JEFFERSON CO. GA. SCLC

OPENAug 12, 2008 at 5:05 PM EDT

Jefferson Co. Ga. Chapter SCLC addresses Co. Commissioner using racial slur to address African Americans by calling them monkeys

A civil rights group is calling on a Jefferson County Commissioner to resign -- after he called a group including African Americans "monkeys."

Commissioner Tommy New says he was being playful with friends, and in no way said the word as a racial slur.

He said after he realized he had offended a county staff member -- he immediately apologized.

Several of the folks present at the time of the comment, both black and white, say they have accepted the apology and New's explanation.

"I says 'how come you monkeys went to dinner without me?,'" recalled New. "I apologize for not realizing saying the word monkey would hurt anyone's feelings. I say the word to my grandchildren, to my wife, we use it regular."

But the President of the Jefferson County Southern Christian Leadership Conference says that's not good enough.

He says New should resign.

"That's not acceptable," said James Ivery. "He has no business being a county commissioner in Jefferson County, Georgia.

Ivery also says the SCLC plans to hold a news conference in the next several days to further address the issue.

New says he doesn't understand how the controversy has gotten to this point -- but he has learned a lesson.

"Never again will I speak without thinking more about what I'm saying," New said.

New says he's worked on the county commission for 28 years. County workers told NBC Augusta they know New did not mean the word maliciously.

January 20th, 2009
A Mass Rally to be launched on January 26th, 2009, 6:p.m.....
at the Unity Missionary Baptist Church, 1829 Telfair St. Augusta Ga.

Jefferson Co.  Ga SCLC

ADOPTS  RESOLUTION CALLING FOR NEW AND IMPROVED  WORK ETHICS AND RELATIONS AMONG WORKERS AT THE JOHN DEERE PLANTS

4000 AND 5000 LOCATED IN GROVETOWN GA.....
Jefferson Co. Ga. SCLC and other Civil rights Community today adopted a resolution calling for a fundamental reforming of the John Deere Plants 4000 and 5000 to rid it's plants of racial discrimination, retaliations, and hatecrimes, targeted at African American employees by white managers, white supervisors, and white employees
(The Jefferson Co Ga. Chapter SCLC) recognizes a moral obligation to continuously address many complaints received from
African Americans employed at the John Deere Plants 4000 and 5000 and seek to diligently expedite immediate resolutions
by direct action campaigns. It is a fact that racial discrimination, retaliations, and hatecrimes by white employees, white managers,
and white supervisors are directed at African American employees at both afore mentioned Plants, this behavior has created a hostile enviorment in the work place. The facts of these crimes were obtained by a fact finding mission launched by the Jefferson Co. Chapter SCLC and direct information from the Victims of those crimes whom have stated that those crimes
have gone uninvestigated, and are covered up by white managers and supervisors. The victims of these crimes has filed their complaints with the EEOC of the state of Ga..and has enlisted the Jefferson Co. Ga. Chapter of the SCLC to address the issues on their bahalf. The crimes committed at the plants includes, Jigga Boo dolls and hangman nooses! open verbal and physical assaults! racial slurs!, job discrimination!,and unfair terminations!, all directed to African American employees.
“We are calling on Congress, the U.S. Justice department, the F.B.I., Richmond Co. SCLC, National SCLC, National Action Network, NAACP, Clergies and all citizens to address the above issues.

James Ivery President of the Jefferson Co. Chapter of the SCLC will focus and seek to improve and resolve hostile working conditions for all employees of the John Deere Plants 4000 and 5000 in Grovetown Ga.....
The resolution urges the John Deere Corporation to:
1 Rid the plants of racial discrimination, racism, and hatecrimes generated directly at African American Employees.....

2 Rehire all African Americans who were discriminately terminated to include full back pay and incentives without retaliation.
3 Terminate all employees who violated the company's no tolerance rule stemming from racism, hatecrimes, and racial discrimination.

4 Immediate termination of all department heads and managers who knowingly covered up or failed to investigate and take actions on racism, racial discrimination, hatecrimes, and retaliations aimed at African American employees of said plants.
5 Institute a credible racial sensitivity training for supervisors, managers, and employees.

The Jefferson County Chapter of the SCLC is a branch of the National SCLC, in which there are 16 active Chapters in the state of Ga. and 67 chapters throughout the country and abroad. The Jefferson Co. Chapter SCLC is obligated to address any form of racism, hatecrimes, and racial discrimination regardless of race, creed, gender, or national orgin with the backing of our national headquarters, and in coalition with the NAACP and the National Action Network.....

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