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Cynthia Ann McKinney (born March 17, 1955) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Georgia. A Democrat, McKinney served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003, and returned in 2005, representing the Georgia's fourth congressional district in the suburbs of Atlanta.

Early political career

McKinney was born in Atlanta. Her political career began in 1986 when her father Billy McKinney, a representative in the Georgia House of Representatives, submitted his daughter's name as a write-in candidate for the Georgia state house. She received about 40 percent of the popular vote despite the fact that she lived in Jamaica at the time with then-husband Coy Grandison (with whom she had a son, Coy McKinney, now age 16). In 1988, McKinney ran for the same seat and won, making the McKinneys the first father and daughter to simultaneously serve in the Georgia state house.

McKinney immediately challenged House rules requiring women to wear dresses by wearing slacks. In 1991, she spoke out against the Persian Gulf War, causing many legislators to walk out in protest at her remarks.

Service in the U.S. House of Representatives

In the 1992 election, McKinney was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as the member of Congress from newly-created 11th District, a 64 percent black-majority district stretching from Atlanta to Savannah. She was the first African-American woman to represent Georgia in the House. However, in 1995 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Miller v. Johnson that the 11th district was an unconstitutional gerrymander because the boundaries were unfairly based on race.

McKinney angrily responded to the ruling by asserting that it was a racially-discriminatory ruling given the fact that the Supreme Court had previously ruled that Texas's 6th district, which is 91 percent white, was constitutional.

McKinney's district was renumbered the 4th and redrawn to take in almost all of DeKalb County. The new 4th district, however, was no less Democratic than the 11th district, and McKinney was easily reelected from this district in the 1996, 1998 and 2000 elections.

In a 2002 interview on Pacifica Radio McKinney questioned the Bush administration's possible prior knowledge of the September 11, 2001 attacks:

We know there were numerous warnings of the events to come on September 11... Those engaged in unusual stock trades immediately before September 11 knew enough to make millions of dollars from United and American airlines, certain insurance and brokerage firms' stocks. What did the Administration know, and when did it know it about the events of September 11? Who else knew and why did they not warn the innocent people of New York who were needlessly murdered?

— "Flashpoints" with Dennis Bernstein, KFPA Pacifica Radio, March 25, 2002

These remarks provoked criticism, and many Democrats distanced themselves from McKinney's statements. On April 12, 2002, McKinney issued a statement saying that "I am not aware of any evidence showing that President Bush or members of his administration have personally profited from the attacks of 9-11. A complete investigation might reveal this to be the case."

During the 2000 presidential campaign, McKinney wrote that "Al Gore's Negro tolerance level has never been too high. I've never known him to have more than one black person around him at any given time." The Gore campaign pointed out however that his campaign manager was black.

In a controversial remark, McKinney said that on September 13, 2002, Judge Joe Brown had stated unequivocally that the purported murder rifle was not the weapon that killed Dr. Martin Luther King.

Primary Defeat

In 2002, McKinney was defeated in the Democratic primary by Denise Majette, then a DeKalb County judge. McKinney protested the result in court, claiming that Republicans in the mostly-Democratic district had participated in the Democratic primary to vote against McKinney in revenge for her anti-Bush administration views and implied voter fraud. However, Georgia's election laws do not require voters to claim a political party when they register to vote, thus they can participate in whichever primary election they choose.

McKinney's controversial statements regarding 9/11 are widely considered to have led to her defeat. McKinney's reported support of Palestinian causes and her anti-Israel stance also drew the ire of pro-Israel lobbying groups, who donated money to Majette during the primary. On the night before the primary election, McKinney's father stated on Atlanta television that "Jews have bought everyone" in the election.

Between terms

On September 9th, 2004, McKinney participated as a Commissioner in the The Citizens' Commission on 9-11. On Oct. 26, 2004, she was among 100 prominent Americans and 40 family members of those killed on 9/11 the signed the 9/11 Truth Movement statement calling for new investigations of what they perceived as unexplained aspects of the 9/11 events including allegations of failure of US intelligence to act on warnings of upcoming attacks, the breakdown of military air defense, and omissions and distortions in the official investigations.

Return to Congress

Throughout 2003 and 2004, McKinney toured America and much of Europe speaking of her defeat, her opposition to the Iraq War, and the Bush administration. Although speculation suggested that she was considering a run as the Green Party's nominee for the 2004 presidential election, McKinney declined in January 2004 to focus on regaining her congressional seat.

Majette declined to run for reelection to the House, opting instead to become a candidate to replace retiring Senator Zell Miller, a conservative Democrat who often sided with the Republicans. McKinney instantly became the favorite in the Democratic primary, which was viewed as the real contest in the heavily Democratic 4th. Those who opposed McKinney were unsuccessful in clearing the field for an opponent that could later defeat her in a runoff election.

McKinney received enough votes to avoid a runoff, hence all but assuring her return to Congress after only two years. However, the House Democratic Caucus did not restore seniority.

McKinney hosted the first delegation of Afro-Latinos from Central and South America and worked with the World Bank and the U.S. State Department to recognize Afro-Latinos. She stood with Aboriginals against Australian mining companies; and with the U'wa people of Colombia in their fight to save their sacred land from oil rigs.

9/11 commission and government secrecy issues

Initially, McKinney was low-key upon her return to Congress. However, on July 22, 2005, McKinney held a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill to address outstanding issues regarding the September 11, 2001 attacks. The day-long briefing featured family members of victims, former intelligence agency officials, noted authors, and other experts who collectively gave a searing indictment of the 9/11 Commission and its recommendations. First to speak were the Jersey Girls, an organization of 9/11 widows who endeavored to see the 9/11 Commission formed, only to conclude that it was "an insult to the intelligence of the American public," as member Lorie Van Auken described it in her opening statement. The four morning panels were meant to address flaws, omissions, and the lack of historical and political analysis in the commission's report. Three afternoon panels critiqued the commission's recommendations in the areas of foreign and domestic policy, and intelligence reform. An Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial maintained that the purpose of the event was to discuss whether or not the Bush administration was involved in the 9/11 attacks, and was timed to coincide with the first anniversary of the 9/11 Commission's reports, expressing surprise that McKinney was once again taking on the issue which was widely believed to have been the one that cost her her House seat, yet the Journal-Constitution refused to publish McKinney's reply.

McKinney's interest in 9/11 relates specifically to her opposition to excessive government secrecy. She has submitted to Congress two versions of the same bill, the "MLK Records Act" (one in 2003, the other in 2005,) which, if signed into law, would release all currently sealed files concerning the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.. These records were sealed in 1978 and are not due to be declassified until the year 2038. Likewise, the 9/11 Commission has sealed all the notes and transcripts of some 2,000 interviews, all the forensic evidence, and both classified and non-classified documents used in compiling its final report until January, 2009. Documents relating to the death of rapper Tupac Shakur, which McKinney has taken an active interest in, would also fall under this bill. In a statement, McKinney explained her reason for the bill: "The public has the right to know because he was a well-known figure. There is intense public interest in the life and death of Tupac Shakur.” Critics assert she is merely pandering to her power base. Others point out that legislation demanding release of records is a more direct route than the tedious process and limited scope of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Hurricane Katrina and its responses

McKinney has been an advocate for victims of Hurricane Katrina and a critic of the government's response.

Despite the Democratic Party leadership's call for a boycott, McKinney has been an active participant in the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina, sitting as a guest along with only a few other Democrats. In questioning Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, McKinney referred to a news story in which the owners of a nursing home were charged with negligent homicide for abandoning 34 clients who died in the flood waters, McKinney asked Chertoff: "Mr. Secretary, if the nursing home owners are arrested for negligent homicide, why shouldn't you also be arrested for negligent homicide?"

Another incident in the aftermath of Katrina attracted such attention that McKinney responded with a bill in Congress. Thousands of fleeing evacuees were turned away by the Gretna Police when they attempted to cross the Crescent City Connection Bridge between New Orleans and Gretna, Louisiana. HR 4209, introduced by McKinney on November 2, 2005, would temporarily deny Federal assistance to the City of Gretna Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, and the Crescent City Connection Division Police Department in the State of Louisiana for their maltreatment of individuals seeking aid during the Hurricane Katrina crisis, and for other purposes.

Also introduced on November 2, 2005 was the Congressional Black Caucus' Omnibus Bill (HR 4197) to provide a comprehensive response to the Gulf Coast residents affected by Hurricane Katrina, the second title of which was submitted to the Congressional Black Caucus by McKinney and seeks a Comprehensive Environmental Sampling and Toxicity Assessment Plan, or CESTAP, to minimize harm to Gulf Coast residents from the toxic releases into the environment caused by the hurricane. On October 25, 2005, McKinney had already introduced a longer version of this language as the first of two titles in the CESTAP Bill (HR 4139), the second title of which would establish household inspections for mold and other toxins in the wake of Katrina. (The title dealing with mold inspections was first introduced in the Senate by Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-Vermont) as Title XI of S 1836.)

At the request of McKinney, the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina, chaired by Thomas M. Davis held a previously unscheduled hearing titled "Voices Inside the Storm" on December 6, 2005. The first of two panels attracted national attention when several African-American evacuees from New Orleans stated their belief that the disaster relief planning for the hurricane and flood would have been better if the victims had been mostly white, and reported nightmarish stories of their treatment at the hands of police and military authorities. Broadcast live on C-SPAN, the hearing received national media attention (including stories from MSNBC, Yahoo! News, Democracy Now! and an AP story that was republished widely). On December 7th, MSNBC's Brian Williams in an interview with former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Herbert Walker Bush, Bush Sr. said "I would discount somewhat the charge" of racism, in response to a video clip from the December 6th hearing.

Anti-war, human rights, and impeachment efforts

On November 18, 2005, McKinney was one of only 3 (out of 406) to vote for a H.R. 571, introduced by Rep. Duncan Hunter. Hunter, a Republican, offered this Resolution calling for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces in Iraq in place of John Murtha's H.J.Res. 73, which called for redeployment "at the earliest possible date." In her prepared statement, McKinney accused the Republicans of "trying to set a trap for the Democrats. A 'no' vote for this Resolution will obscure the fact that there is strong support for withdrawal of US forces from Iraq ... In voting for this bill, let me be perfectly clear that I am not saying the United States should exit Iraq without a plan. I agree with Mr. Murtha that security and stability in Iraq should be pursued through diplomacy. I simply want to vote yes to an orderly withdrawal from Iraq."

Rep. McKinney is a co-sponsor of Rep. John Conyers's H. Res 635, which would create a Select Committee to look into potential grounds for the impeachment of President Bush. On January 20th, 2006, she also signed a statement by the group The World Can't Wait called Drive Out the Bush Regime.

McKinney has served on the House International Relations Committee, where she was the highest-ranking Democrat on the Human Rights Subcommittee. McKinney felt that it was important that US policy reflect a deep respect for human rights, so she worked on legislation to stop conventional weapons transfers to governments which are undemocratic or fail to respect human rights. Her legislation to end the mining of coltan in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was mentioned in a United Nations special report.

Sponsored legislation

First introduced in 2001, H.R. 2297 will establish the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area in Georgia and provide a management plan for the Area. Under the law, the use of federal funds to acquire land or an interest in the land of the Area is prohibited. More recently, McKinney sponsored H.R. 4279, which would rename the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building after Frank Church, and H.R.4968, "To provide for the expeditious disclosure of records relevant to the life and death of Tupac Amaru Shakur. "

Altercations with Police

After an incident in 1993 when she had an altercation with an United States Capitol Police officer, a picture of her was posted for all officers since she refuses to wear a security pin identifying her as a member of Congress. There have been four more incidents since, including one involving a complaint that White House security officials mistook her 23-year-old white aide for her.

On the morning of March 29, 2006, McKinney allegedly struck a United States Capitol Police officer with her cell phone after he allegedly grabbed her arm as she went around the metal detectors at the entrance to the Longworth House Office Building after failing to stop at the officer's request. Members of Congress have identifying lapel pins and are not required to pass through metal detectors. McKinney says she was not wearing her pin that morning, but did show her Congressional identification badge and that the police responsible for protecting lawmakers should recognize them on sight. The incident is currently under investigation. According to reports, the police officer is planning to file charges. McKinney was thought to have been possibly arrested once the Congress adjourned for the day, but charges have yet to be filed. McKinney's attorney, James Myart spoke in a March 31 news conference, said he will also ask that the officer involved be criminally investigated for inappropriately touching the congresswomen. Myart went on to say the case typified a pattern of police harassment of black Americans. "My belief is this is no different than that: 'they all look alike'.

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer said an interview with CNN that racism was not a factor. "I've seen our officers stop white members and black members, Latinos, male and females." "It's not an issue about what your race or gender is. It's an issue about making sure people who come into our building are recognized if they're not going through the magnetometer, and this officer at that moment didn't recognize her." "It would have been real easy, as most members of Congress do, to say here's who I am or do you know who I am?" Gainer added.

McKinney has garnered little support among fellow Democrats in her feud with the Capitol police. No one in her party chose to join her at a news conference to discuss the situation.

McKinney made a brief statement on her behalf in Howard University on March 31: "Let me be clear, this whole incident was instigated by the inappropriate touching and stopping of me, a female black congresswoman. I deeply regret this incident occurred, and I am certain that after a full review of the facts, I will be exonerated." On April 3, 2006, assistant U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips announced that Capitol Police have referred the incident to his office for further investigation. On April 5, the Associated Press reported that, according to an unnamed source, the case will soon be referred to a federal grand jury.

References

1. ""Politics of Race." The NewsHour with [[Jim Lehrer]]". PBS. 9 December 1996. {{cite news}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
2. "Interview with Dennis Bernstein. Flashpoints". Pacifica Radio. KPFA, Berkeley, California. 25 March 2002.
3. ^ Chris Suellentrop (19 April 2002). "Cynthia McKinney - The rep who cries racism". Slate.com.
4. "Goodbye to All That, by Cynthia McKinney". CounterPunch. 12 September 2002.
5. "Lessons from Rep. Cynthia McKinney's defeat, by Michael Barone". U.S. News and World Report. 29 August 2002.
6. "Press Release". Office of Rep. Cynthia McKinney. 22 July 2005.
7. ""The 9/11 Commission Report One Year Later: A Citizens' Response – Did They,Get it Right?", by Cynthia McKinney". NOWAR/PAIX. 9 August 2005.
8. "Martin Luther King, Jr., Records Collection Act of 2005". Government Printing Office. 23 May 2005.
9. "A Failure of Initiative: The Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina". U.S. House of Representatives. 15 February 2006.
10. "McKinney Roils Panel". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 20 October 2005.
11. "Hurricane Katrina Recovery, Reclamation, Restoration, Reconstruction and Reunion Act of 2005". Government Printing Office. 2 November 2005.
12. "Rep. McKinney has 5th run-in with security". United Press International. 30 March 2006.
13. Carl Hulse (1 April 2006). "Congresswoman Accuses Capitol Police Officer of Racial Bias". The New York Times.
14. "McKinney incident referred to U.S. Attorney's Office". The Associated Press.
15. "Grand Jury to Hear McKinney Run-In Case". The Associated Press.

External links

• Official Website
• Cynthia McKinney's campaign donor list newsmeat.com
• Deconstructing Cynthia McKinney - November 5, 1999, JewishTimes.com
• The Attack on Cynthia McKinney Counterpunch, August 21, 2002
• Cynthia McKinney: Live in Brooklyn. Quicktime Video. 11:30 minutes. Directed by Stephen Marshall. Guerrilla News Network. 2003. Retrieved May 12, 2005.
• Cynthia McKinney on Democracy Now!:

• Congressmember Cynthia Mckinney Under Fire: A Discussion with Georgia's First African-American Congresswoman - August 12th, 2002
• Progressive Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney Loses Controversial Primary - August 21st, 2002
• Former U.S. Rep. Cynthia Mckinney Speaks Out On the Unseen Costs of War - April 16th, 2003
• Fmr. Rep. Cynthia McKinney Seeking to Win Back Georgia Seat - July 19th, 2004
• New Orleans Evacuees and Activists Testify at Explosive House Hearing on the Role of Race and Class in Government's Response to Hurricane Katrina - December 9th, 2005

• H.R. 2297 H.R. 2297: To establish the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, and for other purposes
• H. R. 2554 To provide for the expeditious disclosure of records relevant to the life and assassination of Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. (pdf version) - May 23, 2005
• H. R. 4139: To minimize harm to populations impacted by the release of environmental contaminants, hazardous materials or infectious materials in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by providing for a Comprehensive Environmental Sampling and Toxicity Assessment Plan (CESTAP) to assess and monitor air, water, soil and human populations, and for other purposes. (pdf version) - October 25, 2005
• H CON 274 (pdf version) Reaffirming the continued importance and applicability of the Posse Comitatus Act - October 25, 2005
• H. R. 4210: To provide for the expeditious disclosure of records relevant to the life and death of Tupac Amaru Shakur. (pdf version) - November 2, 2005
• HR 4209 To temporarily deny Federal assistance to the City of Gretna Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, and the Crescent City Connection Division Police Department in the State of Louisiana for their maltreatment of individuals seeking aid during the Hurricane Katrina crisis, and for other purposes - November 2, 2005
• McKinney roils hurricane panel - Atlanta Journal Constitution, October 20, 2005
• McKinney: Republicans seek to silence dissent on Iraq war - Final Call, November 18, 2005
• Nuclear Plants Safe? Claim is Unsound - Atlanta Journal Constitution, November 24, 2005
• Oil Empire page of Rep. McKinney speeches
• Cynthia McKinney Accuses Capitol Police of Racial Profiling
• Capitol police chief faults McKinney for escalating incident (CNN)

• Current events
• 1955 births
• Living people
• Members of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia
• African American politicians
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• People questioning official 9/11 story