effort will be strictly for helping struggling Black Farmers who are currently in need of financial assistance with legal, living and health matters.
In December of 2010, Congress approved a $1.2 billion (Pigford) settlement brought forth by Black Farmers that the USDA used practices of racial discrimination between the years of 1981-1996. Initially filed in 1999, the lawsuit was recognized as the largest federal class-action lawsuit to date.
But ten years after the Pigford settlement, Black Farmers are continuing to not only lose their land, but also their health. While many believe that the financial settlement between the Black Farmers and the USDA had ended the ongoing ordeal, it had only matters for much of the affected farmers worst. 14,000 cases assigned during the Obama's administration were never resolved, and "real farmers" in the Pigford settlement never received any justice. Much of the $1.2 billion settlement went to attorneys for their legal fees, farmers who did receive a settlement only received $50k and was heavily taxed and/or hand to be returned, consent decrees were not honored as outlined in the settlement and more.
Take Mr. Michael A. Stovall for instance... Stovall is a man of many hats that has shown his identity as a father, entrepreneur, community advocate and many others. But the one hat that means the most to him and worn a great majority of his life as a farmer has been stripped from him. Hailing from three previous generations of farmers, Stovall takes pride in his life-long history as a farmer, but these past 29-years as an independent farmer has been a struggle.
Stovall has been dealing with multiple battles of racial discrimination issues with the United States Department of Agricultural (USDA). To prevent Stovall from farming in his community Town Creek, Alabama, the locals and USDA employees have used a number of tactics to prevent his operation from being successful: killing his cattle, destroying his chicken coops, delaying his farm operation loans and more.
Currently, Stovall has a matter that is being tried in front of an USDA Administrative Judge on a loan that he is being accused of being in default on. But that very same loan has been deemed noncollectable due to the USDA breaching a contract with Stovall on the grounds of racial discrimination. I have personally attended the November 2019 hearing in Alabama and was also a participant of the January 2020 hearing that was held by conference call.
CBS recently did a national news story on Stovall:
While Stovall was fortunate to land his matter in court, he still faces health and financial matters, and there are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of farmers who were not as fortunate to find themselves in court to continue their fight for the land and/or farming operation. It is my goal is to raise $50,000 to help Stovall with his current legal battle with the USDA. Also, research and assist other affected Black Farmers and their descendants with financial aid to properly maintain their land. There are a lot of Black Farmers such as, Harry Young, who have lost their lives while locked in legal battles with the USDA, leaving the USDA to take advantage of the unfortunate matter and take possession of their hard-earned work afterward.
As presidential candidates, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Senator Bernie Sanders, both have held conference calls with Black Farming groups and advocates to express their interest in assisting them with their ongoing battle with the USDA. It is also our goal to help push this ongoing matter with the USDA further with an advertising campaign to help educate the general public.
We have slowly been making progress with our own private, limited use of funds and resources, but with your help, we will be able to assist Stovall with his current legal battle with the USDA, and also assist other Black Farmers with their legal matters. Please contact me if you have any questions. I am currently developing a website that you can find updated information about our progress at: www.justiceforblackfarmers.com .
This fundraising effort will be strictly for helping struggling Black Farmers who are currently in need of financial assistance with legal, living and health matters.
Organizer
Miles Edwards
Organizer
Decatur, GA
