Black Farmers group in Memphis rejects Trump aid program
TL/DR –
The Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association (BFAA) plans to opt out of the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, a Trump Administration initiative slated to distribute $12 billion to farmers nationwide. The BFAA, which has approximately 20,000 members, claims the program violates the civil rights of Black farmers and constitutes a form of racism. BFAA has also indicated plans to request Congress halt the payments and to file a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court as means to “protect Black farmers’ constitutional rights.”
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Black Farmers Association Plans Supreme Court Lawsuit, Shuns Farmer Bridge Assistance Program
According to reports, The Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association (BFAA) has plans to bring a lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court. The association finds itself at odds with the Trump Administration’s farmer aid program, expected to distribute $12 billion across the country.
Based in Memphis, Tennessee, the BFAA consists of approximately 20,000 members, and it has decided not to accept payments from the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. The association’s President, Thomas Burrell, criticized the program, saying, “It’s an arbitrary violating Black farmers’ civil rights. It’s a form of racism.”
The Farmer Bridge Assistance Program was recently announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Its aim is to deliver a total of $12 billion in what are being termed as “one-time bridge payments” to American farmers, addressing issues such as market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation, and market losses due to unfair trade practices by foreign competitors.
However, Burrell pointed out that the program excludes farmers who harvest tobacco and sugar cane. He noted that these crops were not mentioned in the USDA’s press release about the program. In addition to this, the BFAA contends that the USDA has not entered into any trade agreements with any African country, despite having such agreements with Asian and European countries, as well as Australia.
The BFAA’s response to these perceived inequities is two-fold. First, it intends to request that Congress halt the payments from the program. Second, it is reportedly preparing to file a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to “protect Black farmers’ constitutional rights.”
These actions follow the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Ohio, which ruled against BFAA’s request for a procedure that would have allowed a three-judge panel to hear its case. The decision received substantial attention last month when over 200 Black farmers attended a press conference in Memphis to respond to the ruling that stopped Black farmers from filing legacy claims on behalf of deceased farmers under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
In response to the court’s decision, Burrell stated, “Our attorneys filed the En Banc appeal to secure and maintain uniformity of the court’s own decision. Sometimes, different three-judge panels within the same circuit court may issue conflicting rulings on the same legal issue, creating confusion about what the law is. That’s why we are taking the matter to the highest court in the land to advocate for Black farmers’ constitutional rights.”
The BFAA is expected to further discuss its decision to reject the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program and its impending Supreme Court lawsuit at its downtown headquarters on Friday morning.
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