Maryland Dems want P. Mitchell to receive civilian award from Obama
Representatives from the Maryland Democratic party will send a letter to President-elect Barack Obama in January nominating former Congressman Parren J. Mitchell for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Mitchell, a World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient, was the state’s first African-American congressman, and served for 16 years. Mitchell is known for the federal “set-aside program,” which allowed 10 percent of federal business contracts to be awarded to minorities.
Several members of the Mitchell family and state Democrat leaders held a press conference yesterday announcing Parren Mitchell’s nomination.
Michael Mitchell, Parren’s nephew, said it would be fitting if Obama, as the nation’s first African-American president, gave the honor to his uncle. Mitchell said his uncle met Obama years ago when the next president was working on a campaign for former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington in the 1980s.
Parren Mitchell heard Obama address a crowd on behalf of Washington in the middle of winter.
“My uncle said if a brother can hold the attention of white folks and black folks in sub zero degrees, he’s got charisma. He’s going to go somewhere,” Michael Mitchell said.
Democratic leaders will send the letter Jan. 21, one day after Obama’s inauguration.
-- Brent Jones
