National Black Farmers Association

Washington, DC April 24 -The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) actively supports Black Farmersí rights to economic justice and joins the NAACP in calling for a halt on discriminatory practices towards black farmers.

ìIt is unfortunate that individuals who provide our sustenance on a daily basis are subjected to discriminatory practices which result in loss of home and livelihood,î states John Taylor, President and CEO of NCRC.  ìAll too often, minorities and women are denied equal access to capital and credit.  NCRC stands with the Black Farmers Association and their partners calling for economic justice.

The National Black Farmers Association will host a rally in Washington, DC on April 26th at 10:00am in front of the Department of Agriculture at 14th Street and Independence Ave in Washington, DC.  The farmers are asking government leaders to:

• Provide black farmers with equal credit opportunity
• Include black farmers in subsidy programs
• Return money taken from farmers through offsets
• Order the USDA Office of Civil Rights to re-open over 9,000 Black farmers complaints that were closed without an investigation
• Distribute program funds in a fair and equitable manner

"We are thrilled to work with NCRC to send a strong message to our nation's political leaders that justice must never be delayed," said John W. Boyd, Jr., president of the National Black Farmers Association. "NCRC will help provide our members with the diverse coalition support needed to transform this positive effort into more powerful action."

NCRC is a national non-profit membership organization that promotes economic justice and equal access to credit, capital and financial services to traditionally underserved communities.  For more information on NCRC, visit us on line at www.ncrc.org or call 202-628-8866.