(Washington, DC) – Black Republican Congressional candidates will gather today and tomorrow in Washington to express their disapproval of the current liberal agenda of President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, as they prepare to be a part of a historic election year that will see the Republican Party possibly take back the House and Senate this November.   As of today, there are thirty-one congressional Black Republican candidates that are actively campaigning throughout the United States this election cycle, a number that rivals Reconstruction-era Black Republican activism. More than half of these candidates will participate in the 2nd Annual Frederick Douglass Foundation Leadership Summit starting today in Washington, DC. Included in this historic number of black Republican candidates are three candidates for US Senate. Black Republicans consisting of active candidates, elected party officers, and prominent grassroots activists will gather in Washington, DC for a summit with other noted Republican elected officials, party officers and organizational leaders at a weekend event hosted by the Frederick Douglass Foundation, a surging black Republican organization started by Dr. Tim Johnson, Vice-chairman of the North Carolina GOP.

“We are committed Christians, proud Black Americans, and active Republicans,” states Johnson who co-founded the Frederick Douglass Foundation with Dean Nelson of the Network of Politically Active Christians and Troy Rolling, also a vice-chairman for the GOP at the state level in Michigan.”African Americans are proud of President Barack Obama but many are disenchanted with his policies and are beginning to look at candidates that better reflect their views and interests,” said Dean Nelson, Vice Chairman of the Frederick Douglass Foundation. “We are proud to host this historic event with so many congressional candidates.”

This weekend’s summit will host about 100 attendees from around the country. The event will feature a congressional candidates’ forum from 1:30pm-4pm (EST) on Thursday afternoon and will be followed by a private reception at the Capitol Hill Club. Republican leaders to address the Foundation’s 3-day summit include RNC Chairman Michael Steele. The rest of the weekend will feature perspectives given by Republican leaders including Congressman Trent Franks (AZ- 2nd) and Congressman Thad McCotter (MI-4th) as well as panel discussions by elected officials and prominent Foundation members. The panel discussions will cover issues ranging from health care and “defining Black conservatism.”  Workshops for participants on fundraising and grassroots organizing are also part of the summit’s agenda.

The weekend event will conclude with a dinner reception with Mr. Ken Morris, the great, great, great grandson of Frederick Douglass and great, great, grandson of Booker T. Washington.

 
NOTE: Members of the media are welcome to attend the summit. For interviews and photography opportunities please contact Dean Nelson at 770-294-1047
Where: Washington Marriott Metro Center  775 12th Street, NW  Washington, DC 20005
Date: March 18, 2010
Time: 1:30pm-4pm
 
List of Black Republican Congressional Candidates

Candidates, US Senate
Marion Thorpe                         FL                    www.marionthrope.com
Larry Linney                            NC                  
Michael Williams                     TX                    www.williamsfortexas.com
 
Candidates, US House of Representatives
 
Lester Phillip                            AL-5                 www.lesphillip.com    
Princella Smith                        AR-1                www.princellasmith.com
Vernon Parker                        AZ-3                 www.parker2010.com
Virginia Fuller                         CA-7                www.fullerforcongress.org
Chrystopher Smith                CA-39              www.smithwin2010.com
Mason Weaver                       CA-53              www.cmasonweaver.com
Ryan Frazier                          CO-7               www.frazierforcolorago.com
Eddie Adams                          FL-11               www.adamsforcongress.org
Corey Poitier                          FL-17               www.poitierforcongress.com
Allen West                              FL-22               www.allenwestforcongress.com
Deon Long                              FL-24               www.deonlong.com
Cory Ruth                               GA-4                www.coryruth.com
Deborah Honeycutt           GA-13              www.honeycuttforcongress.com
Rupert Parchment              GA-13              www.parchmentforcongress.com
Isaac Hayes                           IL-2                  www.isaachayesforcongress.com
Robert Broadus                    MD-4               www.justiceandliberty.us
Charles Lollar                       MD-5               www.lollarforcongress.com
Angela McGlowan                MS-1                www.mcglowanforcongress.com
Barb Davis White                  MN-5                www.barbdaviswhiteforcongress.com.com
Martin Baker                          MO-1               www.martinbakerforcongress.com
Michael Faulkner                 NY-15              www.faulknerforcongress.com
Jerry Grimes                          NC-1                www.jerrygrimes.com
Lou Huddleston                    NC-8                www.votehuddleston.com
Bill Randall                             NC-13              www.randallforcongress.com
Jean Howard-Hill                TN-3                www.jeanhowardhillforcongress.com
William Hurd                         TX-23              www.texansforhurd.com
Stephen Broaden                  TX-30              www.broadenforcongress.com        
Coby Dillard                            VA-3                www.cobydillard.com