Reply #28: GA: Voting rights high on black elected officials' agenda [View All]

By S.A. REID
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/20/06

Preserving black voting rights and honoring civil rights icon the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy top the agenda this weekend in Savannah for the convention of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials.

Hundreds of delegates from around the state are expected to attend the 36th annual summer conference that runs Thursday through Sunday at Savannah State University.

Ambassadors from Ghana and Namibia are scheduled to be at the convention, an annual opportunity for black elected officials to network and discuss and organize around issues of importance to GABEO members and their constituents. Founded in 1970, the group meets three times a year.

Other luminaries invited include Oprah Winfrey, the Rev. Al Sharpton, NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, National Urban League president and CEO Marc Morial, Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition founder the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and former Atlanta mayor and U.N. ambassador Andrew Young.

"Last year, we had over 1,000 delegates," said Tyrone Brooks, a state representative from Atlanta and GABEO president. "We're expecting a similar turnout this year. This is going to be a very exciting weekend."

For the second consecutive year, GABEO will salute a civil rights legend and former Southern Christian Leadership Conference president.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/0620metgabeo.html