Keepseagle Race DiscriminationOn November 24, 1999, thousands of Native American farmers and ranchers brought a case against the USDA, alleging that they have been systematically denied the same opportunities to obtain farm loans and farm loan servicing that have been routinely afforded white farmers. Plaintiffs further allege that the USDA denied them the opportunity to obtain redress for this discrimination by dismantling its civil rights office, thereby refusing to accept or destroying scores of civil rights complaints made by Native American farmers and ranchers. The complaint seeks both injunctive and monetary relief. In 2001, Judge Emmet Sullivan, District Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, granted Plaintiffs’ motion for class certification, thus permitting this case to proceed as a class action seeking remedies for Native American farmers and ranchers who have experienced discrimination at the hands of the USDA since 1981. The USDA petitioned the Court of Appeals to review the district court’s decision. In October 2002, the Court of Appeals issued an order denying review of the issues raised by the USDA, leaving Judge Sullivan’s class certification order in place. The USDA has repeatedly tried to derail this case and delay a decision on the merits. By the summer of 2004, Plaintiffs were able to defeat the technical challenges raised by Defendant. The discovery process began in July 2004. Thus far, we have received over 400,000 pages of documents from the USDA, obtained USDA loan and debt servicing data that will assist our development of statistical evidence in support of this case, and taken over 15 depositions of USDA witnesses. The Court has set a deadline of May 22, 2009 for the conclusion of all discovery. Foreclosures, Acceleration of Loans and Other USDA Debt Collection Against Keepseagle Class Members: While the USDA stalls this litigation and delays the day of judgment, it is driving Native Americans from farming and ranching by foreclosing upon the farms of the few Native Americans initially granted loans but denied the same opportunities to renegotiate the terms that are accorded to non-minorities. Contact your Congressman/woman and Senators to ask them to demand that USDA stop foreclosures and accelerations against Native American farmers and ranchers during litigation of this suit. Some materials that may assist you are: If you have any information about these practices by the USDA or you think you have been affected by the USDA's discrimination, please call, toll-free, 1-888-822-0844. Leave a message with your name, location, telephone number at which you can be reached and the best times to reach you. |
