Jackson Lee, NBJC, NAACP, Cong. Black Caucus Demand Investigation into Murder of August Provost

In an historic and perhaps unprecedented show of solidarity, the nation's leading black civil rights organizations join with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) to demand a congressional investigation into the death of Navy Seaman August Provost III, the black gay sailor found brutally murdered at Camp Pendleton

The 29-year-old sailor from Houston—who was represented by Jackson Lee in Congress—was found brutally murdered on June 30 in a guard shack on base. Provost was shot three times, apparently gagged and bound, and his body burned. The seaman told his family he was harassed and ostracized at Pendleton for at least a year because he was gay and black. The Navy maintains there is "no evidence" to suggest this was a hate crime and insists it was "random act" of violence. Jackson-Lee—who has a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign—made the initial calls on Tuesday. Now the congresswoman, other members and organizations are demanding a full investigation by the Department of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the national black LGBT advocacy organization, coordinated with the Black Leadership Forum, an alliance of over thirty national black civil rights and social service organizations, to denounce the incident. The member organizations include the NAACP—which has recently came out against California's Proposition 8—the Congressional Black Caucus, National Urban League, 100 Black Men,  and other leading groups. In denouncing the Provost murder and the slow response by Pentagon brass,  the groups said they "are joining forces to stand for equality and against discrimination and hatred toward ALL African-Americans."

The statement reads in part: "We are deeply troubled by the continuing pattern of incidents across the country—hate crimes, police misconduct, and racial intimidation—that are all-too-often tolerated and ignored by law enforcement officials and courts. Moreover, despite significant progress in the treatment of LGBT people, the targeting of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals remain a persistent and widespread problem in the US." The entire statement can be read here. 

The joint statement and call to action comes on the same day sources tell Rod 2.0 the Secretary of the Navy has dispatched 20 investigators to Pendleton. One "person of interest" remains in custody at nearby Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Two others are being sought. No formal charges are filed yet, and, there are unconfirmed reports the military is investigating a white supremacist angle.

Thanks JASPER, JASON BARTLETT and R

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Comments

[Mr. FAMU]

Sheila Jackson is a phenomenal woman!

[Gurlene]

Shot 3 times, gagged, bound and burned?

Doesn't that sound like a hate crime committed against a man who was clearly out of the closet though he never admitted it to the military?

Interesting how they (the military) didn't include what it would have taken to make that type of categorization.

It is quite obvious torture has been left off of the list.

[King Drive]

Since Seaman Provost was represented by Jackson Lee, this gives her a serious amount of power. If she feels the Naval investigation is not sufficient, she can call for a congressional investigation.

[Diva1961]

Thank you Rod for this update. Please keep us informed.

[Lukas]

I cannot see how anyone can so quickly and nonchalantly conclude what happened is not hate-crime? Sans the gay thing, as a black man, being shot, gagged bound and burned is enough to get people to suspect racial hate crime.

So much for the code of camaraderie in the military.

[Justin S]

She gave a very moving speech about him on the floor yesterday. Sheila Jackson Lee does incredible work, im just mad at her for her support of HR 848!