Black Farmers to Mark 10 Year Struggle for Justice on Wednesday

John W. Boyd, Jr. began his rise to national prominence from his 200 acre farm in southern Virginia. Boyd, a fourth generation farmer and descendent of slaves, was denied federal agriculture loans because he is Black.

When Boyd, struggling to make ends meet, heard about others who were denied loans because of their race he decided to fight back. Others around the country did the same.

And thus began one of our nation's most remarkable modern civil rights movements. Boyd and the movement have gained national attention and won a first major victory in the decade-long struggle when the USDA agreed to settle the largest class action civil rights lawsuit in American history.

Boyd, named this month as one of Ebony Magazine's "100+ Most Influential African Americans," founded the National Black Farmers Association in the 1990's and on Wednesday morning (10:00 am) April 26th he will join with other Black farm leaders and activists outside of the USDA headquarters in Washington, including Gary Grant from the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association, to mark 10 years in their struggle for justice and to focus on many important challenges they still face. They'll hold a rally and march in Washington, DC.

This year the farmers will receive an enormous boost, not only in support on Capitol Hill but from, among others, the AFL-CIO, Democratic National Committee, the NAACP and the Progressive National Baptist Convention. AFL-CIO president John J. Sweeney will join John Boyd and Gary Grant among other notable speakers at the rally.