By: Michelle Powell

    Recently, in the Arizona Republic, Governor Jane Dee Hull chastised America's Buffalo Soldiers Re-Enactors Association, 9^th & 10^th Cavalry, 24^th & 25^th Infantry, (ABSRA), after the suicidal death of 14 year old Anthony Haynes. Governor Hull stated, "We give more scrutiny to child-care providers who have their children in their care only hours a day. I will not have the state of Arizona be a haven for unscrupulous or abusive people who prey on desperate parents and their children."

    Governor Hull didn't think America's Buffalo Soldiers was "preying on desperate parents" when she asked ABSRA to provide Color Guard, Honor Guard for the now President George W. Bush, and campaign for her when she was running for the Governor's Office.

    On Monday, August 20^th, Governor Hull named a "Boot Camp Advisory Committee" headed by Judge Maurice Portley of Maricopa County Superior Court. In addition to Judge Portley, other members of the committee will include Arizona State Senator, Ruth Solomon; Arizona State Representative, Deb Gullett; Department of Economic Security director, John Clayton; Department of Juvenile Corrections director, Dave Gaspar; Department of Health Services director, Cathy Eden. Also, Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training, Tom Hammerstrom; CEO of Child Crisis Nursery, Chris Scarpati; Arizona Council of Human Service Providers president, Dave Miller; Anasazi Foundation president/CEO, Mike Merchant; president of the YMCA, Gregg O'Brian; Governor's Office, Jodi Beckley; community leader, Jacque Steiner; and Ronnie Perez, a representative for Arizona Project Challenge, an organization that has received sponsorship from America's Buffalo Soldiers Annual Humanitarian Awards.

    Democratic Senator Chris Cumminskey told the Arizona Republic that he plans to draft legislation for the 2002 session to close loopholes that allow camps, like America's Buffalo Soldiers National Summer Endurance Boot Camp and other youth programs to operate without scrutiny. In addition, the Senator stated he welcomes Hull's backing and attention to the issue, but he is not sure how much good an exhaustive task force investigation will do.

    ABSRA is a victim of politics and it's own no non-sense environment. Some of the former registered children and parents of ABSRA's Right-of-Passage and National Summer Endurance Boot Camp have slandered, lied, cheated and are denying ABSRA payment for services rendered amounting to $185,000.

    Governor Hull needs to consider an apology to the citizens of Arizona, world media and America's Buffalo Soldiers Re-Enactors Association who have represented a part of America's history honorably. Why would the Governor defame ABSRA's character before knowing all the facts?

    ABSRA's history has not been without it's prior battles involving renegades, copy-cat groups, venture capitalist wannabe's and associates.

    ABSRA's founder, Colonel Chuck Long, stated that "America's Buffalo Soldiers Association has always traveled by faith and not by sight. If the Governor's task force proves to be non-discriminatory and willing to seriously study the success, Buffalo Soldier history and alternative program style of America's Buffalo Soldiers CAPSAG Youth Programs before any recommendations to the Governor or State House of Representatives, I would consider the group to be fair and un-bais. If America's Buffalo Soldiers CAPSAG Youth Programs received the type of funds some of today's intervention programs receive, they would be even more successful with ABSRA prevention program services."

    Everyone should start looking at the Desert Advocate newspaper article written by Kalindi Johnson and distributed in New River, Arizona on June 19, 2001, where it is alleged that "ABSRA is getting a loan for $287 Million through the federal government for the development of Fort Powell, America's Buffalo Soldiers Military Academy and Fort Flipper, ABSRA's CAPSAG Academy" and should also listen to the poignant words of Carly Simon and Janet Jackson's "Sun of a Gun" - an eye opener to the people, place and things that incited this riot.