by Askia Muhammad
White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON�Even as President-elect George W. Bush apparently attempts to make good on his promise to appoint a cabinet that reflects a broad cross-section of the country, including prominent Black nominees, a broad coalition of Black leaders are pledging to continue their struggle for "lost" Black votes, with demonstrations in Florida leading up to Inauguration Day, Jan. 20.

"Administrations come, and administrations go, but our relentless pursuit of our agenda remains the same," the Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery, chairman of the Black Leadership Forum (BLF) told reporters following an "urgent" post-election strategy meeting Dec. 20.

Leaders, including Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the "dean" of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC); Rainbow/PUSH Coalition President, the Rev. Jesse Jackson; NAACP President Kweisi Mfume; National Urban League President Hugh Price; and Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) President Martin Luther King III, among others, pledged to coordinate their activities around the "crisis over voter disenfranchisement," while at the same time they plan to "celebrate the tremendous voter turnout" of Blacks on Nov. 7.

The plan is to lead the struggle on two fronts: protest and policy, said Dr. Lowery, in response to a question from The Final Call. "We think it�s urgent to send a message to our constituents: that they need not despair, that they need not grow discouraged. They can be proud of what they�ve achieved in the tremendous turnout" on Election Day, he said.

"The message is that we are developing a public policy agenda which we will pursue relentlessly, as we have historically. There is a sense of urgency that we send the message that these are the duly ordained and elected representatives of the Black community. And we send that message of hope, that message of celebration, and that message of continuing commitment to see that our votes are always counted."

The movement will proceed with three task-forces: a litigation group will pursue redress in the courts around voter disenfranchisement on Election Day. That group will consist of lawyers from the NAACP and the NAACP-Legal Defense Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, and the National Bar Association.

A second public policy agenda task force will work to achieve election reform; hate crimes legislation; prison reform; equal opportunity and affirmative action in employment; and education, strengthening public schools. A third task-force will address the upcoming redistricting of congressional and state legislative districts based on the 2000 Census.

In addition, Dr. Mary Frances Berry, chair of U.S. Civil Rights Commission�who will be armed for the first time in this election battle with the power to subpoena witnesses�has scheduled Florida hearings concerning election irregularities on Jan. 11 and 12.

"We�re clear that we won the vote Nov. 7," the Rev. Jackson told reporters. "There was a massive violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) did not do its job. It did not monitor the election, nor investigate the violations. The DOJ fought for Elian, the way it never fought to enfranchise the vote in Florida. And of the disenfranchised voters, about 80 percent were African Americans.

"January 15 is Dr. King�s birthday and celebration. This year we�re urging folks all over the nation, the entire week to make those celebrations �Count the Vote� celebrations of democracy and voter registration," the Rev. Jackson continued.

Accordingly, BLF plans to celebrate the "spirit of democracy" and to reaffirm its determination to see that all the votes are counted in Florida by inviting members of the "coalition of conscience," which made up the massive Election Day Get Out The Vote (GOTV) effort, to meet in Tallahassee, Fla., on Jan. 20�Inauguration Day�rather than to join in counter-inaugural protests planned that day in Washington.

"We will continue to send the message to the nation and our people that we are moving forward," said Dr. Lowery. "We will not let the clock be turned back. We will celebrate the great victory that we realized, in turning out the Black vote."

The Rev. Jackson added: "Some of us standing here marched for that right in Selma. We marched behind the caskets of too many martyrs to give up affirmation and the power of our vote." The Black leadership is not without critics of its strategy, however.

Is the Rev. Jackson�s protest "principled, or is it simply that the wrong side won?" Washington Post columnist William Raspberry asked rhetorically. "Can he�can any of us�separate his philosophical conclusions from his practical interests?"

Dr. Lowery insists that the Black leadership�s role is consistent with positions it has argued with several presidents. "Our goal for a full measure of justice in every aspect of American life remains the same. It�s been that way through at least four presidents, and will be that way when Mr. Bush�s successor" takes office, he said.

While Dr. Lowery admitted that Black leaders still question the "legitimacy" of the process by which Mr. Bush was elected, they will not criticize the legitimacy of the president-elect�s choice to meet with spiritual leaders Dec. 20, including several Black clergy.

"We�re saying that this consortium is available to meet with (Mr. Bush) as we are in the pursuit of our constant goals, which go on, administration, after administration, after administration, after administration," Rev. Lowery said.

Photo: Black Leadership Forum (BLF) members discuss plans for advancing Black community concerns about the election of George W. Bush as President.