Local NAACP Leader Says He’s Not Resigning Following Concerns Over Bribery Trial
The local NAACP president says he’s not stepping down amid calls for his resignation. Testimony and emails presented in a recent federal bribery trial showed Hezekiah Jackson through his contacts worked to convince north Birmingham residents not to have their soil tested for contamination.
Jackson has been president of the Metro NAACP over 10 years, and he says that’s not going to change.
“No, I have no intention to resign at any time,” he says.
Jackson’s name and several emails came up during a federal trial that saw a coal company executive and a powerful lawyer convicted of bribery and fraud.
Activists say Jackson helped convince residents not to get their soil tested for a proposed expansion of an Environmental Protection Agency clean up. Former state lawmaker Oliver Robinson’s foundation helped run the campaign, and he pleaded guilty to bribery, conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion.
Jackson exchanged emails with Robinson’s daughter Amanda about meeting with church and community leaders, according to court testimony.
Jackson denies any wrongdoing and says he wasn’t aware of Robinson’s conspiracy to influence the community or the connection to a local lawyer.
“The only thing I knew about was this was supposed to be some kind of introductory program with Amanda to help her way through the community,” Jackson says. “ That’s what I thought it was.”
Le’Darius Hilliard, leader of a loosely formed group called the Justice League, says Jackson is doing a disservice.
“If he played a role, as the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, going out to North Birmingham, Inglenook or to any of those SuperFund sites and told anyone not to get their soil tested, he needs to resign because that is a moral and a ethical issue,” Hilliard says.
Hilliard says activists will take their call for Jackson’s resignation to the NAACP’s national office.
Arizona woman to serve 8 years for identity theft scheme benefiting North Korea
Christina Chapman was sentenced to prison this week for her role in a scheme that the DOJ said used stolen American identities in order to help illegally employ North Koreans in U.S. companies.
Lawmakers seek to ban federal agents from wearing masks
ICE says its employees have good reasons to hide their faces from protesters who want to dox them online, but Democrats say masked federal agents evokes "secret police," and the practice should be banned.
Independent grocery stores have had a tough five years. SNAP cuts will make it harder
The bulk of sales for many independent grocers come from SNAP. Cuts to the program could leave some making hard decisions about their future.
Education Department says it’s releasing more than $5 billion in frozen grants
The grants fund a wide range of education programs, including migrant education, services for English language learners and adult education.
Are you a single mom? We want to hear from you about your challenges and life experiences
About 40% of all births in America are to unmarried women according to the U.S. Census. Are there situations and challenges that are unique to single moms? We'd like to hear about them.
Maren Morris is searching for something sweeter on ‘Dreamsicle’
On her first record following her divorce, the Texas star navigates her bisexuality, motherhood and the do's and don'ts of dating in your 30s.
