UPDATE 2: The Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund calls the award they are giving Sen Allen the "Thurgood Marshall Community Leadership Award."
UPDATE: At the suggestion of commenters, I have confirmed that Sen Allen is indeed receiving the Thurgood Marshall Community Leadership Award from the [Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund http://www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org/index.htm], New York, NY. This is not to be confused with the prestigious Thurgood Marshall Award sponsored by the American Bar Association.
Yes. You read that right. G. Felix Allen will receive the so-called Thurgood Marshall Community Leadership Award at the National Press Club on September 7th, to honor his "support for historically black colleges and, in particular, public historically black colleges" according to Dwayne Ashley, president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. Allen will receive the award along with Mike Johanns, Secretary of the U.S. Dept of Agriculture, NASA administrator, Michael Griffin, Kase Lawal, Chairman and CEO of CAMAC International Corp., and Mary McAllister, a state representative in the North Carolina legislature.
Allen is being cited for sponsoring a bill that would make $250 million available in grants to historically black institutions of higher education. The bill has passed the U.S. Senate but has not been passed by the House.
This news was announced in today's edition of the Richmond Free Press (RFP). I don't have a link, because the RFP apparently doesn't have a website. I saw no mention of this news as yet on Google.
The RFP cites Richmond Mayor, L. Douglas Wilder, saying that he is "not surprised" by this development, as the family of John W. Marshall, who is the son of the late Supreme Court Justice, has "disassociated" themselves from the fund. John Marshall now serves as Virginia secretary for public safety. A spokeman for Mr. Marshall says he has no plans to attend the Press Club event. Sen Allen, asked for comment by the RFP, has not responded. For its part, the RFP says, "Sen. Allen, an admirer of the pro-slavery Confederacy since his high school days, has built his political career on racist political opinions and comments."
UPDATE: Thanks for the recommend, folks. We may be able to stop this travesty with concerted effort. Here's the contact page for the [Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund http://www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org/about/staff.htm]. Let them know how you feel.
Now assuming we do stop this travesty, what alternative award would be fitting for Senator G. Felix Allen?