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National Network News--

--- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, 2001--
Here is an excerpt from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday 2001 proclamation by President Bill Clinton: "Seventy-two years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. was born into a sharply divided nation, a place where the color of a child's skin too often determined that child's destiny. With the power of his leadership, he rallied Americans of every race and creed to join together in the march for justice. Although his life was cruelly cut short before his mission was complete, he helped put our nation firmly on the right path, where the ideals of liberty, equality, brotherhood, and justice are not merely words on a page, but values honored by all. "Our freedom was not won a century ago," he said in 1968, "it is not won today; but some small part of it is in our hands, and we are marching no longer by ones and twos but in legions of thousands, convinced now it cannot be denied by any human force."

---Office of Diversity---
Jeanne Johnson Phillips, Executive Director of the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) announced detailed information on efforts to diversify Inaugural event participation. The PIC has designated Ernie Ladd and Eli Rodriguez to head the Office of Diversity, a group designed as a resource for individuals, organizations, media and others seeking information on minority participation in inaugural events. Ladd is a former professional athlete who currently works with Bill Glass prison ministries. Eli Rodriguez is director of community relations for Dallas Metro Care Services and formerly worked in human resources at the Department of Education under President George Bush. The theme of the 54th Inauguration is "Celebrating America's Spirit Together." The Office of Diversity is putting this theme into action. It is also working to ensure minority vendors will be available to provide services for event participants during the inaugural celebration. Minority vendors participating in the 54th Inaugural celebration, as announced, are listed as follows. Capitol Entertainment was awarded a contract to transport parade participants from the Pentagon Parking Lot to the parade assembly area in Washington, DC, and back. Also, Greg Edgar will handle tickets and tables required for inaugural flower arrangements.

---Celebrating America's Spirit Together---
Inauguaration 2001 will include events designed to celebrate Hispanic and African-American accomplishments and cultures. Some of the celebrities participating in the inaugural festivities include: Muhammad Ali, Emilio Estefan, Billy Davis, Jr. and Marilyn McCoo, Destiny's Child, and Ricky Martin. Other expected attendees include Mrs. Coretta King, wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Here is a roster of inauguration 2001 activities:

(1) a celebration of American authors on Friday, January 19. Participating authors include Stanley Crouch, Angela Shelf-Medearis, and Pat Mora.
(2) "Leave No Child Behind Education Awards Luncheon" on Friday January 19. The luncheon honors the Honorable Dr. Roderick Page, Secretary-Designate, United States Department of Education.
(3)Amigos de Bush Celebra Un Nuevo Dia -- Friday, January 19. A luncheon at the Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC.
(4) The Vice President-Elect will salute America's Veterans on Friday, January 19, 2001 at the Washington Convention Center. Honorees include the famed Tuskegee Airmen; Fred Cherry, a retired Air Force colonel and former Vietnam POW; Lupe Saldana, a retired Marine; and Joe Mancias, a retired captain.
(5) A concert celebrating America's youth will be held on Friday, January 19, 2001. Participants include "Destiny's Child."
(6) Hispanic Presidential Inaugural Gala -- Friday, January 19, 2001.An evening of music and cultural festivities bringing together Hispanic business, political and civic leaders.
(7) Inauguration Ceremony -- Saturday, January 20, 2001, 11:30 a.m. United States Capitol, West Front Steps
(8) Presidential Inaugural Parade -- Saturday, January 20, 2001, 1:30 p.m. Pennsylvania Avenue. Parade participants include the Grambling State University Marching Band.
(9) New Millennium Unity Inaugural Ball -- Saturday, January 20, 2001, 7:00 p.m. Four Seasons Hotel, Washington, D.C.
(10) Fiesta Americana Inaugural Ball -- Saturday, January 20, 2001,10:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
A celebration with guests from both the Hispanic and Latin American community

---A Call to Action: Voter Education and Mobilization on January 20, 2001---
The Rev. Wendell Anthony, President Detroit Branch NAACP, is a co-convener of a national voter mobilization and education demonstration to be held in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, January 20, 2001. A broad range of civil rights, women's rights, environmental, social justice and peace groups from around the nation will congregate at the U.S. Supreme Court, where the swearing in of voting registrars will take place at the same time as the presidential swearing in. The Rev. Anthony said, "The anointing of George Bush as the 43rd President of the United States must be called out for what it is -- a selection not an election. Considering the vast voter rights violations, the intrusive actions of the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the vote recount and the recent nominees to positions of authority within his administration, do not unite the nation, rather it continues a horrendous divide. We must say never ever again will our communities be subjected to a blatant disenfranchisement and total disrespect of the rights of all Americans to have their voices heard by the ballots they cast. The greatest tribute that we can pay to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is what we do in the next two to four years to stimulate and mobilize voter turnout. Dr. King said it better than anyone else: 'A voteless people is a powerless people.'"

----DC Air seals ownership deal with American Airlines---
DC Air Chairman and CEO Robert L. Johnson has announced that American Airlines will purchase a 49% ownership stake in the proposed carrier. DC Air will provide service out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to 44 cities in the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern and Midwestern regions of the country. DC Air is a newly launched regional airline operating out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport serving 44 markets in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Midwest sections of the domestic air travel market. Created out of the proposed merger of United Airlines and US Airways, DC Air is owned and chaired by Robert L. Johnson, chairman and CEO of BET Holdings II, Inc.

---Have it your way?---
Burger King Corporation and La Van Hawkins' Urban City Foods LLC announced that they have reached an agreement where all litigation and other disputes between the parties will be dismissed or resolved. La Van Hawkins' Urban City Foods LLC will sell its 23 Burger King restaurants in the Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta areas to Burger King Corporation. La-Van Hawkins became a Burger King franchisee in 1996. Hawkins' companies, some of the nation's largest African-American owned enterprises, own and operate restaurant businesses in several states including approximately 100 Pizza Hut restaurants and kiosks in the State of Michigan.

---Norfolk Southern's discrimination case---
Norfolk Southern Corporation announced it has reached agreement on terms of a consent decree that ends a class action lawsuit alleging race discrimination in the Corporation's promotion practices. "Like the other plaintiffs in this case, I am relieved that this lawsuit is over and that it has been resolved fairly," said Carol Moore, the lead plaintiff. "I am pleased that Norfolk Southern has agreed to take aggressive measures to prevent discrimination against its African-American employees in the future." The agreement provides for a total payment of $28 million to the class of approximately 7,700 African-Americans who have worked for Norfolk Southern since Dec. 16, 1989, and their attorneys.

--Job Opportunity of the Week: NAACP Career Fair in Los Angeles---In a recent national survey of registered NAACP Diversity & High-Tech Career Fair attendees, one in four candidates landed job offers. These statistics have generated significant interest in the upcoming NAACP Career Fair which will take place from noon until 5:30 pm on Monday, January 15, 2000 at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Los Angeles. Admission is free to qualified candidates, who will have from noon until 5:30 pm to meet with prospective employers. Candidates who are unable to attend should submit their resumes to BestDiversityEmployers.com. To participate in this event as an employer, or for additional information, contact Shomex Productions at 1-800-JOB-SHOW or visit naacpcareerfair.com.

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