Background on Congress for Racial Equality (CORE)

The Congress of Racial Equality is run by its National Chairman and CEO, Roy Innis. You can go here to see our research database entry on Roy Innis. According to their website, CORE's mission is to:

"... establish, in practice, the inalienable right for all people to determine their own destiny - to decide for themselves what social and political organizations can operate in their best interest and to do so without gratuitous and inhibiting influence from those whose interest is diametrically opposed to theirs."

According to a 2005 Mother Jones article by Chris Mooney, CORE spokesperson Niger Innis (Roy's son) has stated in the past that "the terms 'eco-imperialism' and 'eco-slaughter' should be household words."

Innis accused of 'renting out CORE'

It was reported in the same 2005 article by Chris Mooney , that the original founder of CORE, James Farmer and other black leaders accused Roy Innis of "renting out CORE's historic reputation to corporations like Monsanto and ExxonMobil" (see below for details).

CORE and ExxonMobil

In total, since 2003, CORE has received $275,000 from oil-giant ExxonMobil for unspecified work as well as activities described as "climate change outreach" and "change regulation/legislation."

Here's the breakdown:

2003 funding

According to ExxonMobil's 2003 worldwide contributions report (pdf), CORE received $25,000 for unspecified public policy work and another $15,000 was donated to CORE's New York Chapter for "climate change outreach efforts."

2004 funding

According to ExxonMobil's 2004 worlwide contributions report (pdf), CORE received $75,000 for"climate change regulation/legislation" and $60,000 for "global climate change issues."

2005 funding

According to ExxonMobil's2005 worldwide contributions report (pdf), CORE received $75,000 for unspecified public policy work.

2006 funding

According to ExxonMobil's 2006 worldwide contribution report (pdf), CORE received $25,000 for unspecified public policy work.

At the 2004 ExxonMobil shareholder meeting, CORE mounted a counter-campaign against environmentalists staging a protest. At the meeting, CORE spokesperson (and Roy Innis's son), Niger Innis stated that “... we must stop trying to protect it [the planet] from minor or illusory threats—and doing it on the backs, and the graves, of the world’s most powerless and impoverished people.”

CORE and Monsanto

In 2005, CORE ran a pro-genetically modified foods campaign. According to an archived version of CORE's website the pro-GM food campaign was sponsored by ag-food and pesticide giant Monsanto. You can click here to see a screen capture of the CORE site in 2005 where Monsanto is listed as "CORE's corporate partner in the quest for bio-tech information."

According to the Wikipedia entry, Monsanto is by far the leading producer of genetically engineered (GE) seed, holding 70%–100% market share for various crops.

In January 2005, Monsanto's Chairman and CEO, Hugh Grant chaired CORE's celebratory reception in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. A screen shot of the Monsanto photo is archived here.

Also, in January 2005, CORE organized what it called the "UN World Conference on Biotechnology." The closing address for the conference was made by Gerald Steiner, Monsanto's Executive Vice President.

Roy Innis has penned articles promoting the use of DDT in Africa as a means of saving lives. CORE also opened an office in Uganda and organized pro-DDT rallies.

In 2004, CORE held an awards ceremony at a World Trade Organization meeting in Cancun, where they announced Greenpeace as a recipient of their "Green Power-Black Death" award. At the ceremony Niger Innis stated: “And the winner is--Greenpeace! For leading million-dollar campaigns against energy, pesticides, biotechnology, trade, and economic development that could improve or save millions of lives."