Commission on Human Rights
Human Rights Executive Director statement concerning today's Louisville motorcade

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY (MAY 18, 2011) - Reverend Charles Elliott and his church, King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church located in West Louisville, helped lead a motorcade today on Broadway in downtown Louisville. Along with the pastors and members of approximately 12 other churches, he said, the group rode to support employment of people who have served time in prison and have felony convictions on their records, he said.

“There are many people in our community who want and need employment and are having trouble gaining legitimate employment due to their records,” Rev. Elliott said. “We are asking people to come together to give these people an opportunity by giving them jobs, and we are asking leaders to create jobs to help these people who have paid their debts to society,” he said.

Kentucky Commission on Human Rights Executive Director John J. Johnson commended the group for calling attention to the issue: “People need an opportunity for a fresh start,” said Executive Director Johnson. “In too many instances, we as community members fail to remember to help people up from a pit while they are trying to recover from past mistakes.

“Pastor Elliot and the other participants in today’s motorcade continue to call our communities’ attention to issues like this that fall through cracks when no one else is willing to address them.

“As our society grapples with the current issues of unemployment, we encourage employers to reach out as broadly as possible to assist members of our society who are depressed and are having extremely difficult times, particularly during this period of economic stress,” Executive Director Johnson said.

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