Black Voices for Internet Freedom Kicks off in Washington
September 23, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jenn Ettinger, 202-265-1490 x 35
Black Voices for Internet Freedom Kicks Off in Washington
WASHINGTON -- On Friday, hundreds gathered in Washington, D.C. and online to celebrate the launch of Black Voices for Internet Freedom, a new coalition of local and national organizations and leaders joining together to keep the Internet open and free from discrimination. The event also celebrated the successes of Latinos for Internet Freedom.
“From abolitionist newspapers to challenges to broadcast licenses during the civil rights era, there is a long history of African Americans using media and media policy to impact the way the world sees our community and to fight for social change,” said Chancellar Williams, government and external affairs manager for Free Press. “Black Voices for Internet Freedom carries on this legacy to modern platforms of media and communication.”
The Black Voices for Internet Freedom (blacknetfreedom.org) and Latinos for Internet Freedom (latinonetlibre.com) coalitions are designed to elevate a new generation of social justice and civil rights leaders who understand the interconnection of communication rights, civil rights and human rights. Black Voices for Internet Freedom kicked off with a panel moderated by Mr. Williams exploring the potential impacts of issues including the battles over Net Neutrality and the AT&T/T-Mobile merger on communities of color. Joe Torres, Free Press senior adviser for government and external affairs and author of the new book News for All the People: The Epic Story of Race and the American Media, made opening remarks. The panel included, among others, Rev. James Patterson of the Partnership of African American Churches, Elandria Williams of the Highlander Research and Education Center, and Jessica Gonzalez of the National Hispanic Media Coalition.
“This fight isn’t about wires and pipes or bits and bytes; it’s about people and their ability to communicate,” said amalia deloney, panelist and grassroots policy director for the Center for Media Justice. “African Americans and Latinos are embracing wireless technology faster than other U.S. residents, and we have a vision for communities that include standards of equity tied to technology. But our communities are on a collision course with companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon, which are threatening our ability to speak out."
The coalition plans to continue educating people in communities across the nation about the importance of technology and communication and the impact that policies on both have on their communities. The group’s aim is to provide communities outside the Beltway a seat at the table when policy decisions are discussed and made.
Members of the coalition include Art is Change, the Center for Media Justice, Color of Change, Free Press, the Highlander Center, the Main Street Project, the Media Literacy Project, the Media Mobilizing Project, the Partnership of African American Churches, the Praxis Project and the Young People’s Project.
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