State Senator Bobby Singleton addresses a crowd at the Eutaw Activity Center concerning the violation of the citizens' of Greene County's voting rights being violated when Attorney General Luther Strange removed the electronic bingo machines from Greenetrack.

At the end of a meeting Monday night, August 29, 2011, at the Eutaw Activity Center, attended by over 200 people, which had the feel reminiscent of a “civil rights mass meeting”, Luther “Nat” Winn announced that electronic bingo would return to Greenetrack by this Wednesday.

In a press release issued Wednesday from Greenetrack, it states that,

“We are pleased to announce that beginning August 31, 2011, the Greene County E-911 Communications District will once again offer electronic bingo games. Greene County E-911 and other nonprofit organizations operated bingo games at Greenetrack for over six years before the games were halted by an illegal raid in June 2010. 

“State law enforcement officials subsequently admitted under oath that no court has ever ruled electronic bingo illegal in Greene County.”

At the Monday night meeting, a number of Black community leaders including Rev. A. B. Griffin, Rev. John Kennard, State Senator Bobby Singleton, Lester ‘Bop” Brown, Spiver Gordon and others spoke in support of Greene County voting rights; the importance of Alabama Constitutional Amendment 743 authorizing bingo in Greene County, which was approved in 2003 by 83% of Greene County voters; and the need to stick together in the face of unfair and illegal attacks on electronic bingo.

Rev. Kennard said, “How long can we wait for justice! How long can we wait for Luther Strange and the Alabama Supreme Court to act? We know that Strange and his people lied to Judge Houston Brown about electronic bingo in Greene County. We know they hired an expert on gambling who was not qualified . We know they went around the judges and law enforcement in Greene County. We must support Mr. Winn and stand with him when he opens up.”

Senator Bobby Singleton of Greensboro said, “The Republicans in Montgomery are taking our rights away. They have started with electronic bingo but they intend to take all of our rights just like in Reconstruction.

“Greene County must stick together like a hog likes slop. We must put aside our petty differences, political factions, past political differences and stand together to support Greenetrack.

“Mr. Winn and I met with Governor Bentley, Chuck Malone and others and reached an agreement to disband Riley’s Gambling Task-Force and restart electronic bingo. Before we could get home the Governor had changed his mind. Former Governor Riley, Karl Rove, Bill Canary and other Republican strategists advised Bentley that gambling money supports Blacks and Democrats – so he should stop Greenetrack.”

Spiver Gordon said, “This meeting has the spirit of old times. If there is a march for the right to vote – I will be on the front line. I support people having good jobs, housing, health care and the right to determine their own destiny.”

The meeting ended with people pledging to support the reopening of electronic bingo at Greenetrack and agreeing to block the State of Alabama from returning to seize the machines once they are installed.

In their press release indicating the reopening, Greenetrack states:

 Greene County citizens and elected officials have spend the past nine months meeting with the Governor and his staff, and the Attorney General and his staff. In March 2011, the Greene County Sheriff, the Greene County District Attorney , and Greenetrack met with the Attorney General. Now Chief Justice Chuck Malone attended the meeting in his role as Chief of Staff to Governor Bentley. The parties reached an agreement to allow licensed and approved electronic bingo games to continue in Green County while the State and Greenetrack litigated the issue.

Instead of honoring that agreement, the Attorney General’s Office violated legal procedures to have a Jefferson County Judge appointed to hear this matter in Greene County. they then testified falsely to the specially appointed Judge to  obtain a search warrant. The improper actions are enumerated in the ruling in which the judge ordered the state to returned the property to Greenetrack.

Greenetrack President Luther “Nat” Winn stated that “Our fight in Greene County is about more than electronic bingo. Today, we struggle to have our voting right, civil rights, and  constitutional rights recognized by this Attorney General and this Governor. Many of us is Greene County still remember the words of Dr. King” ‘We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling  silence of the good people.”

Winn continued: “Governor Bentley, the people of Greene County  want to believe you are a man of your word. Will you condemn state officials under your authority who mislead judges? Will  you honor your campaign promises? Will you honor your words? Will you honor the rule of law? Or will your remain silent?”