FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Leola McCoy
954-735-0865
elginojones@yahoo.com



BLACK LEADERS TO MEET WITH MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S TOP BRASS OVER RACISM ALLEGATIONS IN FORT LAUDERDALE, THE SPRING TRAINING HOME OF THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Ft. Lauderdale, FL -- (PRnetwire.com) -- February 25, 2002 -- Nine Black community and civil rights organizations are considering economic sanctions against the city of Ft. Lauderdale. The city of Ft Lauderdale is facing hundreds of work place discrimination and civil rights lawsuits. The US Department of Justice, the federal EEOC, the US Commission on Civil Rights, the Florida Attorney Generals Office and other agencies are all currently investigating the city of Ft Lauderdale over its continuing civil rights violations.

City officials have refused to address these issues, and as a result, at least 9 Black community and civil rights organizations are considering economic sanctions as  a remedy. The first step in that process will be a meeting with Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles, where they will ask the Orioles organization to end negotiations with the city of Ft Lauderdale as a possible home for their permanent spring training home.

It is estimated that the Orioles brings in $20 to $25 million to the local economy during srping training in Ft Lauderdale. The coalition has plans of initiating several class-action lawsuits against the city of Ft Lauderdale and area corporation, and does not want Major League Baseball to be a target of the sweeping lawsuits being planned. The city operates Orioles Stadium, the spring training stadium of the Baltimore Orioles. 

Black leaders will also raise issues related to two toxic landfills the city operated in the Black community for years and has refused to cleanup. Black residents who live near those toxic dumps have the highest rates of cancer and infant deaths in the country. One of the landfills is on the EPA's Suprefund list.

Among those that will request a meeting with baseball officials are, Donald Bowen, president of the Urban League of Broward County, Willie Lawson, president of the Broward County NAACP and Leola McCoy, president of Bass-Dillard Nieghborhood Issues & Prevention Inc, a civic organization.

Orioles spokesman, Bill Stetka, says his organization is not fully aware of all the issues, but they most certainly will meet with the community leaders to hear their concerns.

For additional information, contact:

Leola McCoy, President
Bass-Dillard Neighborhood Issues & Prevention Inc
954-735-0865


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