The Rev. Al Sharpton will launch activist chapter in Bakersfield

Al Sharpton coming to launch local National Action Network chapter
By LOUIS MEDINA, Californian staff writer
e-mail: lmedina@bakersfield.com | Friday, Jun 22 2007 11:39 AM

Last Updated: Friday, Jun 22 2007 11:39 AM

Fiery social justice activist Rev. Al Sharpton is coming to Bakersfield this weekend to formally launch a local chapter of his organization, the National Action Network.

Sharpton will preach at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Compassion Christian Center, 1030 Fourth Street, and later hold a news conference together with NAN national and local leaders at 2 p.m. at the Bistro Ballroom of the Four Points by Sheraton, Bakersfield at 5101 California Ave.

“God is the cornerstone of this,” said Shontelle Holsome Crawford, the local chapter’s secretary, who is also the wife of chapter leader Rev. Wesley Crawford, an associate minister with the People’s Missionary Baptist Church.

....

Mrs. Crawford cited high rates of suspension and expulsion of minorities from local schools and higher lengths of incarceration for minorities in the Kern County justice system as some of the “civil rights violations” that are happening in Kern County.

http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/171433.html

has anyone told Al the demographics in Bakersfield and Kern County?

If I get a chance I hope to get to one of the functions here this weekend.

This is a red red county, but there are pockets of resistance :)