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Delta Days at the Nation's Capital 
In 1989, the National Social Action Commission instituted Delta Days in the Nation's Capital, an annual legislative conference to increase members' involvement in the national public policy-making process. The annual conference includes legislative briefings, issue forums, and advocacy skills development. Featured speakers include key policy makers, members of the United States Congress, Congressional staff members, and national issues experts. This year Delta Days at the Nation's Capital will take place February 22 - 26, 2008. Check back often for regular updates.
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Delta Days at the State Capital 
Held in Atlanta, GA, this legislative forum is periodically conducted to bring Deltas from across the state to meet with their state representatives and senators to engage in dialogue on issues and bills that are of importance to their personal and communal well-being. This year Delta Days at the State Capitol will take place in Spring 2008. Check back often for regular updates
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Voting Rights
In March of 1913, nearly six weeks after its founding, several Delta Sigma Theta Founders marched in the historic Suffragist March under the Delta Sigma Theta Banner, the Sorority's first public act. Today, low voter turnout statistics highlight the need to continue to identify ways to include opportunities for all citizens to exercise their voting power.
Under the auspices of the National Social Action Commission, Delta Sigma Theta continues to institute programs that advocate:
- The authorization of the Voting Rights Act
- The repeal of voter disenfranchisement laws
- The full restoration of voting rights for individuals who have paid their debt to society
- The full implementation of the Help America Vote Act
Please come out and join us on Saturday, October 27, 2007 for our Voters Registration/ Education Drive. We will service two locations:
1) Cobb County: Cumberland Mall at both main entrances (Sears/Post Office and Cheesecake Factory/Atrium) from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
2) North Fulton: Kroger Supermarket, 570 East Crossville Rd, Roswell 30075 near Holcomb Bridge Rd and Alpharetta Hwy. from 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Come out and get registered!
If you can't make it Register by Mail
The DST & Habitat For Humanity Partnership
(HFH-NCG) is a Christian, ecumenical organization that works in partnership with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life, to develop communities by building houses. HFH-NCG supports Habitat for Humanity International's ultimate goal of eliminating poverty housing and homelessness from the face of the earth. Habitat for Humanity of North Central Georgia serves the areas of North Fulton, Cherokee and Lanier. It has been the pleasure of this committee to facilitate opportunities for MRAC to support these efforts.
MRAC Christmas Store
Held in Marietta, GA, this annual event allows our chapter members to provide Christmas for some of our Cobb families. It is a festive event. Last year we hosted twenty-two families and provided "wish-list" gifts for approximately seventy children.
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PeachCare for Kids™ comprehensive health care program for uninsured children living in Georgia is in Jeopardy.
Georgia's children (and children in eleven other states) are in the unique situation of potentially becoming the victim of double tragedy. If Congress does not act to pass SCHIP legislation by the end of September, more than 343,000 children in Georgia who are currently insured through PeachCare for kids (Georgia's SCHIP program) could be in danger of losing that coverage. What can you do? If this is important to you please call your Members of Congress now at 800-861-5343 to voice your support.
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2008 Presidential Candidates Stand on IRAQ
Democrats:
All eight democratic candidates have similar views on the United States’ long term involvement in Iraq. America is losing lives, respect and stability each day it stays in Iraq. The Iraq War is costing Americans $8 billion each month. These funds can be redirected towards improving educaion, expanding access to quality health care, and addressing the REAL security threats like the Taliban, nuclear proliferation, and global warming.
The troops need to be immediately withdrawn to prevent any further loss of life. There is no purely military solution to the sectarian civil war. The troops are withdrawn, then America can once again be looked up to and respected around the world.
SOURCE
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 Republicans:
Among the various views by the Republican candidates, most believe that withdrawing would leave the Iraqis in a setting where extreme violence could ensue, and it would be irresponsible for the United States to change a regime, cause the collapse of their system of security, and walk away.
The republican’s stance has been to remain engaged to see “this through to a successful conclusion. Any withdrawal should be done by the military leaders, “without the dictates of the country saying here that we are just going to set an arbitrary timeframe
for us to pull on out of this region…”
SOURCE
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KATRINA - 2 Years After the Storm 
Two years after Hurricane Katrina, thousands of people in south Louisiana and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast are still struggling to rebuild their lives. Recovery from such a catastrophic event is slow and complex. The residents believe that much of America has forgotten their plight. Though the population and economy in the region's two largest cities of Biloxi and New Orleans continue to grow, serious issues persist. Katrina's floodwaters battered the Crescent City's already fragile infrastructure, crippling public schools, hospitals and other basic services. Violent crime is soaring and increased insurance costs and a housing shortage are making the city less affordable. Along the Mississippi coast, increased labor and insurance costs are hindering the rebuilding. Read more -
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 JENA SIX -Out in the Open
Six black teenagers, known as the Jena Six, are facing tough sentences after being charged in a school fight. The controversy began when a black student in Jena asked to sit under a tree where white students usually congregated. School officials told the student to do as he pleased. After sitting under the tree with some friends, the next day three nooses were found hanging from the tree.
The students accused of placing the nooses were originally expelled, but the punishment was reduced to suspension from school for three days. Racial tensions grew between white and black students, which resulted in a fight.
The Jena Six were accused of beating a white student on Dec. 4, 2006. The beating victim, Justin Barker, 18, was treated for injuries at a hospital and released the same day. The case drew protests after five of the six teens were originally charged with attempted second-degree murder. The charges were later reduced to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery. The sixth was charged in juvenile court. Mychal Bell, 17, was the first of six teens to go to trial, and he was convicted.
However, a judge threw out the conspiracy conviction on Tuesday (September 4, 2007), saying juveniles could not be charged with conspiracy in adult court, but the teen's battery conviction still stands. The ruling means Bell will face up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced later this month. Both sides said they would appeal. Bell's attorneys want the battery charge thrown out as well, and the case returned to juvenile court.
The charges against two of the other teens, Carwin Jones and Theo Shaw, were also reduced Tuesday from attempted second-degree murder to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy.
Robert Bailey Jr. and Bryant Purvis, still face attempted murder charges, and the unidentified juvenile has yet to go to trial.
Hear More about the story from NPR 's Farai Chideya & the journalist who broke the story, Jordan Flarety, of 'Left Turn' Magazine or watch the interviews with several Jena Six members on 'Democracy Now'.
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SEND YOUR LETTERS OR MAKE CALLS TO:
The Honorable Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
Governor of the Great State of Louisiana
Office of the Governor
Attn: Constituent Services
P.O. Box 94004
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-90004
Phone: (225) 342-0991
Fax: (225) 342-7099
contact@la.gov |
Charles C. Foti, Jr., Attorney General
1885 North 3rd Street
P.O. Box 94005
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Phone: (225) 326-6705
Fax: (225) 342-8703
Executive@ag.state.la.us |
  
Genarlow Wilson - Justice Served?
Wilson -- by any measure -- had beaten the odds. The son of a single mom, the high school senior was an honor student and an all-conference football player and track star, with offers to play in college. He was popular enough to be elected homecoming king at Douglas County High. Then, In July 2003, a videotape showing Genarlow Wilson, then 17, having consensual oral sex with a 15 year old girl surfaced. He was later sentenced found guilty of aggravated child molestation and sentenced to a mandatory 10 years sentence and placement on Georgia’s sex offender registry. If he had engaged in sexual intercourse with the 15 year old girl he would have received only one year in prison. This legal loophole has been resolved by Georgia lawmakers. Judge Thomas Wilson ruled to void Genarlow’s 10 year sentence and reclassified it as a misdemeanor with a 12 month term and time served. In response, State Attorney General Thurbert Baker’s office filed a notice of appeal. The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office has offered Genarlow’s attorney a plea deal that would allow him to plead to First Offender Treatment, no criminal record, no placement on the sex offender registry and a shorter sentence and possible release based upon time served. His attorney has declined the plea deal.
Want more information, visit:
NPR
National Action Network
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