Title: (Obama supporter) Dorothy Tillman: ‘Reparations can heal America'
Source: Chicago Defender
URL Source: [None]
Published: May 2, 2008
Author: Chicago Defender
Post Date: 2008-05-02 14:00:55 by Jethro Tull
Keywords: None
Views: 764
Comments: 50

(Obama supporter) Dorothy Tillman: ‘Reparations can heal America'

When Ald. Dorothy Tillman (3rd) takes her Reparations fight to New York Friday, she said these healthy discussions will help heal America's "ugly" racial past.

Tillman will be one of several keynote speakers at the Union Theological Seminary's 2002 Bon Harper Lecture Series in Public Ethics.

The theme of this year's conference is "Costly Grace: Race and Reparations, Theological and Ethical Readings of Communities."

Tillman said she will be working with state lawmakers to pass legislation mirroring the ordinance passed in the City Council.

"This is going to take our struggle to another level. It helps the Reparations Movement. People understand the importance" Chicago has been in the vanguard of this movement, and I am proud," she said.

Appearing on the Probation Challenge Connection (PCC) Network, Tillman praised Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th) for leading the discussions on the passage of a bill requiring all firms doing business with Chicago to fill out an affidavit if they had any slave era dealings.

When the late Mayor Washington appointed her as alderman of the Third Ward back in the 1980's and Burke vowed to "jump out a window" before he'd vote for her confirmation, Tillman said: "You can't question when God changes folks heart and their mind."

"This [passage of her bill] is God's victory," she said. "This will help in the Reparation Movement. People understand how important it is to repair the damage done to the descendants of the slaves, Africans in America."

"There is something about truth and knowledge that is power. There were those who said that we could not change the country as we were moving in the 1960's and you can see the fruits of that now because we fought and put truth forward and changed the hearts of America and that is what we are trying to do now," said Tillman thanking her peers and the mayor for their support of this ordinance.

Tillman said: "In order for this country to be healed, it must deal with openly and honesty the question of slavery."

Echoing Burke she said: "The veil of secrecy must be removed. We have to have dialogue and truth has to come forward."

Dorothy Tillman arrested in Alabama

Activists hold 'Come by 10' Obama rally

From:: Chicago Defender
Date:: March 9, 2004
Author:: Anonymous
More results for:: Dorothy Tillman and Obama

In the "spirit of Mayor Harold Washington," activists and elected officials say they are holding a "Come by Ten" get out the vote rally today for U.S. Senate hopeful Barack Obama at Liberty Baptist Church to energize voters for a massive turnout on March 16.

The "community empowerment" rally will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 4849 S. King Drive where WVON's Cliff Kelley will be master of ceremony followed by a reception from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Spoken Word Cafe, 4655 S. King Dr.

The countdown is on for the historic election.

The call for unity came Monday from West Side activist Richard Barnett and Ald. Dorothy Tillman (3rd). Caught campaigning with Obama, Tillman said: "Obama can win if we come by ten. We should not wake up on Wednesday and he's lost by 10. You need to call 10 people...," she said, echoing the 1982-1983 campaign slogan of Washington.

"We should win because we come out in mass numbers. He should win because he is good for this state.

"We have to start with our own household and make sure they vote. We've got to volunteer, walk, and take care of our block, and if we come by 10, we can win," said Tillman.

Barnett agreed saying: "I want those who come after 10 to come out and vote early, including the seniors. I'm hoping seniors will vote between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m...."

"It is so important for Blacks to come out and support Obama. It's a shame we have been in this country for hundreds of years...," said Barnett.

"We need a voice in the U.S. Senate. With as much blood as we have shed, we need a voice in the U.S. Senate. That one Obama vote will be a God-send...someone who can express .... That should not be a predominantly all-white male club."

As Blacks scramble behind their senatorial candidate, in a show of diversity coalition-building, Obama received the endorsements of several powerful Hispanic leaders including Sens. Miguel del Valle (D-2nd) and Iris Y. Martinez (D-20th).

"Barack Obama stands up for what he believes. Every candidate says that, but the difference between Barack Obama and others is that as an Illinois Senator he has consistently demonstrated where he stands," said del Valle.

Their problem's not slavery, it's black illegitimacy (70%) and black crime (1 in 3 young black males serving a criminal sentence).