Thursday, October 02, 2003

Letter to Citigroup CEO Charles Prince. Why is Citigroup advertising with a Racist organization?

This is a letter I have sent to Charles Prince, NAACP national chapter, and NAACP Georgia Chapter.

Charles Prince, CEO
Citigroup Inc.
399 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10043
U.S.A.

Mr. Charles Prince,

As a concerned citizen of the great state of Georgia, proud southerner, and white person I must report to you some very unpleasant news.
The state of Georgia has a long history of oppression against people of color, specifically African Americans and struggles daily with this issue. In 1956, we Georgian's changed the state flag to include the battle emblem of the confederacy. This act by the state of Georgia's general assembly was in defiance to the federal ruling of Brown vs. the Board of Education. This flag was the statement of the white people of the state of Georgia confirming their belief of segregation.
For many years this flag and the "rebel" flag was flown from courthouse steps, chamber of commerce's schools, and state offices. It was also adopted by the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups as a symbol of hate and intolerance.
People of color were harassed, threatened, beaten, lynch and killed by whites displaying this symbol and many white southerners adopted this symbol to show their heritage. But anyone who is a white southern knows that it never was about heritage but really about supremacy of their culture over that of African-Americans.
Not till 2001 did we get a critical mass of opinion to right this wrong of almost of 45 years when Governor Roy Barnes pushed through a new state flag. Almost immediately some white southerners mounted a campaign to bring back the old symbol of hate. Governor Barnes was defeated mainly due to the back lash of white southerners over this. These white southerners continue to plaster the state with yard signs displaying the old flag, put up flag poles with the old state flag and whip up hate.
People of color and especially African Americans have been enduring this symbol for long enough but continue to be intimidated by white officials, teachers, community leaders, business leaders, bankers, insurance salesmen, and others associating with themselves with this symbol. One of these groups that continues to promote this symbol of hate and is actively organizing people to this message is the Southern Party of Georgia.
Image my shock when I discovered on their "Southern Business Directory" (www.spofga.org/southern_business_directory.phtml) a link to your subsidy of Primerica. When I followed the Primerica link I came upon a website advertising your products, a picture of a nice African American family and your representative Bradford Isbell located at 109 W Solomon Street, Griffin GA 30224 with his phone number 770-233-3458. Apparently Mr. Isbell feels like the Southern Party of Georgia is an appropriate place to advertise your services. This has me wondering if he is an active member of this organization or has links to them.
I am at a loss to explain this and find it offensive that your representative feels the need to promote through this organization. Especially since your organization does a huge business with people of color in this state and across the county (internationally also). I ask if Citigroup through your subsidiary Primerica and through your representative Mr. Bradford Isbell supports the South Party of Georgia (www.spofga.org) and the return of the old Georgia flag and the other items on their agenda. Your company's association with this extremist organization is unfortunate and troubling. I ask that you investigate this issue and bring it to conclusion.

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