Representative Gregory W. Meeks Leads Delegation to Meet with Marginalized African-Colombian Community

(WASHINGTON, DC) In an unprecedented visit to Colombia, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks recently led a congressional delegation to meet with African-Colombian leaders, their community members and internally displaced persons. While congressional members have visited Colombia many times before, this was the first time that any member of Congress has visited the largely ignored, majority African-Colombian areas. The Congressman's intent was to listen to African-Colombians, learn first-hand of their experiences and provide suggestions to assist them with their desperate
situation.

African-Colombians comprise 26% of the population and are the third largest group of Africans living outside of Africa, after Brazil andthe United States. In spite of the influential role African-Colombians have played in national development, they have remained marginalized in Colombian culture, economy and politics. Many African-Colombians reside in the most neglected and conflicted regions of the country, where they are caught between state, paramilitary and guerrilla forces.

Congressman Meeks was heartened to note the commitment of President lvaro Uribe Vlez to co-chair The President's International Committeeon Civil Rights and Sustainable Development for Afro-Colombians. This committee will be charged with developing a number of initiatives to increase the representation of African-Colombians in political, judicial, economic and educational sectors of society. The committee was inspired by President Truman's Civil Rights Committee of 1946, which led to monumental changes in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement and did much to create opportunities for African-Americans in all sectors of American society. Congressman Meeks is certain that a similar committee in Colombia may yield the same advances for African-Colombians.