Date: ____________________________________________________

Fax:(202) 456-2461

President George W. Bush

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I have recently heard of the Writ of Execution on the heirs of Matthew and Florenza Moore Grant in the New Deal Resettlement Community of Tillery, NC. From what I have been able to ascertain, this family has been in a struggle with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for more than 20 years, that alone is a signal that something has gone awry in the process for citizens to settle Civil Rights Complaints with the department. I further understand that USDA, in 1996, failed to live up to a Final Judgment that covered four years of USDA discrimination against Mr. and Mrs. Grant. This is especially troubling because the document was signed by all parties, including the USDA's Office of Civil Rights. Perhaps if this document had been lived up to, the Grant Children would not be facing this Writ of Execution at this time. The USDA reneged on this document of trust just as it has with many such signed agreements involving others. Such an obvious disregard for the well-being of potentially successful small family farmers is shameful for the government offices President Lincoln originally called "the people's department."

I did not get to know the late Mr. & Mrs. Grant, but I do know their heirs. I know that this family is hard working, tax paying and citizens loving justice and equality, and that our government has already dragged them through much torture. Mr. President, you have the power and influence to cause these actions and any other action against this family to cease and desist. This family's Civil Rights complaints against the USDA and its former agency Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) have been proven time and time again. Mr. Grant, who was a successful farmer when he came to the former FmHA at USDA for loans, was placed on supervised loans; made loans at higher interest rates than white farmers all around him; and he, like other Black farmers, received his loans late. According to what I have discovered, even this Writ is the result of discriminatory practices by the USDA and its agent(s) on loans made to the Grants.

You as the President of the United States have the opportunity and duty to rectify the mistakes and/or oversights made by departments under your direct control and other branches of government, such as the Department of Justice (DOJ). So you are now being asked , at a time when the Senate is debating the 2007 Farm Bill - which might provide a modest sum of money for the cause of the "Socially Disadvantaged" farmer - to use your power in these matters related to the Matthew and Florenza Moore Grant Family and send a clear and present signal to the DOJ, USDA and its agent FSA that you will not tolerate the mistreatment of our citizens.

Your immediate attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Yours truly,

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