Years After The Bristish Petroleum (bp) Oil Spill, The Oil Giant Still Has Not Paid The Poor &unde

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Feb. 5, 2016 - PRLog -- Contact   Art Rocker Sr., Chairman/Founder

Company   Operation People for Peace, Inc.

Cell   850.450-1982

Email   Kingart43@aol.com

Website   http://opfp.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February5, 2016

Years after the Bristish Petroleum (BP) oil spill, the oil giant still has not paid the poor and underserved claims they requested

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA—Between the recent events that have played out in Flint, MI and the divisive political rhetoric being utilized by some candidates as we lead up to the election, we are reminded of just how conscious we have to be concerning of the suppression of rights and privileges. In April 2016, we will be sadly recognizing the 6 year mark of the BP Oil Spill which spilled hundreds of millions of gallons of oil into the ocean. This act of neglect impacted millions of businesses, churches and individuals in the Gulf Coast Region. Although many were impacted, all have not been made whole.

BP recognized that the underserved and underrepresented and the “have not’s” including poor Blacks, Latino’s, many minorities, poor Whites, business owners, and churches had be impacted by this devastation just as the large corporations and “the have’s.”  BP requested that Art Rocker and his delegation including; Actor, Comedian, and Human and Civil Rights Activist Dick Gregory and National Congress of Black Women, Inc., President, Dr. E. Faye Williams, gather claimants and organize those who could possibly slip through the cracks in these already vulnerable communities. BP indicated that they did not want to leave this group out of the claims process, recognizing that these individuals had been affected by this devastating act. However, as of today it was set up as a media maneuver only.

As of today, BP has paid large corporations, developers and other politically connected individuals and businesses but not the underserved. They have paid those who have slick accountants and CPA’s but not the underrepresented group. This population consists of single mothers and/or low income individuals and includes cooks, maids, housekeepers, car washers, child care providers, car repair techs, painters, boat washers, fishermen and women, hair care providers, flea market sellers and many others. We all know and love this group of people and we depend on them – we are them. This group is the most economically vulnerable of all and they have a rightful stake in compensation. These are the very poor which have had to resort to less conventional or formally sanctioned ways of feeding themselves and their families but they are not any less valuable to our communities.

Obviously BP recognizes this group’s contribution to the economy because they place their gas and service stations in the hearts of these underserved communities. British Petroleum takes money from this sector of society every day. Yet, BP has stalled for 6 years on paying over 10,000 claims from this group. BP has met with the OPFP delegation many times and each meeting they “act” like they are going to pay the claims but all they do after the meetings is stall. The meetings have now become a way just to pacify the ministers and leadership involved.

Though this inaction has only served to further weaken an already broken sector of society, it has not stopped us from seeking justice for those who have been made into the collateral damage of corporate greed and it HAS NOT shaken our resolve to elevate these humble people into the realm of sociopolitical legitimacy within the public eye.

Representatives from Operation People for Peace and this delegation are available to speak to the press by phone or in person if available. We have local ministers and organizations that are involved and can speak with local media. Please contact Art Rocker at 850-450-1982 or 850-610-0164 or Jessica D. Rocker, Vice President of OPFP, or Latino Rep Chico Rivera 239-826-2466, Dick Gregory, or Dr. E. Faye Williams for interviews regarding this matter.