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3 The Gavel SUMMER 2010
PA backs Haiti
PAbacks
HAITI
The Pennsylvania Legislative
Black Caucus, the governor’s
office and House Leadership
announced a bipartisan drive to assist in the efforts to
provide relief to Haiti earthquake victims at a Capitol news
conference on January 27th. Joining the PLBC at the news
conference were the Philadelphia Haitian Coalition and
Young Haitian Professionals.
Since the news of the earthquake was first reported,
PLBC members collectively worked to organize a drive to
gather medical supplies, personal hygiene items, school
supplies and other needed goods to help those affected.
In a reference to the earthquake, PLBC chairman Rep.
Ronald Waters said, “This natural disaster has had a
catastrophic effect on the people of Haiti. However, the
efforts of emergency responders, relief workers, volunteers,
the military, and government are testimony to the innate
goodness of Americans and people worldwide.”
The items were collected at drop off points throughout the
Capitol Complex and also at the district offices of state Rep.
Kevin Murphy, state Rep. Kenyatta Johnson, and state Rep.
Vanessa Brown.
PLBC members applaud Kagan
swearing in as Supreme Court
justice
Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus members said
they believe Elena Kagan’s confirmation and swearing-in
as a Supreme Court justice marks a landmark victory for
women.
Kagan is the fourth woman in history to serve and is now
the 112th U.S. Supreme Court justice, despite not having
served as a judge during her career. The U.S. Constitution
does not impose any kind of prior work experience on
potential justices.
“The swearing-in of Elena Kagan means that we’re
starting to level the playing field for women on the Supreme
Court,” said PLBC member Sen. Shirley M. Kitchen, who is
the second African-American woman to be elected to the
Pennsylvania Senate.
PLBC chairman Rep. Ronald Waters said he
congratulates President Obama on the fact that the
United States will now have three women, Justices Sonia
Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan serving
on the Supreme Court at the same time.
“I believe these three women will bring a sense of a
mother’s wit and will see some of these cases from a
different perspective. This will help to improve the way our
justice system works,” Waters said.
Kitchen said Kagan’s confirmation is not only a victory for
women but also for our justice system.
(continued on page 6)
Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus
PLBC Black History Month
Celebration
The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus celebrated
Black History Month on February 9 with its annual Black
History celebration in the Capitol Rotunda.
This year’s program paid tribute to African-American
pioneers in Pennsylvania’s history who all won historic
elections in 2009. Honorees included Harrisburg’s first
African-American mayor, Linda Thompson, York’s first-
African-American mayor, Kim Bracey, and Pennsylvania’s
first African-American district attorney, Seth Williams.
Entertainment for the event was provided by the Haitian
quartet, “Messengers of Hope,” who performed authentic
Haitian gospel songs and also featured singers Daniel
Moses and Yonda Spradley.
Immediately following the program, a soul food
luncheon was held for all attendees.
Front to back, left to
right: Mayor Linda
Thompson, Rep.
Rosita Youngblood,
Mayor Kim Bracey,
Rep. Ronald Waters,
Rep. Babette Josephs,
Rep. Vanessa Lowery
Brown, Rep. Thaddeus
Kirkland, and Rep. Tony
Payton.
Daniel Moses
Messengers of Hope