Congressional Black Caucus to host Freedmen panel

Wednesday, September 26, 2007  

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is hosting a panel on the Cherokee Freedmen in Washington, D.C., on Friday.

Rep. Diane Watson (D-California) and Rep. John Conyers (D-Michigan) are convening the panel. Watson is sponsoring a bill that would cut federal funds to the Cherokee Nation until the Freedmen are restored to citizenship. The bill has been referred to Conyers, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee.

"This is a rare opportunity for advocates of the Freedmen and Freedmen descendants to gather and discuss issues of profound importance concerning the Freedmen’s rightful status as full citizens of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma," said Watson.

The panel takes place during the CBC's annual legislative conference at the Washington, D.C., Convention Center. It will be held from 11am to 1pm in Room 209-C.

The following are slated to speak:

Jon Velie, Attorney for Freedmen
Eli Grayson, Freedmen Advocate
Marilyn Vann, Descendants of the Freedmen of the 5 Civilized Tribes
Angela Walton Raji, Historian & Genealogist
Chief Joe Byrd, former Principal Chief, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
Hilary Shelton, NAACP, Washington Bureau
Rusty Brown, Attorney, Member of Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma

Cherokee-Related Legislation:
H.R.2786 | H.R.2895 | H.R.2824 | H.R.3002

BIA Letters:
August 9, 2007 | July 11, 2007 | June 22, 2007 | May 21, 2007 | March 28, 2007 | August 30, 2006

Sovereign Immunity Court Decision:
Vann v. Kempthorne (December 19, 2006)

Cherokee Nation Judicial Appeals Tribunal Decision in Freedmen Case:
Allen v. Cherokee Nation (March 7, 2006)

Relevant Links:
Cherokee Nation - http://www.cherokee.org
Freedmen Of The Five Civilized Tribes - http://www.freedmen5tribes.com
Freedmen Conference - http://www.freedmenconference.com

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