Scott Douglas

Scott Douglas

Scott Douglas is an Alabama activist.

Background

Scott Douglas is a native of Nashville, TN and attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he co-founded the University’s Black Student Union in 1967. Residing in Birmingham since 1976, he served under the leadership of Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and Anne Braden as Executive Director of the Southern Organizing Committee for Racial and Economic Justice from 1984-1989. He was Southern Regional Program Officer for the Partnership for Democracy Foundation from 1989-1992. He is also a former Secretary of the Germania Park Neighborhood Association. After a stint as the first Environmental Justice Grassroots Organizer for the Sierra Club, Douglas became Executive Director of Greater Birmingham Ministries. GBM is a multi-faith, multi-constituency and multi-racial organization that provides emergency services to families in economic crisis while working with congregations and low-income residents to reclaim communities, identify and fill gaps in social service infrastructures and build community confidence in self-governance through inclusive, participatory, transparent, and democratically accountable civic and voter engagement.

Douglas is a former board member of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and currently serves on the boards of the Progressive Technology Project, the Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama, Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama and the Pushback Network. He has written articles on social and racial justice for Southern Exposure, Howard Law Journal, and the National Newspaper Publishers Association. Scott Douglas is an alumnus of Leadership Birmingham and Leadership Alabama, a founding board member of the Alabama Association of Nonprofits and a 2011 MIT Mel King Community Fellows Program graduate.

Douglas is a member of Saint Paul United Methodist Church (Rev. Marcus Singleton, pastor) where his wife, Lynn, a retired Birmingham teacher, directs the Senior and Homeless Ministries. Scott and Lynn have one adult son, Frederick Douglas, who resides in Nashville.

Honoring Hank Sanders

On Saturday March 19, 2016 more than a hundred community leaders from around the state of Alabama convened at the Bridge Crossing Theater in Selma to celebrate the writing and publication of the 1,500th Senate Sketches column written by State Senator Hank Sanders.

Senator Sanders has been writing sketches for fifteen hundred consecutive weeks starting on April 29, 1987. The Greene County Democrat, weekly newspaper published on Wednesdays in Eutaw, Alabama, has printed each Senate Sketches column, in its entirety since the beginning 29 years ago.

Senate Sketches is now also circulated on the Internet, published in other newspapers, read on the radio and distributed in other ways but the Greene County Democrat remains the only publication that has printed all 1,500 columns in full.

The celebration included a reading by a number of people of their favorite Sketches column, special presentations including songs, plaques, poems and comments, and a response by Senator Sanders himself.

Scott Douglas of the Greater Birmingham Ministries read Sketches # 1437, “An Open Letter to Mr. Charles Barkley”. In this column, Sanders takes the basketball legend to task for statements he made that slavery was not very bad for Black people and its impact is exaggerated.

Alphonzo Morton III, a science teacher at Greene County High School and adult adviser to the Twenty-first Century Youth Leadership Movement, read Sketches # 905 “Men and Boys” which speaks to the differences, responsibilities and obligations of men as contrasted to boys.

Rose Sanders did a rap about Senate Sketches, sang some songs, helped some community people to put on a skit as part of the program. Faya Rose was instrumental in planning the celebratory program.

Carol Zippert, Co-Publisher of the Greene County Democrat was Mistress of Ceremonies and John Zippert, Co-Publisher of the Democrat said, “we are pleased and proud to be friends of Senator Sanders and to have published every word of every Senate Sketches column for three decades. I especially enjoy the Daily Diary section which lists the many activities that Senator Sanders is involved in each week.”

State Senator Vivian Figures of Mobile presented Senator Sanders with a plaque from his Alabama Senate colleagues recognizing the achievement of 1,500 columns. Alabama New South Coalition and other groups presented plaques and acknowledgements to the Senator.

In his remarks at the conclusion of the program Senator Sanders thanked the many people who help him type, proof read and distribute the Senate Sketches column each week. He said he was thankful and impressed at hearing people read the words of their favorite column to him. “It was a great and powerful experience,” he said.

The groups in Selma, including the National Voting Rights Museum, Center for Non-Violence, Truth and Reconciliation and the Bridge Crossing Jubilee, compiled a book of the best-loved Senate Sketches, which they sold for $20.00 at the program. If you are interested in purchasing a book, contact the Center for Non-Violence, 8 Mulberry Road, Selma, AL 36703; phone 334/526-4533. Proceeds will go to support on-going community work in Selma and the Alabama Black Belt.

WEB DuBois Clubs of America

In 2014, Scott Douglas was listed a a friend on the DuBois Clubs Facebook page.

Southern Organizing C'ttee for Racial and Economic Justice

Heather Gray served on the board of the Southern Organizing Committee for Racial and Economic Justice that Anne Braden co-chaired along with Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth. The organization " was one of the few that provided the opportunity for us to think and act regionally and to make the essential connections of the myriad of issues we faced. From the 1980’s and on the meetings were always filled with a diversity of black, white and eventually Latino activists in the region".

We would sit for hours in New Orleans, Montgomery or Birmingham to strategize on various issues, activities and mistakes we’ve made then and in the past. We would also listen, learn and occasionally join in while the legendary leaders in our midst discussed and analyzed the dynamics of white supremacy, racial politics generally and labor challenges in the South. Anne was never without offering a lengthy epistle about anything until the wee hours of the night along with her ever-present cigarettes! These sessions were often both grueling and enlightening. They were not only a history lesson but also a socialization process into the tactics of southern civil rights activism and Anne understood the importance of this. She wanted to pass this information on to all of us and to keep the momentum going at every conceivable juncture. The meetings were a roll call of southern leaders and activists the likes of Reverend C. T. Vivian, Jack O'Dell, Gwen Patton, Virginia Durr, Reverend Fred Taylor, Reverend James Orange, Connie Tucker, John Zippert, Jackie Ward, Reverend Benjamin Chavis, Charlie Orrock, Ann Romaine, Damu Smith, Jim Dunn, Judy Hand, Scott Douglas, Ron Chisholm, Spiver Gordon, Pat Bryant, Tirso Moreno and countless others.

Communist Party candidate

In 1972 Scott Douglas was Communist Party USA candidate for Congress, 5th C.D. (Nashville), Tennessee.

Communist Party dissidents

On November 15-16 1991, 30 dissident members of the National Committee of the Communist Party USA convened a meeting to "sign a statement of events" - most or all signatories were soon to break with the party and were later to form Committees of Correspondence.

The signatories included Scott Douglas, Alabama;

Communist Party reformer

In 1991 Scott...Alabama, was one of several hundred Communist Party USA members to sign the a paper "An initiative to Unite and Renew the Party" - most signatories left the Party after the December 1991 conference to found Committees of Correspondence.

CoC National Conference endorser

In 1992 Scott Douglas, president Greater Birmingham New South Coalition, Alabama, endorsed the Committees of Correspondence national conference Conference on Perspectives for Democracy and Socialism in the 90s held at Berkeley California July 17-19.

National Leading From the Inside Out Alum

Scott Douglas, Greater Birmingham Ministries, was a 2004 Rockwood Leadership Institute National Leading From the Inside Out Alum.

Mayoralty run

In November 2009 Scott Douglas, 62, executive director of Greater Birmingham Ministries announced candidacy for mayor of Birmingham.

Douglas, with about 20 supporters standing behind him in Kelly Ingram Park, said he is running on a platform of green jobs, green schools, green transportation and green communities.

Colbert Report/Immigration activism

This is Martin Luther King’s birthday celebration, and he famously said that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, and HB56 is a threat to me and to all Americans.”

That’s how Scott Douglas, executive director of Greater Birmingham Ministries, defended his support for Hispanic immigrants on the satirical comedy news show The Colbert Show on Monday. Douglas’ response earned raucous applause from host Stephen Colbert’s audience.

Scott Douglas, executive director of Greater Birmingham Ministries, appeared on the Colbert Report on Monday night to mark Martin Luther King’s birthday celebration.

Douglas has been with GBM since 1993, and has recently taken on the fight against Alabama’s tough immigration law, which is known as HB56. Before the interview, Colbert described Douglas as “a community organizer who believes anti-immigration is the civil rights issue of our time.”

During the interview, Douglas described HB56 as a law that “burdens family, breaks up families, forces to split up our families, burdens taxpayers and makes law enforcement take on the extra job of checking out people at traffic stops.” Douglas argued against a patchwork state immigrant law system in which all 50 states have their own anti-immigrant laws, and in favor of a comprehensive federal immigration law “that’s just and fair for everyone.” Douglas also mentioned the argument that HB56 diverts scarce law enforcement resources to immigration enforcement, a view shared by Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale and other Alabama law enforcement officials.

At one point, Colbert told Douglas that he is unable to see color (a long running Colbert Report gag), and asked if Douglas is Hispanic.

“I am a proud African-American, a proud Alabamian and a proud United States citizen,” Douglas replied.

Pushback Network

As at April 12, 2010, the following served on the Pushback Network Steering Committee:

• Chair: Robby Rodriguez, SouthWest Organizing Project, NM
• Vice Chair: Sondra Youdelman, Community Voices Heard, NY
• Secretary: Rudy Gonzalves, California Alliance, CA
• Treasurer: Leroy Johnson, Southern Echo, MS
• Hill Carmichael, Greater Birmingham Ministries, AL
• Scott Douglas, Greater Birmingham Ministries, AL
• Kimble Forrister, Arise Citizens’ Policy Project, AL
• Darnell Johnson,Kentucky Jobs with Justice, KY
• Burt Lauderdale, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, KY
• Mike Sayer, Southern Echo, MS
• Anthony Thigpenn, Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education, CA
• William Weahkee, Director, SAGE Council, NM
• Lisa Abbott, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, KY
• Bineshi Albert, SouthWest Organizing Project, SAGE NM
• Presdelane Harris, Arise Citizens’ Policy Project, AL
• Attica Scott, Kentucky Jobs with Justice, KY
• Henry Serrano, New York Jobs with Justice, NY
• Karla Zombro, Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education, CA

Kopkind Colony

The Kopkind Colony Program Advisory Committee, as of 2015; The Kopkind Colony Honorary Board, as of 2015; Angela Ards, Fred Azcarate, Jennifer Berkshire, Pamela Bridgewater, Francis Calpotura, Margaret Cerullo, Tim Costello, Kim Diehl, Heidi Dorow, Scott Douglas, Theo Emery, Laura Flanders, Ku‘umeaaloha Gomes, Joe Grabarz, Jennifer Gordon, Pronita Gupta, Muna Hamzeh, Amber Hollibaugh, Mary Howell, Janine Jackson, Si Kahn, Robin D. G. Kelley, KipuKai Kuali‘i, Brad Lander, Eric Mann, Nikki Morse, Scot Nakagawa, Debbie Nathan, Amy Newell, Rev. James Orange, Robert Pollin, Verandah Porche, Luis Rodriguez, Deb Schwartz, Barbara Smith, Makani Themba-Nixon, Jerry Tucker

Statement on Orlando massacre

“Alabama Muslims join their fellow Americans in unequivocally and unconditionally denouncing Sunday's mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando," said Council on American Islamic Relations Alabama Chapter (CAIR- AL) Executive Director Khaula Hadeed. “Individuals like Muhammad Ali represent true ideals of Islam, whereas the mass murderer Omar Mateen represents the enemies of the faith and indeed, of humanity. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families at this time of great pain, horror, and tragedy."

In a joint statement interfaith and community leaders said, “Much remains to be learned about the horrific shooting at the Pulse night club in Orlando last night, but there are some things that can be said without qualification.

Ashfaq Taufique, President of Birmingham Islamic Society, said, "Like the rest of America, the Muslim community in Birmingham, Alabama woke up today to the devastating news of the horrific attack that happened in Orlando last night. Evil, pure and simple. Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with the innocent victims in Orlando. We stand in complete solidarity with our fellow Alabamians and Americans in the collective fight against hate through its many evil manifestations.”

Diane McNaron, Birmingham Peace Project Chair, said, "Donald Trump's tweets notwithstanding, this heinous act is no different in character from so many other hate crimes, like Dylann Roof's murder of nine church members in Charleston, South Carolina one year ago, Eric Robert Rudolph's bombing of a Birmingham women's clinic and two lesbian night clubs in 1988 and the bombing of a Target rest room in Illinois just three days ago."

Scott Douglas, Executive Director of Greater Birmingham Ministries said, “The tremendous grief and pain brought about by this heinous, homophobic act of intolerance and hate cannot be allowed to become a political profit center whose purpose is to energize even more hate under the banners of homophobia on one hand and Islamaphobia on the other. As law enforcement works to uncover the origins of this crime, we embrace with an abundance of love the families, friends and loved ones of those touched personally by this atrocity.”

• Anniston Islamic Center
• Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America - Alabama Chapter
• Birmingham Islamic Society
• Birmingham Peace Project
• Alabama Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AL)
• Greater Birmingham Ministries
• Lawrence T. King, Lawyer and Member of Asbury United Methodist Church
• Rev. Dr. Kip Laxson, Senior Minister Asbury United Methodist Church
• Preston Miller, Lawyer and deacon at Baptist Church of the Covenant.

Supporting Doug Jones

Muslim activists Megan Dubeansky and Khaula Hadeed worked to get out the vote for the Dec. 12, 2017 special election for U.S. Senate

"Alarmed by Roy Moore's derogatory comments about Islam", Alabama Muslims turned out in large numbers to vote for Democratic candidate Doug Jones.

More than 20,000 Muslim voters - about the margin of victory for Jones - turned out and voted almost without exception for Jones, said Khaula Hadeed, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Alabama.

"This is a remarkable moment for the Muslim community in Alabama," said Hadeed. "We found hope, empowerment and fellowship amidst a year of derision and discrimination. Thankfully the people spoke and rejected bigotry and racism in favor of solidarity with the most vulnerable among us."

Hadeed joined other minority leaders at Greater Birmingham Ministries on Thursday December 14, who worked to get out the vote in an election that brought together the most marginalized groups, they said.

"It took a whole group of us working together," said Isabel Rubio, executive director of the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama.

"We touched as many people as we could," said Scott Douglas, executive director of Greater Birmingham Ministries, speaking on behalf of the Stand As One Coalition.

"What happened on Tuesday wasn't an accident; it was hard work," said Daniel Schwartz, executive director of Faith in Action Alabama. "When the impossible happens it only whets your imagination for the other things that are impossible."

The press briefing held by a Stand As One Coalition included Scott Douglas of Greater Birmingham Ministries, Isabel Rubio: National Council of La RazaGeneral Board of Directors and Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, Daniel Schwartz of Faith in Action Alabama, CAIR-Alabama Executive Director Khaula Hadeed, and Pastor Winfield Burks of the Burns Seventh-day Adventist Church.

References

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