For Immediate Release
Contact: John Judge, john.judge@mail.house.gov, 202-225-1955
"Hip Hop Power Shop" Draws Hundreds to Hear About Youth Empowerment
Congresswoman McKinney Showcases Her Legislation
June 15, 2006
image gallery online at: /galleryhhps.htm
(Atlanta, GA) - Over 500 people showed up at the Tupac Shakur Center for the Arts on Saturday, June 10 to participate in the fourth "Hip Hop Power Shop" sponsored by Representative Cynthia McKinney, representing Georgia's Fourth District. The event, emceed by local radio DJ Greg Street, was billed as a day of youth empowerment. Many young people as well as parents attended, and listened to panels of experts discuss legislation introduced by Rep. McKinney, the failure and crimes surrounding Hurricane Katrina, attacks on political musicians and the need to reclaim Hip Hop by understanding its true history, as well as issues of military recruiting and the realities of war.
Speakers such as Hip Hop historian Davey D, Professor Griff of Public Enemy, authors Wynne Alexander and Ward Churchill led a discussion on government attacks on political musicians and the debasement of popular African-American music by the music industry. From the audience, parents and youth spoke out during the Q & A about the impact that the "trashing" of music has on youth and their families and how they were dealing with it. Another panel explored the history of the Hip Hop movement in greater depth, including Chuck D, Rosa Clemente, Tony Gray and Rev. Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus
Another panel focused on the effects of the Iraq War on youth, including abuses of military recruiting. Adam Reuter, an Iraq war veteran, told of seeing fellow soldiers killed and maimed in Iraq. A mother whose son died in combat in Iraq and Monica Benderman, wife of Sgt. Kevin Benderman, now serving 18 months in prison for seeking discharge as a conscientious objector, told young people to listen to all sides before deciding whether or not to join the military.
The event was also marked by music, performances and poetry, reflecting the positive aspects of Hip Hop and its true message. Musical guests "Suga" and "JR" performed, and DJ Verge and DJ Jelly provided tones and tunes. Minister Server awarded Rep. McKinney with the Hip Hop Declaration of Peace.
Highlighted at the event were several bills introduced by Representative McKinney, including: HR 2554 and HR 4968, two bills that would release secret government records relating to the lives and murders of two outstanding African-Americans, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and song artist Tupac Amaru Shakur. Another bill discussed was HR 4139, calling for a comprehensive plan to clean up the toxic waste from the storm surge and flooding during and after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Rep. McKinney also mentioned her Supplemental Report to the Congressional investigation of the failure of the Government to respond adequately to Hurricane Katrina, and her dissenting report to the National Defense Authorization Act, both available at her website: http://www.house.gov/mckinney.
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