Media Advisory: NC NAACP to Hold News Conference on National NAACP Endorsement of Marriage Equality

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 20, 2012   For More Information:           Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, 919-394-8137                                                Mrs. Amina J. Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700   NC NAACP News Conference on Endorsement of Marriage Equality    DURHAM – The North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP will hold a news conference on Monday morning to discuss the decision to endorse marriage equality by the NAACP National Board of Directors over the weekend.   The news conference will take place at 11:45 AM at the North Carolina Institute for Minority Economic Development building at 114 W. Parrish Street, Durham, NC, 4th Floor.   Three members of the National Board are from North Carolina: Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President of the North Carolina NAACP and chair of the Political Action Committee for the National Board; Ms. Carolyn Q. Coleman, 1st Vice President of the North Carolina NAACP and Assistant Secretary of the National Board; Mr. Lenny Springs, Assistant Treasurer of the National Board.   Below is the media release from the National NAACP regarding this endorsement:   NAACP Passes Resolution in Support of Marriage Equality Decision Affirms Opposition to Government Efforts to Codify Discrimination   (Miami, Florida) The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People today released a resolution supporting marriage equality. At a meeting of the 103-year old civil rights group’s board of directors, the organization voted to support marriage equality as a continuation of its historic commitment to equal protection under the law. "The mission of the NAACP has always been to ensure the political, social and economic equality of all people," said Roslyn M. Brock, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NAACP. "We have and will oppose efforts to codify discrimination into law." "Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law. The NAACP’s support for marriage equality is deeply rooted in the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and equal protection of all people." said Benjamin Todd Jealous, President and CEO of the NAACP. The NAACP has addressed civil rights with regard to marriage since Loving v. Virginia declared anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional in 1967. In recent years the NAACP has taken public positions against state and federal efforts to ban the rights and privileges for LGBT citizens, including strong opposition to Proposition 8 in California, the Defense of Marriage Act, and most recently, North Carolina’s Amendment 1, which changed the state constitution’s to prohibit same sex marriage. Below is the text of the resolution passed by the NAACP board of directors:   The NAACP Constitution affirmatively states our objective to ensure the "political, educational, social and economic equality" of all people. Therefore, the NAACP has opposed and will continue to oppose any national, state, local policy or legislative initiative that seeks to codify discrimination or hatred into the law or to remove the Constitutional rights of LGBT citizens. We support marriage equality consistent with equal protection under the law provided under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.  Further, we strongly affirm the religious freedoms of all people as protected by the First Amendment.       ###    Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

 

NAACP Endorses Same-Sex Marriage – The Root

Quote: “Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law,” NAACP president Benjamin Todd Jealous said in a statement released Saturday. “The NAACP‘s support for marriage equality is deeply rooted in the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and equal protection of all people. The well-funded right wing organizations who are attempting to split our communities are no friend to civil rights, and they will not succeed.”

Ten days after President Barack Obama announced his support for same-sex marriage, the NAACP has voted to endorse it as well.

From the Washington Post:

The NAACP now presents itself as a counterbalance to the influence of the traditionally socially conservative black church. It can also help establish closer ties between blacks and gays, two of Obama‘s most loyal constituencies. (More)

See related:

NAACP backs same-sex marriage as civil right

Amendment One

Troy will refuse last meal – National NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Jealous

Dear Friends,

This morning, our worst fears came true. Despite widespread doubt, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles upheld the decision to execute Troy Davis this Wednesday.

Still, Troy has refused to have a "last meal." He has faith his life will be spared.

In the past, his tremendous faith has been rewarded. The last time Troy faced execution, in 2008, the warden brought in what was to be his last meal. But Troy refused to eat. Looking the prison staff in their eyes, he explained this meal would not be his last. He was vindicated when he received a last minute stay. Guards still remember this as a haunting moment, one rooted in Troy’s deep faith.

Still, there is every sign the state of Georgia intends to execute Troy this time–despite calls for them to stop by everyone from the former head of the FBI, William Sessions, to former US President Jimmy Carter.

Troy has prepared himself, and to the extent anyone can, his family, for either outcome.

As he has said many times "They can take my body but not my spirit, because I have given my spirit to God."

Thus, even as we continue to call on the Board of Pardons and Parole and Savannah District Attorney Larry Chisolm to reconsider, we must be prepared for either outcome too.

Please stand with Troy and his family. Join NAACP activists around the country in an evening of solidarity, prayer and fasting on Wednesday, September 21st.

http://action.naacp.org/StandWithTroy

Ask friends to meet up. Ask your family to fast Wednesday evening in solidarity with Troy’s family and use the dinner hour to talk. Ask your faith community, if they already have a Wednesday night fellowship planned, to make time for conversation about Troy’s scheduled execution.

However you do it, please mark the 7 o’clock hour on that evening-the time of Troy’s scheduled execution-as a moment to reflect on Troy’s experience, to offer prayers for his family and that of Officer MacPhail, and to talk about what we can each do to ensure our nation never does this again.

This is a moment to rededicate ourselves to the struggle to end the death penalty and otherwise fix our nation’s broken justice system.

To honor Troy’s courage, and rededicate ourselves to the cause of justice in America, NAACP activists are asked to fast Wednesday evening. Will you join us?

http://action.naacp.org/StandWithTroy

While moments like this test the limits of our understanding, we do know the world will remember Troy’s name, and the movement against the death penalty will grow. People who thought they supported capital punishment yesterday will realize they cannot today. Because people who thought they could stand on the sidelines will realize they no longer can.

As the scorn of the world grows and the doubts within our nation grow as well, we will increasingly realize this barbarous tradition-practiced by virtually no other western nation-is inconsistent with our self image as a fair and freedom-loving society.

No, should the execution actually occur this time, Troy’s life and the fight to save it will not have been in vain – we will move forward with more allies and an even wider consensus about the urgency of our cause.

Please join your fellow activists Wednesday for an evening of prayers, fasting, reflection, and recommitment to the struggle for justice.

http://action.naacp.org/StandWithTroy

With prayers and determination,

Ben

Benjamin Todd Jealous

President and CEO
NAACP

Video: Troy Davis’ Sister Delivers A Special Message Before Georgia Board Of Pardons And Paroles

Today Troy Davis’ sister delivers a very special video message for NAACP members and supporters–just one day before Troy’s hearing before the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. Troy has been on Death Row for the past 20 years for the murder of Savannah, GA police officer Mark MacPhail. Despite serious doubts to his guilt, Troy’s execution is scheduled for September 21. (Read more)

See related:

Troy Davis

ACTION ALERT – Save Troy Davis – "Too Much Doubt" Campaign and NC Buses Going to Atlanta for March and Service

ACTION ALERT

Join the "Too Much Doubt Campaign"

to save the life of Troy Davis

See the bottom of the email for a blurb on the case or http://www.naacp.org/pages/ troy-davis-a-case-for-clemency

1) Take one minute to sign a letter to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles:

Go to http://action.naacp.org/page/speakout/help-save-troy-davis

2) Travel to Atlanta on Friday, September 16 for a March and Prayer

Buses are leaving out of Winston-Salem for Atlanta on Friday morning at 10 AM sharp (arrive between 9:00 am and 9:30 am) and returning the same day to head to Atlanta for a rally to save the life of Troy Davis that begins at 6:00 pm. Reply to this email (northcarolinanaacp@gmail.com) ASAP or call 919-682-4700 to reserve your seat.

There are stops at Davidson College and in Charlotte as well for pick up. There will be some car pools leaving out of the Triangle to meet the bus in Winston-Salem.

The bus trip is free of charge, but you must RSVP today to secure a seat.

Trip Details
Our partner Darryl Hunt has chartered buses, with the assistance of Amnesty International, leaving out of Winston-Salem for any individuals or supporters in the area interested in participating in the march in Atlanta and the abolition of the death penalty in Georgia.

The buses will depart from Emmanuel Baptist Church (1075 Shalimar Drive
Winston-Salem, NC 27107) at 10:00 am. Anyone needing a seat on the bus is encouraged to arrive between 9:00am and 9:30am.

International Day of Solidarity for Troy Davis Join Darryl Hunt, Amnesty International, The NAACP, The GFADP, Larry Cox and Ben Jealous; Rev. Raphael Warnock (Ebenezer Baptist Church); Martina Correia (sister of Troy Davis); death row exonerees; and other guests for an evening of prayer, music and witness on Friday, September 16th 2011, in Atlanta, GA for the International Day of Solidarity for Troy Davis. The march begins at 6 pm at Woodruff Park (Peachtree St/Edgewood Ave.) and will end at Ebenezer Baptist Church (407 Auburn Ave.)

The Case – Troy Davis’s case has brought national and international attention the racially biased death penalty system in the United States. Prominent politicians and leaders, including President Jimmy Carter, Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Presidential candidate Bob Barr and former FBI Director and Judge William S. Sessions have all called for Davis to be given a new trial or evidentiary hearing.

An execution date has been set for September 21st and his last chance will take place on Monday, Sept. 19 before the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. Since trial in 1991, seven of the nine state trial witnesses have contradicted their testimony or admitted their testimony was false. Additionally, several informants who testified at trial also recanted. All of the state trial witnesses who recanted that are still alive have testified to the Board or the federal district court: Of the two witnesses who have not contradicted their trial testimony, one (Steven Sanders) could only identify Troy Davis at trial, two years after he told police that he "wouldn’t know the shooter again if I saw him." The other is Sylvester Coles, who is the prime alternative suspect in the case

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The President’s "Both/And" Agenda Source: The NAACP National

Dear Curmilus,

Tonight my family, like many others, tuned in to watch President Obama lay out his plan to revive our nation’s economy.

We were pleased to hear a plan that addresses the nation’s twin needs to spur job creation and fight employment discrimination. And I am proud to report that we, NAACP activists across the country, have had a lot to do with the focus that each is receiving in the White House.

Economic growth and job creation are top priorities for all American families as the unemployment rate hovers above 9 percent nationwide. When one considers that that figure jumps more than 16 percent for black communities—not to mention more than 40 percent for young black men in many communities—it becomes painfully clear that job creation is not enough.

We need to spur job creation and fight employment discrimination at the same time.

Fortunately, the President understands, and offered the sort of "both/and" plan we need more of in America.

The President recognized that some parts of the country have been disproportionately impacted by the unemployment crisis – and that those areas should receive special consideration for tax incentives and stimulus funding. This means that hard-hit urban areas like Detroit and Cleveland, along with countless rural communities from coast to coast, will receive the assistance they need.

President Obama discussed transparency and the urgent need for a higher level of accountability in job creation. It’s not enough to simply create new jobs—we need jobs that are based here in the United States if we are going to build an economy that works for all Americans. The President’s plan will ensure that companies receiving tax incentives to create new jobs prioritize those jobs created here at home.

The President also announced an urgently needed strategy to address youth unemployment. We know that with an unemployment rate upwards of 25% our young people have struggled more than any other demographic. By putting a focus on youth job development, the President is making an investment in the future of all our communities.

These are all policies for which the NAACP has advocated, alongside many of our allies in the civil and human rights communities.

However, we also heard the President call for an end to employment discrimination against the unemployed. Simply put, he issued this charge because we asked for it.

In my job I travel around this country virtually every week. As I do I talk to NAACP activists like you. They have made it clear that it’s already difficult enough to find a job in this economy, but for those who have been out of work months on end, that gap on the resume can make getting hired nearly impossible.

This rapidly increasing form of employment discrimination is compounding old familiar ones like racism and sexism, and if we are to turn this economy around we must understand that fighting employment discrimination must be as high a priority as job creation.
When I sat down to meet with the President in the Oval Office in July, I relayed the specific concerns our members had expressed about job discrimination including the confounding problem of employment discrimination against the unemployed. The President responded very clearly that he would address the problem immediately. Tonight, we heard him commit to the nation do just that.

Tonight President Obama outlined an agenda – one that is pro-civil rights, pro-human dignity, and pro-American Dream for all. I am proud that the NAACP has been involved in the discussions and work that laid the groundwork for these historic initiatives, but I also know that our work will not end with a speech and a plan.

It will take a continued commitment to see these ideas through. I urge you to challenge your member of Congress to support President Obama’s strategy and to fight to create jobs and combat employment discrimination in your home town.

Together we can reach the bold vision that we have been fighting for. It begins with achieving the “both/and" agenda to spur job creation and fight employment discrimination our President laid out tonight.

Sincerely,

Ben

Benjamin Todd Jealous
President and CEO
NAACP

Donate | Join the NAACP | Blog | Take Action | Find Your Local Unit |

Breaking News: Troy Davis to be Executed on September 21st

Curmilus, We’ve just received terrible news: The state of Georgia has set Troy Davis’s execution date for midnight on September 21st, just two weeks from today. This is our justice system at its very worst, and we are alive to witness it. There is just too much doubt. Even though seven out of nine witnesses have recanted their statements, a judge labeled his own ruling as "not ironclad" and the original prosecutor has voiced reservations about Davis’s guilt, the state of Georgia is set to execute Troy anyway. Time is running out, and this is truly Troy’s last chance for life. But through the frustration and the tears, there is one thing to remain focused on: We are now Troy Davis’s only hope. And I know we won’t let him down. There are three steps you can take to help Troy: 1. Send a message of support to Troy as he fights for justice on what may be the final days of his life: http://action.naacp.org/LettersOfSupport 2. Sign the name wall, if you haven’t already. And if you have, send it to your friends and family. Each name means a more united front for justice: http://action.naacp.org/Name-Wall 3. Make sure everyone knows about this injustice. Spread the word on Facebook and Twitter (using the hashtag #TooMuchDoubt) so that Troy Davis’s story can be heard. We still have a chance to save his life, but only if people are willing to speak out against injustice. Today, the state of Georgia has declared their intention to execute a man even though the majority of the people who put him on the row now say he is innocent and many implicate one of the other witnesses as the actual killer. Now that a date has been set, we cannot relent. We must redouble our efforts. Thank you. Please act quickly and forward this message to all who believe the justice system defeats itself when it allows a man to be executed amid so much doubt. Ben Benjamin Todd Jealous President and CEO NAACP

Donate | Join the NAACP | Blog | Take Action |

 

See related:

Troy Davis

IS THE NAACP IRRELEVANT? – William Reed Columnist

Can you imagine Black Life in America if there was no NAACP?  It seems that over time the group served a vital purpose for African Americans; but these days and across cultures, the NAACP is about as significant as “Members Only” jackets.

At the NAACP’s 101^st convention, the head of the Kansas City branch got the organization’s members to pass a meaningless resolution urging people to “oppose the tea party”.  Sadly, the resolution was deceitful and overly political. With the “Tea Party declaration” and other such tom foolery abound, isn’t it time to address “the NAACP problem”?  Black Americans have good reasons to be upset with the NAACP.   But, in our considerations we should not be too critical of NAACP missteps.  Let’s first admit that Blacks are often more comfortable criticizing the NAACP than affirming the work they do.

First, what role does the NAACP play in your life?  With the declaration against the Tea Party, cries bellowed across America that the NAACP was “out of touch”.  Not only was the “out of touch” narrative among White Conservatives, it resounded among masses of Blacks also.  Not only is the NAACP in danger of losing its relevancy, attention is on the NAACP’s President and CEO Ben Jealous, and as to whether he has lost his way.  Since taking the helm, in his efforts to highlight the NAACP, Jealous has just plain drawn the wrong kind of attention.  In addition to the “exposing racism in the Tea Party” gambit, Jealous & Company showed awful decision-making awarding Colin Powell its highest Image Award; but it is an issue of an economic injustice to Black Newspapers that has caused the most concern over Jealous and his racial pride and consciousness.  Advertising revenue maintains Black Newspapers and Jealous admits that “a grave mistake was made” when advertising inserts were placed only in White newspapers on the eve of the annual image awards.  Jealous said: “This year’s NAACP Image Awards show was a great success.  However, the advertising circulars that were supposed to appear in both the mainstream press and Black community newspapers only appeared in the mainstream (White) press.”

The advertising debacle sparked a firestorm of criticism from the Black Press.  Ironically, Jealous is a former employee of the Black Press – former association executive director and editor of The Jackson Advocate.  Jealous, like so many Blacks today, either forgot, or distains, where he came from.  New York Beacon’s Publisher Walter Smith wrote in an editorial, “We credit leaders of the NAACP with good sound judgment and common sense at least.  What were they thinking when this decision was made?”

We all make mistakes, so even if Jealous and his NAACP cohorts were wrong on the resolution, Powell Award and acts that look like “Whites’ ice is colder”; we must also be careful to not be equally wrong in our rebukes of them.  We each need to assess as to which side of the ledger do we fall regarding whether the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and United Negro College Fund: 1) promote racism or 2) take care of their own?  Many of us are at a juncture as to whether we are race-conscious or “colorblind”.  We are in moment where the national dialogue around race hinges around the fear of Whites being taken advantage of by people of color. Whether the discussion is Affirmative Action or immigration, it’s being suggested that Whites are the “true victims” of contemporary racism.  This could not be any further from the truth.  Black people remain disproportionately poor, locked out of quality neighborhoods and schools, and suffer from individual, structural, and institutional racism.  While the election of Obama marked a watershed moment in coalition political participation, it neither erased nor filled-in the fault line of racial inequality.

Black Americans need to give more positive attention and reverence to the NAACP.  Do you know (or care) who runs your local NAACP?  For more of us to grow, we all should acknowledge and support the work the NAACP does.

(William Reed is available for speaking/seminar projects via BaileyGroup.org)

Note: I am reminded of Rev. Al Sharpton when we were in Greensboro in 2005 and the news reporter asked him was the NAACP relevant? See Video Rev. Sharpton’s response. C. Dancy II – DCN Publisher

See related:

William Reed Columnist

Check out the discussion ‘Does the NAACP speak for you?’

TheBlackList Pub Opening Doors To Being Free KWASI Akyeampong Check out the discussion ‘Does the NAACP speak for you?’   Discussion posted by KWASI Akyeampong: Does the NAACP speak for you? This is a question worth confronting and answering. So for the first time I request that you migrate to anoth… Discussion link: Does the NAACP speak for you? About TheBlackList Pub Freedom is a conversation by a free people about being free. When you are not in conversation, you are not being free. 1040 members 697 photos 350 videos 1533 discussions 530 Events 1674 blog posts

In Open Letter TV Host says Image Awards PR Firm ‘Not Negro Friendly’ – Source: eurweb

*As you know, the NAACP Image Awards were held last Friday, March 4, in Los Angeles at the Shrine Auditorium.

Unfortunately Eric Chambers (pictured), host of Jazzspel on the Word Television Network, along with numerous other black media outlets, feel they were slighted by not being invited to cover or were denied press credentials altogether. (Read more)

Time to get to work

Curmilus,

Tonight, as I sat in the audience while President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address, I listened intently.

But I also watched — and what I saw was just as powerful as everything that I heard.

I witnessed the faces of senators as he discussed the state of our economy. I saw Michelle Obama’s face grow solemn with the mention of the Tucson tragedy. And in the face of the President, I saw the same strength and courage that so many Americans have displayed in these difficult times.

As he did in Tucson last week, the President made a noble effort to move our country past petty political posturing tonight. He reminded the nation that that we are one people, and that we must care for each other — our beliefs, our health, our livelihoods — as we would ourselves. He reminded us all of what it means to be American.

Congress and the White House must now take up these challenges, for the betterment of our economy and our prosperity. But they won’t get it done unless we get engaged, raise our voices and defend our children’s future.

Take a moment to tell our leaders it’s time to pull our country together by putting it back to work:

http://action.naacp.org/BackToWork

Tonight the President laid out his plan to move our country through this critical time in our history. His plans to embrace innovation, spur job creation and foster compromise are bold, attainable and much needed.

But too often, difficult economic times bring out the worst in lawmakers. Last week, the state of Texas defunded higher education programs to the tune of $1.7 billion. Meanwhile our sisters and brothers in North Carolina are fighting a previously unthinkable attempt by their state legislators to re-segregate public schools. These are powerful reminders that even our nation’s most noble victories can disappear when we are not vigilant.

The next two years will be a test. We can either act as if all our gains are just sand castles on the beach waiting for the tide to wipe them out — or we can rise up and defend them.

It’s time to get to work.

As we continue on a road toward economic recovery, we must invest not just in the infrastructure that keeps this country moving forward, but also in the human capital we rely on to lead our nation. Smart investments in education, health care and innovation will allow every American — even the least advantaged among us — to compete in tomorrow’s global marketplace and have a shot at the American dream.

These goals are attainable, but if recent history has taught us anything, it is that they will not come without a fight. Predatory lenders, the greediest Wall Street bankers and the most cynical political leaders would like nothing more than to see the status quo remain in effect.

We need you, Curmilus. Our only chance to hold on to the gains we have made and hold our leaders accountable to a vision of America long promised, but not yet realized, is to organize in our communities, participate online and raise our voices in the name of fairness, justice and opportunity.

It is up to us to embolden our leaders. We have come so far, and we will continue moving forward — as long as we have your support. Let the President, and the world, know that you support an economic recovery that is fair for all:

http://action.naacp.org/BackToWork

Now is the time to be vigilant, not silent. Let’s get to work.

Ben

Benjamin Todd Jealous
President and CEO
NAACP

National & State NAACP Presidents to Make Major Announcement Saturday September 25, 2010 Raleigh NC

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

NORTH CAROLINA STATE CONFERENCE

114 W. Parrish Street, Second Floor

Durham, North Carolina 27701

866-626-2227       919-682-4700      FAX  919-682-4711

www.naacpnc.org www.ncprosecutorialmisconduct.com www.hkonj.com

  Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II                                                                                                                  Amina J. Turner

President                                                                                                                                              Executive Director

Dear Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II,

Your Vote

Curmilus, By now you have heard about One Nation Working Together, the historic March on Washington scheduled for 10.2.10. The NAACP will lead a broad coalition to bring America together and put America back to work. But 10.2.10 is just the beginning. The next step comes in November. Are you registered to vote yet? Are your friends and family? This year’s elections are shaping up to be as crucial as 2008. As some media pundits attempt to turn back the clock by reopening the "debate" over the Civil Rights Act, the 14th Amendment and affordable health care, we need to stay strong and focused. Most importantly, we need to vote. If you are not registered, you can do it right here, right now. The NAACP has developed Upload 2 Uplift, a new initiative to empower voters with the click of a mouse. Our online tool enables people to register to vote on the web and spread the word to family and friends who are not yet registered: http://action.naacp.org/Upload2Uplift Since its inception, the NAACP has been committed to bringing the fundamental right to vote to every member of the black community. And despite huge strides in voter turnout during the Presidential election, only 69% of African Americans are currently registered to vote, compared to 75% of non-Hispanic whites. Our goal is to register every last voter, to verify every last voter, to mobilize every last voter, and to protect the rights of every last voter because in close elections, every vote counts. But to achieve this goal, we need your help. Tell your networks about Upload 2 Uplift so that this innovative technology can reach the millions of remaining unregistered voters. Once you are signed up for Upload 2 Uplift, a mobile messaging feature will remind you to vote on Election Day. Make sure your voice counts and get started now: http://action.naacp.org/Upload2Uplift We must stay strong and focused. In the last speech Dr. King gave he said, "Nothing would be more tragic than for us to turn back now." We have come too far to turn back. Join us in Washington, DC on 10.2.10 and, most importantly, register to vote. For more than 100 years the NAACP has been working to facilitate change, but it’s up to you to make sure change starts at the polls. Thanks for your support, Ben Jealous President and CEO NAACP

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Open letter: Shirley Sherrod former USDA State Director Georgia

Curmilus, Back in March, I delivered a speech to an NAACP Freedom Fund banquet in my home state of Georgia. I drew on my personal life story to urge poor people, white and black, to pull together and overcome racial divisions. We have to understand that our struggle is against poverty and against those who are blocking our path out of poverty. Unless we figure this out, I warned, our communities won’t thrive and our children won’t prosper. As you know, a Tea Party blogger named Andrew Breitbart released an intentionally deceptive, heavily edited clip from that speech to make it look as if I was delivering exactly the opposite message. Then Fox News blasted that false message across America’s airwaves, creating a firestorm that led to my ouster as the USDA State Director here in Georgia. Not long ago, I sat here in my living room in Albany, Georgia for an afternoon of deep conversation with NAACP President Benjamin Jealous. As he has done in public, Ben movingly apologized for the fact that the NAACP was initially hoodwinked by Breitbart and Fox into supporting my removal. I told him what I want to tell you. That’s behind us, and the last thing I want to see happen is for my situation to weaken support for the NAACP. Too many people confronted by racism and poverty count on the NAACP to be there for them, especially those in rural areas who often have nowhere else to turn. People ask me, "Shirley, how are you getting through all of this?" I tell them that, if they knew what I have lived through, they’d understand that these current challenges aren’t about to throw me off course. When I was 17 years old, my father was murdered by a white man in Baker County, Georgia. There were three witnesses, but the grand jury refused to indict the person responsible. I knew I had to do something in answer to my father’s death. That very night, I made a commitment that I would stay in the South and fight for change. I have lived true to that commitment for 45 years. I didn’t yield when, just months after my father was killed, they came in the middle of the night to burn a cross in front of our house with my mother, four sisters, and the baby brother my father never got to see still inside. And I’m surely not going to yield because some Tea Party agitator sat at his computer and turned everything I said upside down and inside out. I learned a lot of lessons from my parents growing up, but one of the most important ones is what my mother taught her children after our father was killed. She told us we mustn’t try to live with hate in our hearts. My mother led by example. Just 11 years after that cross-burning incident, she became the first black elected official in Baker County, and she’s still serving, still working to bring people together. You and I have to keep working as well. Change has to start with us. I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support I have received over these last few weeks. It means so much to me and my family. But you and I have to make sure that people all across the country who wage a daily struggle against poverty and racism have support networks as well. And that’s why your personal involvement in sustaining the NAACP is so critical. The NAACP confronts the virulent racism that my family and so many other families have had to endure. But it is also leading the way in breaking down the structural barriers that block so many people’s paths out of poverty. In our struggle between the "haves" and the "have-nots," they want to keep the poor divided – and we have to insist, by our words and our actions, that there is no difference between us. As we move forward together, I urge you to remember this: Life is a grindstone. But whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us. Thank you for all you are doing to challenge poverty and racism. I look forward to working and struggling right by your side. Sincerely, Shirley Sherrod

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Shirely Sherrod

Shirley Sherrod to Sue Blogger Andrew Breitbart Over Edited Video

Shirley Sherrod, the fired and subsequently vindicated Department of Agriculture employee, said today she will sue the conservative blogger who posted edited video on the Internet last week that made her appear racist. (Read more @ ABC News)

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Shirley Sherrod