Backers of Shell boycott draw fire
Oakland NAACP, clergyman target of criticism
Friday, August 22, 1997
By
Chauncey Bailey
STAFF WRITER
OAKLAND -- African-American community leaders --
including the head of Oakland's NAACP and a co-pastor at
Allen Temple Baptist Church -- are being criticized by
protesters who want organizations to boycott Shell.
Shannon Reeves of the NAACP plans to meet with a
representative of the Free Nigeria Movement as it works to
change his mind about the boycott. Tunde Okorodudu, the
movement's local representative, said he was "shocked" that
the Rev. J. Alfred Smith Jr. also attended a recent local Shell
reception where young people received scholarships.
"This is blood money off the backs of our brothers and
sisters in Nigeria," said Okorodudu. "Allen Temple was very
much a critic of South Africa when it had a brutal white
government. The same thing is going on now in Nigeria.
Shell supports a black dictatorship."
Reeves also attended the recent reception at the Claremont
Hotel, along with Board of Education member Lucella
Harrison, McClymonds High School Principal Willie
Hamilton, new Oakland School Superintendent Carol Quan,
and Maryann "Mother" Wright, who has received $10,000
from Shell to help her foundation which feeds the homeless.
In a statement from Houston, Shell spokeswoman Kitty
Borah said the company's policy is to not provide detailed
lists of individual donations.
"We are using the money to help us buy a building," said
Wright. "I was not aware of all this. But what does it have
to do with us trying to help the poor? We feed 400 people
every day. And we also have 35 boxes of clothing we want
to send to Nigeria. I have been sending clothes to Africa
since 1982, and I helped build a school in Kenya in 1986."
Oakland became the epicenter of anti-Nigeria fervor in the
United States last year when the City Council voted to
boycott firms with ties to Nigeria. Seven other cities have
followed suit and a boycott resolution was passed recently by
the National Conference of Mayors.
Last month, Shell protesters rallied in front of an Oakland
Shell service station, handing out 500 leaflets to cheering
African-American motorists who honked their car horns in
approval.
Meanwhile, Shell has given grants to an array of Oakland
groups. Some community leaders defend the grants, saying
Shell is being a good corporate citizen.
Oakland's board of education is trying to decide if schools
should accept Shell-sponsored scholarships for students.
© 1997 Alameda Newspapers, Inc.
All rights reserved
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Title: Backers of Shell boycott draw fire
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Backers of Shell boycott draw fireOakland NAACP, clergyman target of criticismFriday, August 22, 1997 STAFF WRITER OAKLAND -- African-American community leaders -- including the head of Oakland's NAACP and a co-pastor at Allen Temple Baptist Church -- are being criticized by protesters who want organizations to boycott Shell. Shannon Reeves of the NAACP plans to meet with a representative of the Free Nigeria Movement as it works to change his mind about the boycott. Tunde Okorodudu, the movement's local representative, said he was "shocked" that the Rev. J. Alfred Smith Jr. also attended a recent local Shell reception where young people received scholarships. "This is blood money off the backs of our brothers and sisters in Nigeria," said Okorodudu. "Allen Temple was very much a critic of South Africa when it had a brutal white government. The same thing is going on now in Nigeria. Shell supports a black dictatorship." Reeves also attended the recent reception at the Claremont Hotel, along with Board of Education member Lucella Harrison, McClymonds High School Principal Willie Hamilton, new Oakland School Superintendent Carol Quan, and Maryann "Mother" Wright, who has received $10,000 from Shell to help her foundation which feeds the homeless. In a statement from Houston, Shell spokeswoman Kitty Borah said the company's policy is to not provide detailed lists of individual donations. "We are using the money to help us buy a building," said Wright. "I was not aware of all this. But what does it have to do with us trying to help the poor? We feed 400 people every day. And we also have 35 boxes of clothing we want to send to Nigeria. I have been sending clothes to Africa since 1982, and I helped build a school in Kenya in 1986." Oakland became the epicenter of anti-Nigeria fervor in the United States last year when the City Council voted to boycott firms with ties to Nigeria. Seven other cities have followed suit and a boycott resolution was passed recently by the National Conference of Mayors. Last month, Shell protesters rallied in front of an Oakland Shell service station, handing out 500 leaflets to cheering African-American motorists who honked their car horns in approval. Meanwhile, Shell has given grants to an array of Oakland groups. Some community leaders defend the grants, saying Shell is being a good corporate citizen. Oakland's board of education is trying to decide if schools should accept Shell-sponsored scholarships for students. |