Download Is SCLC`s President Out? BY DAVID STOKES As the Southern

Is SCLC's President Out?
BY DAVID STOKES
As the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) prepares for its annual Spring board meeting, scheduled to be held on
April 17 in Atlanta, its board of directors, according to insiders speaking exclusively—and anonymously—to The Inquirer, will make
a major decision on whether to retain or eliminate the services of the organization's president/chief executive officer, Isaac Newton
Farris, Jr.
The past year has undoubtedly been an emotional roller coaster for the civil rights group founded in 1957 by Martin Luther King,
Jr., Ralph David Abernathy, Joseph E. Lowery and other clergy. Last May, in particular, Farris' immediate predecessor, the Rev.
Howard Creecy, Jr., died of trauma and complications of heart disease upon a late night fall in his southwest Atlanta home. However,
with the selection by the national board of Farris, a middle-aged nephew of Dr. King, SCLC was positioned to realign itself to regain
credibility of tackling social ills plaguing African-Americans and other minorities. The past 24 months, furthermore, have also
seen relationships strained within SCLC, along with those of corporate partners, following allegations of financial mismanagement
which led to a courtroom struggle, thereby, bringing about dissension and conflict inside the Atlanta-based national office.
Additionally, the lack of funds, and subsequent lack of successful fundraising for operational costs, has taken a toll, in which
the national staff now consists of less than 10 persons at its Auburn Avenue, NE. headquarters. The organization also attempts to
recoup from the internal imbroglio leading to divisions where some directors sided with those challenging the influence of former
national board chairman,
Rev. Raleigh Trammell of Ohio, against incoming board officials, the Rev. Sylvia Tucker of Ohio and Rev. Bernard LaFayette of
Alabama, respectively.
Nevertheless, Farris' possible departure is seen by some as SCLC's "death knell," as the 33-member national board descends upon
Atlanta in two weeks, on April 17. In a 10-page letter by some directors written to board officers—to be disseminated on April 4, the
44th anniversary of King's assassination—voicing concern with the organization's viability to remain, provided exclusively to The
Inquirer, several longtime directors write of SCLC as "the moral consciousness (sic) of the nation" and concludes with, "Where Do
We Go From Here?" The letter essentially details the court struggle dealing with its leadership in 2010, as well as facing today's
"reality." "SCLC now faces the greatest crisis it has ever seen ... with strategic plans to take control of the organization by a group
with unbridled egos and a thirst to use the organization's name for personal gain." Also, since the ruling of Fulton Co. Superior Court
Judge Alvin Dempsey last October in which new officers were victorious to legally remain as board officials, the Ga. Court of
Appeals ultimately upheld Dempsey's ruling. Moreso, SCLC's problems have been exacerbated by more than the court ruling. Since
last fall, as outlined in the letter, the group's general counsel and executive director have resigned, as well as its SCLFoundation
executive director. The finance director was terminated; the organization's reportedly in default of a $250,000 line of credit, by
Citizens Trust Bank, secured against its relatively new Auburn Avenue office building; the 40-year relationship with SCLC Magazine
and its Los Angeles-based personnel is "severely damaged" due primarily to national office's "failure to forward advertising revenue"
which resulted in layoffs and "temporary" closure of their office; the organization has "failed to meet payroll in almost two years,
thereby, reducing the national office to a bare-bones staff"; and the organization's "failing to implement any programmatic activities."
The letter also states, "(SCLC) is insolvent with an operating debt of $1 million," as well as people being "frustrated" that Farris
recently "faced the threat of suspension based on alcohol use at a board meeting." (Numerous telephone calls to Farris for comment
were unreturned by presstime. However, board Chairman Bernard LaFayette stated, pertaining to Farris' possible departure, "Nothing
has changed. We are continuing to move forward." Additionally, SCLC spokesman Maynard Eaton added, "The president's status is
unchanged. These scurrilous attacks on our leadership are unfounded and unwarranted.")
In the diatribe's final section, "Where Do We Go From Here?," directors ask what is to become of SCLC. "The civil rights
organization, while we continue this internal struggle, is unable to advocate on behalf of others, thereby, seek the goal to 'redeem the
soul of America,' " alluding to the civil rights organization's mantra. "The national office is unable to raise any meaningful amount of
money," and solutions toward social injustice are being averted. "The community is energized and activated over the senseless murder
of Trayvon Martin in Florida but SCLC remains virtually silent. While other organizations mobilize thousands, we see only Chairman
LaFayette and (Florida member) Art Rocker standing before news cameras with a few supporters as thousands march and
demonstrate in Sanford, Fla. Also, volunteers are disappearing; the website is outdated and unattended. There has not been a
magazine published in nearly six months, and the office building faces foreclosure. SCLC is dying!" The letter concludes, "It is time
for SCLC to become reunited in order for us to restore and return to the fight against injustice rather than fighting amongst ourselves.
It is time for constructive change."