The Rural Coalition has crafted a sign on letter that expressed disappointment in the hasty removal of Shirley Sherrod from her position as USDA State Rural Development Director for Georgia on July 19, 2010.

The letter—which went out to the press, the Secretary, the President, and the Attorney General multiple times last week—acknowledges the leadership Sherrod has taken in promoting fairness within USDA and commends some in the press for “digging deeper” to restore Sherrod’s reputation as a leader on farm discrimination issues.

Sherrod had been forced to resign early last week after false revelations broke following distribution of video of a portion of a speech she delivered to the NAACP.

The Rural Coalition, along with NSAC and a plethora of organizations that also signed the letter, called on President Obama and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to apologize and to reinstate Sherrod.  Vilsack and the Obama administration have officially expressed regret for its actions and have offered Sherrod a different USDA job, an offer she is contemplating.