NAACP NC – STATE NAACP PRESIDENT TO ANNOUNCES HICKORY AS LOCATION FOR 2009 NORTH CAROLINA STATE NAACP CONVENTION

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

NORTH CAROLINA STATE CONFERENCE

114 W. Parrish Street, Second Floor Ÿ Durham, North Carolina 27701

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

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

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II President                                                                                                               

Amina J. Turner Executive Director

                                                                                                                                          

Immediate Release:

Oct.  2009

Contact:           Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, State NAACP President, 919-394-8137

                        Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman, Hickory Branch President, 828-322-1196

Mrs. Amina J. Turner, State Executive Director, 919-682-4700

MEDIA ADVISORY

STATE NAACP PRESIDENT TO ANNOUNCES HICKORY AS LOCATION FOR 2009 NORTH CAROLINA STATE NAACP CONVENTION

[DURHAM] – “The Hickory Branch of the National Association of Colored People (NAACP) under the leadership of Dr. T. Anthony Spearman of Hickory will serve as the host city for the upcoming 66^th Annual State NAACP Convention, October 8^th through October 10^th.”,  says State NAACP President Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II.

North Carolina’s NAACP is the second largest state conference in the nation, and has been recognized nationally and internationally for outstanding leadership, programmatic activities, publications and effective legal activism and advocacy.  The Hickory Metro Convention Center will host this event that hopes to attract hundreds of adult and youth delegates from across the state and region. (52 16th Avenue, NE) will be the site of the official opening of the convention on Thursday, October 8 with Religious Emphasis Day for all faith community leaders and the public. The State Conference will unveil its REAP PROGRAM designed to raise up pastors as justice advocates in education.  The goal is to train 200 pastors across the state. Senior Bishop George W. Walker, Sr., of the AME Zion Church of North Carolina will keynote the Religious Emphasis Luncheon and Rev. Sekinah Hamlin a national leader and Director of the Southeast Region Justice and Reconciliation Ministry has been invited as the keynote preacher for Thursday’s Mass Meeting.

Atty Al Mcsurely will lead the Fourth Annual Romallus O. Murphy Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Seminar will kick-off the weekend on Wednesday, October 7, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel with National NAACP Legal Staff presenting Title VI Enforcement, “Plugging the School to Prison Pipeline,” Police and Prosecutorial Misconduct, and Ethics.  Judges, attorneys and NAACP Branch Legal Redress Chairs are invited.  Legal practitioners can earn between 3-4 hour CLE Credits, approved by the NC State Bar.  

This three-day convention will celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the founding of the oldest and most effective civil rights organization in the nation, the NAACP.  Leading national and state experts on issues that affect the economy, health care, education, housing, workers’ rights and others that pertain to the quality of life for minorities and all North Carolinians have been invited to this major NAACP state function.

National NAACP’s Interim General Counsel Angela Ciccolo, and Attorney Anita Earls, one of NC’s leading civil rights attorneys will present the state of the courts—the United States Supreme Court and the NC Supreme Court.

Rev. Nelson Johnson, who is no stranger to issues related to organized labor and social justice will keynote our Labor & Industry Breakfast on Friday.  Rev. Johnson is the Executive Director of the Beloved Community Center in Greensboro, and leader of the Southern Faith, Labor and Community Alliance. State Executive Director, Amina Josey Turner will present her annual report to the NAACP delegates.

Secretary of NCDOT has been asked to come and address recent disparity study, its impact on minority contracting, and concerns of the NCNAACP.

Governor Perdue is expected to come and shared goals of her administration in light of the NAACP agenda.

Sessions will also be held on the Title 6 requirements of the Economic Stimulus plan.

The NC NAACP Legislative Report Card based upon the HK on J Agenda (www.hkonj.com) will be released at the Political Action Luncheon on Friday.  The report card evaluates how the NC General Assembly supports the NAACP agenda.  Judge James A. Wynn, Jr. has been invited as keynote speaker. 

State NAACP President Rev. Dr. Barber will present the “State of Civil Rights in North Carolina” at a public meeting on Saturday morning at 9:45.  The media is invited.

Rev. Dr. Madeline Sadler of the Exodus Foundation in Charlotte has been invited to keynote the Women in NAACP Saturday morning breakfast.  Dr. Timothy B. Tyson, of Duke University and author of Blood Done Sign My Name, will keynote the Membership Luncheon on Saturday and will be joined by Mary D. Williams, who sings freedom songs and black sacred music that accompanies the film.  There will be a special screening of this true story late Friday night.

As a part of the centennial celebration, attendees will be able to record their NAACP stories of vision and determination, their bold dreams and big victories during the course of the weekend.  Another significant world premier feature will be the Cash Michaels’ independent film, “Obama in NC:  the Path to History.”  It is the story of how North Carolina, against the backdrop of a troubled racial and political history, came together to help elect the first African-American president of the United States.        

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Thought-provoking workshops include:  “ARE WE LIVING IN A POST-RACIAL SOCIETY?”, which will examine the state of race and civil rights in education, housing, criminal justice, health care with expert panelists to discuss, challenge and interpret empirical data and trends.

The youth will have an opportunity to participate in an Internship Job Fair for upper high school and college students as well as college graduates.  Additionally, age-appropriate workshops on community activism; health; bullying, new graduation requirements; financial aid and student loans; gang awareness; spoken word; talent night and a semi-formal dance concludes their programming on Saturday night.

Atty. Steven W. Hawkins, Executive Vice President of the NAACP will close the convention as the keynote speaker for the Freedom Fund Banquet.

Additional announcements about invited speakers to the Freedom Fund Awards Banquet on Saturday night will be presented at the conference.

The statewide HK on J Coalition Partners—85-plus-members strong—will hold their planning meeting in preparation for “HK on J 4 in February 2010.”  “HK on J” stands for Historic Thousands on Jones Street in which thousands of North Carolinians march to Raleigh to present a social justice, anti-racist and progressive agenda for all of North Carolina to the General Assembly.

The NAACP encourages all to take part in all aspects of the phenomenal community organizing training, adult and youth leadership development, community building and networking.  The public is cordially invited and the convention is intergenerational.

66^th Annual NAACP State Convention

BOLD DREAMS, BIG VICTORIES

A Civil Rights Conference

October 8 through October 10

Hickory, NC

***Photo Opportunity***

  Event Details:

Excellent visuals:  NAACP State President, elected officials, business leaders

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.  For more information, call the State Office at 866-NC-NAACP or e-mail us at execdirnaacpnc@gmail.com.  ###

NAACP NC – Caswell County: NAACP Investigating Shooting Of Two Caswell County Children

NAACP Investigating Shooting Of Two Caswell County Children

The NAACP has opened its own investigation into the case of a man accused of shooting two children. (Read more @ digtriad.com)

See related:

NAACP NC

NAACP NC – Caswell County: North Carolina NAACP Open Investigation in the Shooting and Wounding of Two Black Children by a White Gunman

NAACP NC – Statement on Charlotte Installation

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

NORTH CAROLINA STATE CONFERENCE

114 W. Parrish Street, Second Floor Ÿ Durham, North Carolina 27701

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

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

Dr. William J. Barber II AminaJTurner President Executive Director

For immediate release September 12, 2009

Statement by—Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II,

NC NAACP State President

The NC NAACP State Conference welcomes the election of the Rev Kojo Nanatambu as the new President of the Charlotte Branch of the NAACP. As the National office has completed its reorganization work we are excited about the revitalized thrust of this historic branch.  On today, as he and other officers are installed, we also remember the great legacy of leadership and struggle for freedom and equality upon which we stand.  We thank pass leadership of the Charlotte branch for their service. 

The Charlotte branch, established in 1919, is a part of a larger State Conference of more than 100 adult branches across the state of NC.  NC is the largest State Conference in the south; as well as the fastest growing.  It was also recently named the second fastest growing in the Nation. And, has in the present and in the past received National accommodation for activism and commitment to social justice.  Our 66^th State Convention will be held in Hickory NC on Oct. 8-10, 2009.

As we come to this day of installation, we look not at what media reports, critics, or even syndic say about the organization, our role, or the relevancy of the NAACP.  We walk in a faith that the dark past has taught us towards a hope of true equality that we will never stop pursuing

Our mission is clear,

“The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.”

Nationally our focus is on correcting and stopping racial discrimination in education, housing, economic empowerment, labor rights, health, criminal justice, political actions and international affairs. 

In NC we adopted, in 2007 a 14 point agenda and have built a coalition of more than 85 partners representing more than 1 million citizens. 

The 14 Points

1. All Children Need High Quality, Well Funded, Diverse Schools. NC must meet its Constitution’s requirements of both adequate and diverse schools by fully funding Leandro with transparent accountability and hiring special leadership teams in its failing schools.

2. Livable Wages and Support for Low Income People. NC ought to provide livable wages, make sure no person goes hungry and that everyone in need has affordable, accessible childcare.

3. Health Care for All. NC ought to provide its people with health insurance and prescription drugs, while funding public health programs to treat social diseases that plague Black and poor communities including HIV/AIDS, diseases caused by environmental pollution and warming, drugs, domestic violence, mental illness, diabetes, and obesity.

4. Redress Ugly Chapters in NC’s Racist History: The overthrow of the bi-racial 1898 Wilmington Government ,the sterilization of poor, mainly Black, women from 1947-1977, and the 1989 KKK massacre in Greensboro.. NC must implement its 1898 Wilmington Riot Commission recommendations and pay damages to the poor women it forcibly sterilized.

5. Same Day Registration and Public Financing of Elections  [Note—Same Day Registration was passed in 2007, and has proven a monumental success]

6. Lift Every HBCU.  Financial support for our Historically Black Colleges and Universities to provide equitable infrastructure and programs with doctoral-level leaders for today’s challenges.

7. Document and Redress 200 years of State Discrimination in Hiring and Contracting. NC must commission historical documentation of its contracting practices with racial minorities to justify constitutional redress.

8. Provide Affordable Housing and Stop Consumer Abuse. NC must provide an Affordable Housing Trust Fund for low-income renters, vouchers for wounded veterans who cannot find accessible housing, meaningful tax breaks for seniors forced out of their homes, and protection against predatory lending and foreclosures.

9 Abolish Racially Biased Death Penalty and Mandatory Sentencing;  Reform our Prisons.

10. Put Young People to Work to Save the Environment and Fight for Environmental Justice.  Establish an Environmental Job Corps for young people who did not graduate from high school to re-engage them in public service.  Fight all forms of environmental injustice.

11. Collective Bargaining for Public Employees and Support Smithfield Workers Right to Unionize.  [Thanks in part to community support, Smithfield Workers won their Union in December 2008!]

12. Protect the Rights of Latin American and Other Immigrants NC must provide immigrants with health care, education, workers rights and protection from discrimination.

13. Organize, Strengthen and Provide Funding For Our Civil Rights Enforcement Agencies and Statutes Now.

14. Bring Our Troops Home from Iraq Now. NC cannot address injustice at home while we wage an unjust war abroad. (Now that many have come home we must insure they be cared for)

We have made progress but our work is not finished. (see report card at http://www.naacpnc.org.)

Our methods of engagement are what they have always been and each one is just as relevant today as it was yesterday.  Mobilization, organization, agitation, legislation, and litigation.

We celebrate all the progress we have made.  But in the recent days, especially with the staunch opposition to health care for all Americans, that is wrapped in not so thinly veiled racism along with the blatant disrespect for the President who happens to be African American, we have been reminded that no matter how far we’ve come we have a long way to go.  Beyond the immediate headlines, every researched social indicator continues to expose exiting disparities based on race in education, housing, health, and criminal justice, etc.  

This is why we need all hands on deck and every branch of the NAACP active until America fulfills its promise to be a place that, without regards to race, every man, woman, and child, without obstacle, can engage their inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

Durham NC – Grand Old Party (GOP) has Gone Overboard (GOB)

North Carolina National Association

for the Advancement of Colored People

114 WEST PARRISH STREET, SECOND FLOOR ▪ DURHAM, NC 27701

919/682-4700 ▪ 919/682-4711

execdirnaacpnc@gmail.com

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II

President

Amina J. Turner

Executive Director

September 4, 2009

Grand Old Party (GOP) has Gone Overboard (GOB)

PRESS STATEMENT BY

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II

919 394-8137

The Grand Old Party (GOP) has Gone Overboard (GOB). The recent rhetoric by the North Carolina State Party Chair of the Republicans, Mr. Fetzer and other ultra conservative leaders both here in NC and around the country denouncing President Obama’s planned speech to students is utterly ridiculous. In the speech to students the President will be encouraging students to go to school, stay in school, do their best, and achieve. The GOP doesn’t want this? We should rename the GOP the GOB because in this instance they have truly gone overboard. I say this not as a matter of partisan politics but as a matter of right and wrong and basic respect. The Honorable Barack Obama is our President, the President of the United States.

It is one thing to disagree with his policies. In this democracy, we have a right to disagree strongly. But disagreement cannot mean there is a secession of respect which seeks to poison even that which is good. I have, we have, in the NAACP disagreed with our Presidents on both sides of the isle, even our current President in some areas, but we still maintain basic respect. We have challenged every President. We have challenged them strongly and forthrightly and will continue to do so. But, we still invite them to our national gatherings and when they have visited us we respect the man and the office. When President George Bush finally came to our National Convention he spoke before the whole convention, youth and adults, and was treated with respect even though we deeply disagreed with his record on civil rights and public policy. Our convention was a policy event, but we did not boo and hiss and engage in disrespectful behavior.

When President George Bush read to our nation’s children, no matter how much we disagreed with his policies we did not speak against him using the office to encourage students. When the President of the United States speaks before the Congress, all of the members come and all rise. When he enters the chambers and is introduced as the President of the United States, they all stand and applaud. It is a matter of fundamental respect.

Almost every president in recent memory has chosen some venue to encourage the students of our nation. And, even though we may disagree with the President’s policies, there has never been a call before now, not listen to words of encouragement. On another level, when Chief Justice Roberts came to NCCU Law School, even though many of the students disagreed with his conservative legal disposition and philosophies, they still respectfully listened to him. The GOP has Gone Overboard. There is a place for strong even loud protest but to denounce a President encouraging children is beyond troubling.

Moreover, this call for schools not to play the President’s speech and for parents not to listen has the scent of racism. Not one GOP Leader said anything when during his campaign and after his election, President Barack Obama has gone into predominately African American venues (i.e. Schools, churches, etc.), and called on black students to work hard, not to give in to negative forces, and to make no excuses about achievement. Why are the President’s words good enough for black children, minority children, but not good enough for all of our children in these United States?

The criticism of Republicans and ultra conservatives is strangely suspicious. We do not renounce sports figures, movie stars, or other celebrities from speaking to and encouraging our students. But now, a certain element, wants to denounce the President of the United States, duly elected by the people, from encouraging our students? The GOP has truly Gone Overboard on this one. It is more than distasteful, it is Un-American and more importantly, Wrong.

Finally, so much of what has apparently rendered the GOP into a livid frenzy is just untruthful. All of this distorted political rhetoric –the President is a socialist, the President is racist, the President is trying to take away your Medicare and create death panels would be worthy of disdain if it were true. But its not and they know it. This is what makes the current climate so vile and dangerous. Honest debate is one thing but vicious lies constantly repeated in a conspiratorial effort to beguile a sometimes gullible constituency is more than troubling. It’s a violation of decency and moral discourse. I say this to the GOP or anybody that is doing it. It should be challenged by all of us, democrats, independents and republicans, who know foolishness and unfounded propaganda when we hear it!

Raleigh NC – Rev. Barber speech at health reform rally Aug. 29

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

NORTH CAROLINA STATE CONFERENCE

114 W. Parrish Street, Second Floor Ÿ Durham, North Carolina 27701

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

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

Dr. William J. Barber II Amina J. Turner President Executive Director

For immediate release August 29, 2009

Full text of Rev. Dr. William J. Barber’s Speech at Health Reform Rally at State Capitol

“We Need a Healing”.

If my people who are called by my name would humble themselves, pray and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear from heaven and heal the land. (2d Chronicles 7:14)

We are here today because we need a healing in the land. We need those who want to perpetuate a sick health care system that is not for everybody and does not cover everybody to turn from their wicked ways. We are here today because we need a healing in the land.

It is ironic that 74 years ago in this same month of August, President Franklin Roosevelt was fighting to secure and sign the Social Security Act. Even then, the precursors of today’s forces of greed, selfishness, fear, and division were fighting him, and fighting reform and progressivism in America. They called it “socialism.” That’s what they said about Social Security. They said it would break America. They said that everybody should not be included.

In fact, these attacks weakened the first Social Security Act. The forces of greed, selfishness, fear, and division fought so hard, and bought so many souls, they forced coverage for the mostly Black, Hispanic and poor domestic and farm workers to be taken out of the Act before it was passed. It took 19 long years for these Americans to finally be covered when they turned 65 –if they made it to 65.

The forces of greed, selfishness, fear, and division have a long history of promoting a divided America. They are good at it. They are loud at it. And they are consistent at it.

But today we gather to say they have had their say. Now it is time for us who believe in a United America, a caring America, a compassionate America to speak up.

Tomorrow is my birthday. I was born 2 days after the March on Washington, 46 years ago on yesterday. That was a triumphant day. That was a day when a prophet named Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. laid out a challenge to these same forces in the nation’s capital. He challenged the forces who were saying the call for justice and jobs and equality would cost too much for America. Dr. King said on that triumphant day, as we must say now, we refuse to believe that the great vaults of this nation are bankrupt. And today I say, we refuse to believe that we cannot pay for a just health care system.
The forces of greed, selfishness, fear and division can not have it both ways. When they demand more tax cuts for the wealthy that don’t need it, somehow they always find the money.

When they want to bail out Wall Street’s bankers and pay the extravagant CEO’s billion dollar bonuses with taxpayer’s dollars, they can always find the money.

When they want to follow in lock step the leadership of a President who led us into an immoral and unnecessary war, they found trillions of dollars in our money.

But when it comes to caring for our own, for the 50 million Americans who can’t pay for good health insurance, the voices of greed, selfishness, division and fear want to tell us the funds are not sufficient. You can’t break and rob the bank and then say there is no money in the bank. You can’t say, it cost too much today knowing that it will cost even more tomorrow if you don’t fix it now. You can’t with integrity be a Senator or Representative with the best retirement and health care in the nation fight plans to help everyday Americans to need good health care. You can’t with integrity accept Social Security and Medicare which, in case you haven’t heard, are U.S. Government programs, and then go on television and say the Government ought not help others get health insurance. Something is terribly wrong with these positions.

Yes, in a democracy we ought to have a debate. But the debate ought to be logical. And it surely out not to based in lies and distortion. So we are here today to say we will not, cannot, and must not believe the distortions.

Health Care for Every American, Now.

That’s what we believe.

That’s what we want.

That’s what we are fighting for.

Too many Americans today are straining under the burden of two related trends: shrinking health care coverage and rising health care costs. Over the last decade, millions of Americans have found themselves uninsured, and millions more have become underinsured as the value of their coverage has declined. In the years 2008 – 2010 it is estimated that almost 6,000 people a day, or almost 7 million Americans total, will lose their health insurance. We must help our fellow Americans.

Dr. Martin Luther King also said 40 years ago: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”

So, health care reform is not some kind of calculated socialism. It is common sense public policy. Tim Wise, a white social commentator, has said, “By allowing the right to throw around terms like ‘socialist’ to describe the President and ‘socialism’ to describe his….health care reform proposals without challenges is to ensure that the right will succeed in their demonization campaign…. Wise said, and I agree, this noise is about race. It is about "othering" a President.” This is what animates the every move of some of the poor and working people who get sucked in by the Palins and the Limbaugh fear mongering. Unless our Movement begins pushing back, and starts insisting that yes, the old days are gone, white hegemony is dead, and deserved its demise, and that all of us, Black, Brown AND white, will be better off for it, the chorus of white backlash will only grow louder. So too will it grow more effective at dividing and conquering the working people who would benefit — all of them — from a new direction.”

If caring for all the people is ‘socialist’ then Amos the prophet in the bible was a socialist when he said ‘Let justice roll down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.’ Isaiah was a socialist when he said ‘Lose the bands of wickedness and care for the poor among us.’ Jesus Christ, the non-profit prophet and healer, he was a socialist when he said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, give sight to the blind, and healing to the broken hearted.” If insuring health care is socialist then Ralph Waldo Emerson was a socialist when he said, “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”

If working for a the just society that provides health care for all Americans is socialist, then the founding fathers were socialist; when they enumerated in the founding documents of this nation that the purpose of government was to work for the common good, not private prosperity alone.

Health care reform is not socialism. It is social justice and we must make this clear. We cannot allow the B.O.L. to dictate this debate. We cannot allow the three screamers—Mr. Beck, Mr. O’Rielly and Mr. Limbaugh—to set the terms of this important discussion. The BOL shout loud to try to drown out our voices of truth and compassion. That is why we gather and lift our voices to speak. And to Act. Health care for every American now.

We must take on every distortion and every the lie. When they try to say there is a death panel in the current proposal. No, we must say. There is not a death panel in the current proposal but there is a death panel in the current system.

The Death Panel is the discriminatory system now in place. The panel of insurance claims adjusters who deny claims. Those who denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions. Those who set the cost of insurance that forces people to choose between food, paying the rent, or health insurance. This Death Panel keeps one out of four Americans at the mercy of every illness or accident and every lost job. We must challenge those who are funded by insurance companies and the health care industries. Democracy NC gathered research from the Center of Responsive Politics and Federal Elections Commission, and listed the donations given to every member of Congress. Senator Richard Burr, for instance, leads the list receiving over 1 million, 600 thousand dollars from health care and insurance corporations. And we must say to him and every other elected official. No matter who gives you money, your job is to care for all the people. Help make a better life for all the people.

We must challenge Democratic Party candidates who run on a progressive agenda. Who say in the heat of campaign that they stand for health care reform. That say they stand with the late Lion of the Senate, the honorable Edward M. Kennedy who championed full health care reform and said, “Every American should have the opportunity to receive a quality education, a job that respects their dignity and protects their safety and health care that does not condemn those whose health is impaired to life of poverty and lost opportunity.”

We must challenge those who rode the coattails of President Obama, calling for health care reform, but somehow once they get elected try to move from being Lions that will fight for real change to being Blue Dogs, who sniff around for the easy compromise.

Why should we have to compomise on the moral rightness of health on every American? Senator Burr, Senator Hagan no matter whose money contributed or what color the dog, the donkey or the elephant is. Conservative or liberal we want health care for every American; this must be our cry We must be lions.

Before this debate ever began this year, we in the HKonJ Coalition said four years ago, Health Care for All. NC ought to provide its people with health insurance and prescription drugs, while funding public health programs to treat social diseases that plague Black and poor communities including HIV/AIDS, diseases caused by environmental pollution and warming, drugs, domestic violence, mental illness, diabetes, and obesity.

The NAACP has called for health reform for years. Our current system discriminates on the basis of race and class.

We know what works in America and bless all the people:

(1) Full health care coverage that is affordable to every individual, family and business which also provides coverage for pre-existing conditions; (2) Standard, comprehensive health care benefits that meet everyone’s needs from preventive to chronic care; (3) The choice of a private or public health care plan, which includes a new public health care “public option” that will provide a guaranteed backup which will always be there to ensure quality, affordable health care coverage no matter what; and (4) Equity in health care access, treatment, research, and resources to people and communities of color and stronger health services in low-income communities.

"Health Care, just like Education, is a fundamental human right in the 21st century in America."

Systemic denial of health care to the poor, to working people and people out of work, to the 50-100 million Americans who need health care the most, to people with pre-existing diseases is a sin. It’s evil. It’s wrong. It’s un-just. It’s not American. It’s perpetuating a separate and unequal society. It’s cementing a Jim Crow Health system in place for another century.

This is the United States of America. The richest country in the world, we want an American Health Care System–not a system that works for the rich, and is dysfunctional for everyone else. We want an American Health Care System–not a system that discriminates and excludes that picks and chooses who lives and who dies by the size of their bank account. The exclusive health system works fine for those with good jobs and big bank accounts.

The exclusive health care system belongs to them. But this is the United States of America. We need a United States of America Health Care System, the USA Health Care Plan. If you don’t understand that, then you don’t understand what America is. America is ours. America is all of us.

If my people who are called by my name would humble themselves, pray and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear from heaven and heal the land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

We need a healing.

We need to turn from fear.

We need to turn from greed.

We need to turn from lies.

We need to turn from selfishness.

We need to turn from wicked ways.

We need a healing in the land.

Too many children are dying.

We need a healing in the land.

To many families are struggling.

Too many are scared to get sick, and can’t go to the doctor.

We need a healing in the land!

We don’t believe in social Darwinism, survival of the fitness.

We believe we are our brother’s keeper.

We believe we ought to do unto other as we would have them do unto us.

We believe that a great nation care for of its people.

We believe when we lift up the poor and lift up the hurting the whole nation gets elevated.

We believe that we reap what we sow.

If we sow compassion;

If we sow caring;

Then God will shed his grace on us,

And so this is no time for us to stand on the side line.

No time for us to be quiet.

We need a healing in the nation.

Let every politician hear our voice, health care for every American Now,

Go tell your friends; go tell your neighbor it’s time to stand, fight,

We need a healing in America.

Health care, every American now.

Nothing will turn us back.

This the moral issue of our day.

Will love our foes, but we cannot follow their path.

We need a healing in the nation and we need it now!

Raleigh NC – Rally for Health Care! Health Care Can’t Wait!

See related:

Rocky Mount NC – Congressman Butterfield Dispels Rumors About Health Care Reform

Raleigh NC – Carolina Justice Policy Center Summary On NC Racial Justice Act

Remember the history of lynchings in NC!  Remember the innocent most recently released from Death Row in 2008, all Black men- Bo Jones, Glen Chapman, Jonathon Hoffman!  Remember the racist trials in the South and NC – Darryl Hunt’s, Ronald Cotton’s!  Remember advocates like Rev Finlator who fought for change! Remember the racial prejudices and assumptions that groups make toward each other! Remember that justice for so many relied on our lawmakers and that they did not let us down last night because of the hardwork of volunteers and coalitions throughout the state!

A landmark piece of legislation, the NC Racial Justice Act, has finally passed in NC that will help to fight racism in our criminal justice system. This highlights what can happen when diverse groups come together to impact change.

Last night the NC Racial Justice Act was sent to the Governor!  RJA had an international following and a historic grassroots network of supporters in NC.  The world was watching last night because RJA is landmark legislation in need of duplication. 

This bill would have never passed without the hard work of the bill’s sponsors, Sen Floyd McKissick, Rep Larry Womble, Rep Earline Parmon, Rep Pricey Harrison, Rep Paul Luebke, House Speaker Joe Hackney (his fabulous team – Laura Devivo, Bill Holmes, Robin Johnson) and so many others who sacrificed so much.  Special thanks to Rep Deborah Ross, Rep Bill Faison, Rep Phil Haire, Rep Angela Bryant, Rep Larry Hall who helped sponsors maneuver RJA through numerous committees.

Most importantly, the NC General Assembly and the state of NC witnessed the force of the NC Legislative Black Caucus (led by Rep Alma Adams) that locked arms from both chambers last night to win this bill.  Senate Black Democrats marched to victory together with ranking member Senator Charlie Dannelly as their mouthpiece.  They were also joined by progressive Senators Ellie Kinnaird, Dan Clodfelter, Doug Berger and Martin Nesbitt who worked hard for a concurrence vote last night.

So many people helped to win this bill because they recognized its need.  Many more lawmakers made tremendous sacrifices for their work last night in spite of warnings from their Caucus’ leaders.  But, ultimately they were led by their own faith ‘to do the right thing and vote for change.’.

We Did It because of You! So many people and groups coming together led to this victory! Specials thanks to the NAACP (led by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II), HK on J Coalition members, the NC Black Leadership Caucus (led by past chair Can, the NC Legislative Black Caucus, Blueprint NC members and all of our Moratorium Coalition’s partners’ staff and grassroots network!!!

Thank you for a job well done!  The lives saved are forever grateful!  My life has been enriched and my spirit blessed because of this fight!  Thanks to my friend Donice Harbor for being my footsteps on this journey in both her life and recent passing! She opened doors to now Governor Beverly Perdue like no one else could.

-Charmaine Fuller Cooper, Executive Director
Carolina Justice Policy Center

North Carolina – 66th Annual NAACP State Convention

 

Raleigh NC – North Carolina Legislature Passes Historic Racial Justice Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Chris Fleming

(202) 463-2940 x. 1021

(202) 631-0929

cfleming@naacpnet.org

NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE PASSES HISTORIC

RACIAL JUSTICE ACT

BECOMES FIRST STATE IN SOUTH TO ALLOW DEATH ROW INMATES TO CHALLENGE RACIAL FAIRNESS OF THEIR SENTENCING

(Washington, DC) The NAACP announced today the North Carolina State Legislature passed the North Carolina Racial Justice Act. This Act, the first of its kind, will allow inmates sentenced to death, to challenge the racial fairness of their sentencing.

“This is a monumental victory for the NAACP, the residents of North Carolina, and for the innocent men and women sentenced to Death Row. The passage of the Racial Justice Act makes North Carolina the first state in the south to provide this type of remedy and should be a model for other states throughout the nation,” stated NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. “Under the stewardship of our North Carolina State Conference President, Reverend William Barber II, this important piece of legislation now lies in the hands of Governor Purdue, and we urge her to sign it and allow the 98 people on death row in North Carolina the chance to get a fair trial.”

The North Carolina State Senate voted 25-18 on Tuesday to pass the legislation, and the bill awaits the Governor’s signature.

“The passage of the Racial Justice Act is a major step not only in North Carolina but potentially in the South for dealing with the continuing legacy of systemic racism in the application of the death penalty,” said Reverend William Barber II, President of the NAACP North Carolina State Conference.

North Carolina currently has 163 people on death row, 60 percent of whom are black. Supporters of the Racial Justice Act point to a 2001 study by researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill that found that the odds of a defendant receiving the death penalty in North Carolina increase if the victim of the murder is white.

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.

Raleigh NC – Breaking News: NC-NAACP Statement on Racial Justice Act That Passed in the General Assembly Today

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 15, 2009

Contact: Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II —919-394-8137

naacpbarber@gmail.com

NC-NAACP Statement on Racial Justice Act

Statement of Rev. Dr. William Barber on concurrence of the passage of the Racial Justice Act in the NC Senate today:

Today, with a positive vote on the Racial Justice Act, North Carolina has taken another step away from systemic racism and towards a fairer and just community.  This is a victory for justice.

The NAACP opposes the death penalty, first on a moral basis and secondly on the basis that it is applied in disproportionate and discriminatory ways.  However, even if one is pro-death penalty, they should support the Racial Justice Act, which simply gives a judicial remedy when race has been wrongly used in its application. 

North Carolina has had eight people exonerated from death row since 1973.  The last three, who were exonerated in the last two years, have been black.

The NAACP applauds the North Carolina General Assembly for taking this principled step.

Speaking Truth to Power – *We Need a New Campaign to Protect An Important Victory of the 1960’s: Naming the Enemy "Racism" and Putting on this Generation’s Agenda the Historical Duty of all People of Good Will to Dismantle Racism.*

Many of us worked hard in the 1960’s to legitimatize the word "racism" as the name of the insidious, self-replicating system that exploits and oppresses people of color—a system that began with legalized slavery, was perpetuated through the 1960’s with legalized Jim Crow, and continuing today in what the system I call "Neo-Jim Crow."

Those who would restore Jim Crow—the racist/right wing that spends billionaire’s money to stop the anti-racism agenda–have used their media prostitutes to persistently chip away at our important victory of incorporating "racism" into the popular  vocabulary.  Their tactic is to repeat over and over the big lie that when someone, sometimes aided by governmental programs, tries to dismantle the 300 year old white male affirmative action system, the racist forces call this "reverse racism" and "reverse discrimination."   They say, Oh!  He’s playing the race card."   He’s a whiner.  He’s a complainer.  The attack the minute a person of color files a complaint–like Dr. Gates did the other night against the cops.  Their aim is to terrorize people so, even if they have a legitimate complaint, they will think twice about saying it, because they will have to undergo a scripted chorus of crazy-baiting.

Prof. Gates is a distinguished teacher from W. Va.  He has thought hard and written clearly about racism.  He does not use the word lightly. But check how the  Cambridge cops picked up the racist’s script to blame him, in their long, self-serving "incident report." Just like 5 old  men (including Clarence Thomas) turned the Civil Rights Act of 1964 upside down with the ridiculous decision in the New Haven Firefighter case  last month. Or in the Ba/kkk/e case, etc. The right wing spends billions trying to undercut one of our main victories of the 1960’s–accurately naming the historical period and the historical problem we face–racism. We must fight hard to hold onto that gain. 

We must expose the scripted tactics of the racist/right to trivialize and subvert the accurate use of the name: racism. President Obama will not be able to do this.  We must take up this important fight. 

—Al  McSurely, NC. NAACP Legal Redress Chair

See related:

Black scholar’s arrest raises profiling questions

Durham NC – NC NAACP Mourns the Loss of Donice Harbor

Raleigh NC – NAACP Response to Conference Call with Governor Beverly Perdue

Raeford NC – Centennial Celebration Revival NAACP