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1998 SESSION

981181705
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 188
Offered January 26, 1998
Requesting the Virginia Black Press Association and the Virginia Press Association to jointly prepare and launch an aggressive statewide public service announcement campaign to the African-American community in the Commonwealth.
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Patrons-- Maxwell, Edwards, Lambert, Miller, Y.B. and Reasor; Delegates: Christian, Crittenden, Jones, J.C., McEachin and Melvin
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Referred to the Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, African-Americans experience victimization rates for murder, nonnegligent homicide, robbery, and personal theft which are three to four times that of whites; and

WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African-Americans lead the nation in the number of deaths resulting from heart disease, cancers, strokes, homicide, accidents, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, infant mortality, and other maladies; and

WHEREAS, African-Americans are most often portrayed in the media as poor, uneducated, sexually promiscuous, lacking commitment to parental support, and involved in criminal activities such as drug possession and distribution; and

WHEREAS, African-Americans have less access to medical care and health insurance, and are less likely to receive appropriate health education and preventive care services than other groups; and

WHEREAS, African-Americans, as well as other minority groups, believe that they receive disparate treatment based on race from federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel, and within the judicial system; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Virginia Black Press Association and the Virginia Press Association be requested to jointly prepare and launch an aggressive statewide public service announcement campaign to the African-American community in the Commonwealth. The campaign shall focus on (i) reducing African-American victimization rates and the use, possession, and distribution of drugs; (ii) improving perceptions of law enforcement agencies and the judicial system within the African-American community; (iii) providing balanced reporting on and portrayal of African-American males; and (iv) promoting healthy lifestyles among African-Americans; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Virginia Black Press Association and the Virginia Press Association be requested to elicit the full participation in the campaign of (i) federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies; (ii) public schools and institutions of higher education; (iii) substance abuse treatment and prevention professionals and facilities; (iv) health professionals; (v) institutions representative of the African-American community, such as churches, fraternities, sororities, and civic groups; (vi) the Old Dominion Medical Society, the Old Dominion Dental Society, and the Old Dominion Bar Association; and (vii) African-American newspapers, television and radio stations, and other print and broadcast media; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the presidents of the Virginia Black Press Association, the Virginia Press Association, the Old Dominion Medical Society, the Old Dominion Bar Association, the Old Dominion Dental Society, the Virginia School Boards Association, the Executive Minister of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia, the chairman and director of the State Council of Higher Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and state associations of law enforcement agencies, requesting that they disseminate copies of this resolution among their respective constituencies in order that they may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly in this matter.