Black farmers appeal court ruling on USDA discrimination claims

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association filed an appeal Tuesday after a federal appeals court denied an injunction against the United States Department of Agriculture for denying descendants of farmers to file claims for discrimination.

The ruling made on October 8 by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio, argues that the relatives of deceased farmers cannot file discrimination claims on their behalf.

Currently, $2.2 billion is available to farmers who have been discriminated against in farm lending programs through the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program, but only to farmers currently living.

“As an heir, particularly for African Americans, we have a right to inherit,” says BFAA president Thomas Burrell. “And that decision calls our right to inherit into question.”

BFAA says they filed an En Banc appeal, meaning an entire panel of judges will hear BFAA’s case for the heirs of black farmers.

“There is a case, and that’s what we have,” says Burrell. “The Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association represents our members, you and the people whose shoulders you stand on.”

Burrell said the court of appeals will respond to their motion within the next week.

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