New post from the NAACP: NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, Issues Statement on Facebook Oversight Board’s Decision to Uphold the Ban on Donald Trump by Marc Banks

“Donald Trump is one of the single greatest threats to democracy in modern history. The hatred and misinformation the former president propagated has no place in America, let alone on a platform with billions of users. We applaud the Facebook Oversight Board’s decision to uphold the ban on Donald Trump. For years now, we have been pushing Facebook to do what is right to protect the people and the country the former president endangered, and we will continue to hold them accountable. Facebook has the opportunity to end the era in which it fuels extremism, division and insurrection.“

###

The post NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, Issues Statement on Facebook Oversight Board’s Decision to Uphold the Ban on Donald Trump appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: NAACP Statement on FDA Plan to Ban Sale of Menthol and E-Cigarettes by Austyn Ross

 

For decades, the tobacco industry has been targeting African Americans and have contributed to the skyrocketing rates of heart disease, stroke and cancer across our community. The tobacco industry is on a narrow quest for profit, and they have been killing us along the way. The NAACP has been calling for a ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored e-cigarettes for years now, and we applaud the FDA’s latest plan to do just that. It’s about time we prioritize the health and well-being of African Americans.

###

About NAACP

Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund, also referred to as the NAACP-LDF, was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization, and shares our commitment to equal rights.

 

The post NAACP Statement on FDA Plan to Ban Sale of Menthol and E-Cigarettes appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: Planned Parenthood, NAACP and Congresswoman Underwood Join More Than 250 Women of Color in Calling DC Statehood a Matter of Public Health & Racial Justice by Marc Banks

WASHINGTON — Today, Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America; Dr. Serina Floyd, medical director/vice president of medical affairs at Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC; Akosua Ali, president of the NAACP Washington, DC; and U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), joined by more than 250 women leaders of color, released an open letter to Congress declaring D.C. statehood an issue of public health and racial equity. The letter, released one week after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, highlights how D.C.’s lack of statehood creates health care disparities and denies District residents reproductive freedom.

“Nearly half of District residents are Black,” the letter states. “If Washington finally became a state, it would be the first state with a plurality of Black residents. Statehood for the District of Columbia is a racial justice issue — and it’s a public health imperative.”

The open letter notes a number of ways in which the District’s lack of autonomy has put its residents’ health at risk. Large proportions of D.C.’s vaccine allotment have gone to federal agencies and to non-residents, while Black residents are going without. Congress regularly denies D.C. residents their reproductive rights by passing annual appropriations bills with riders that prohibit D.C. from using locally-raised tax dollars to cover abortion for people enrolled in D.C. Medicaid, who are disproportionately people of color. The letter also names the Black maternal mortality crisis and lack of local autonomy as further ways that systemic and structural racism has led to health inequities in the District.

“It has always been morally reprehensible to deny the people of Washington, D.C. representation in our democracy. But the triple intersecting crises of COVID-19, systemic racism, and attacks on reproductive health have laid bare the depth of inequity experienced by D.C residents, particularly those of color. People who live in Washington, D.C. are being denied the autonomy to build their own health care systems and make their own choices about their bodies. This is a matter of life and death.”

Co-signers include prominent women of color working toward health and racial equity, such as attorney and television personality Star Jones; political strategists Donna Brazile and Rev. Leah D. Daughtry; Beverly Evans Smith, the 2017-2021 National President CEO for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Angela Rye, principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies; Marcela Howell, president and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda; entrepreneur and civic leader E. Faye Williams; Mayra Macias, executive director of the Latino Victory Fund; Juliet Choi, president and Chief Executive Officer of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF); Glynda Carr, president and CEO of the Higher Heights for America PAC; and Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center.

Together, they call on the U.S. Senate to follow the lead of the House, rectify the disenfranchisement of the more than 712,000 D.C. residents, and give them control over their bodies, lives, and futures by passing the Washington, D.C. Admission Act.

###

The post Planned Parenthood, NAACP and Congresswoman Underwood Join More Than 250 Women of Color in Calling DC Statehood a Matter of Public Health & Racial Justice  appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: NAACP to Host Justice and Accountability Virtual Town Hall by Marc Banks

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, April 29, 2021, 7:30p – 9:00p EST, the NAACP will host a virtual town hall on the need for accountability and justice at a time when both are severely lacking in American institutions. 

“We are at an inflection point when it comes to justice and accountability in this country, said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO, NAACP. “The promise of equity is long overdue, and this meaningful conversation will move us closer to understanding the pathway there.” 

WHEN: April 29, 2021, 7:30p – 9:00p EST

 

WHERE: https://www.youtube.com/naacp 

 

WHO: 

Ed Gordon, Journalist 

Derrick Johnson, president and CEO, NAACP

Representative Karen Bass, California

Senator Cory Booker, New Jersey

Cariol Horne, Former Police Officer

Jelani Cobb, Ira A. Lipman professor, Journalism at Columbia University

Ken Chenault, chairman and managing director, General Catalyst Partners

Ben Crump, Attorney

The post NAACP to Host Justice and Accountability Virtual Town Hall appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: NAACP President’s Statement on Reckless Killing of Daunte Wright by Austyn Ross

NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, released the following statement in response to the reckless killing of Daunte Wright:

“Daunte Wright was shot and killed yesterday, just north of where George Floyd was suffocated less than a year ago. Both were fathers, both were Black men, both died at the hands of police. Whether it be carelessness and negligence, or a blatant modern-day lynching, the result is the same. Another Black man has died at the hands of police.”

###

About NAACP

Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund, also referred to as the NAACP-LDF, was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization, and shares our commitment to equal rights.

The post NAACP President’s Statement on Reckless Killing of Daunte Wright appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: Ten New Members of Congress Seek to Join Federal Lawsuit to Hold Trump and Giuliani Responsible for Inciting Capitol Riot by Marc Banks

New Allegations Reveal Two Members Contracted COVID, Others Contemplated “Go Bags,” Burial Locations and Estate Planning 

Filed by NAACP and Civil Rights Law Firm Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, Lawsuit Also Names Proud Boys and Oath Keepers

 

WASHINGTON D.C—Ten current Members of Congress today are seeking to join a federal lawsuit filed by Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson accusing Donald J. Trump, Rudy Giuliani, the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers of conspiring to incite a violent riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6^th, with the goal of preventing Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election. The lawsuit, initially filed in February, alleges that by preventing Congress from carrying out its official duties, Trump, Giuliani and the hate groups directly violated the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act.

The Members seeking to join the lawsuit with Representative Thompson are: Karen Bass (D-CA); Steve Cohen (D-TN); Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ); Veronica Escobar (D-TX); Hank Johnson, Jr. (D-GA); Marcy Kaptur (D-OH); Barbara Lee (D-CA); Jerrold Nadler (D-NY); Pramila Jayapal (D-WA); and Maxine Waters (D-CA).

The plaintiffs were all prevented from carrying out their constitutional duties to certify the 2020 presidential election due to the violent mob that had overtaken the Capitol. The lawsuit seeks to use the justice system to hold Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani and the violent white supremacists who participated in the insurrection accountable for their attack on democracy–something that even Senator Mitch McConnell has endorsed.

The amendment complaint was filed Tuesday morning in Federal District Court in Washington, D.C. by the NAACP and civil rights law firm Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll. Following the dissolution of the Proud Boys organization in February, the suit names the Warboys LLC, which operated in conjunction with the Proud Boys, and

Enrique Tarrio, the leader of both Warboys and the Proud Boys, as additional defendants.

Some of the new allegations today include:

• Representative Cohen began to contemplate where he would want to be buried. Once back in his office, he grabbed a baseball bat for protection as he sat in the dark for several hours.
• Representative Jayapal struggled to leave the House gallery safely, having just recovered from surgery. She was eventually forced to share a small, overcrowded room with other Members who refused to wear masks to stop the spread of COVID-19. A few days later, Representative Jayapal tested positive for COVID-19 and endured symptoms for six weeks.
• Following the events of January 6th Representative Lee, knowing that she had narrowly escaped serious injury or her death on that date, began finalizing her plans for her estate.
• After Representative Nadler returned to his office waiting for the joint session of Congress to resume, he learned of the breach of the Capitol. He knew he could not shelter in his own office given that his name was on the door, so he instead hid in the Judiciary Committee Office for hours. Fearing for his safety and anticipating that he might have to evacuate the building, he prepared a “go-bag” of essential items.
• As Representative Watson Coleman was planning to enter the House physician’s office, she was ushered into a small room by Capitol police where she heard shouts and menacing noises from the insurgents in the next hallway. While trapped in the room, Representative Watson Coleman hoped that, if the rioters broke down the first door, the second thicker door would be strong enough to keep them out of the room.

The experiences of these Members were among the consequences of Trump and Giuliani’s alleged attempts to mobilize and prepare supporters for an attack.

The lawsuit alleges that Trump and Giuliani violated 42 U.S.C. 1985(1), often referred to as the Ku Klux Klan Act, which was passed in 1871 in response to KKK violence and intimidation preventing Members of Congress in the South during Reconstruction from carrying out their constitutional duties. The statute was intended specifically to protect against conspiracies.

“I am heartened to be joined by ten of my colleagues in this critical effort to hold former President Trump, Rudy Giuliani, the Oath Keepers, and Proud Boys to account for their respective roles in the January 6th attack on the Capitol. We owe it to our families, the American public, and history to get to the truth about the conspiracy that fueled a violent mob to rampage the Capitol in an effort to stand in the way of the peaceful transfer of power,” said Congressman Bennie Thompson (MS-2).

“I’m proud to stand with Chairman Thompson, President Johnson and the entirety of the NAACP in acting to ensure the safety of this democracy. What happened on January 6th must never happen again. To make that a reality, those responsible must be held accountable,” said Congresswoman Karen Bass (CA-37).

As I sat in my office on January 6th, after experiencing the attack on the chamber and our evacuation to safety, I feared that they were or could be rioters in the halls of Rayburn. During the attack and afterwards I thought that my life was in danger and the prospect of death entered my mind” said Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09).

“I’ve joined onto this complaint as a plaintiff because the threat to the safety of both our democracy and to me individually was blatantly and violently disregarded. There must be accountability for the violent disruption of our business and personal fear that has arisen,” said Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

There must be accountability for the profound and destructive consequences of the January 6th attack on our Capitol, our democracy, and our country. It is my hope that this lawsuit helps bring that accountability,” said Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16).

“By inciting the deadliest and most destructive assault on the United States Capitol since the War of 1812, Donald Trump not only attacked me and all those inside Congress during the January 6th insurrection but he also attacked our Constitution, our country, and our very democracy,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07). “We must send a clear message to Donald Trump and everyone involved in inciting, planning, and carrying out the insurrection that there will be full accountability and justice for this lethal attack targeted at preventing us from doing our job.”

“The rule of law was brutally assaulted on 6 January, and today I join my colleagues as a Plaintiff in the case of Thompson v. Trump, which will hold accountable those responsible for that unprecedented attack on our democracy,” said Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04).

 “The events of January 6 were no accident. There must be consequences for those who contributed to the coordinated attempt to overturn a free and fair election and harm our democracy. This lawsuit is an important step in repairing the damage that has been done, and I am pleased to join so many of my colleagues in this fight,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09).

“On January 6th Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani trampled our democracy, inciting a violent mob of white supremacists to overturn a free and fair election. Though he failed in his ultimate goal, the very foundation of our democracy was shaken. We cannot just let this shameful moment in our history pass, because next

time, the consequences will be even graver. I am proud to stand with my colleagues and hold Donald Trump accountable for his attempt to destroy the fabric of this nation,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13).

“There is no question that the mob’s unlawful actions—their brutal, anti-Democratic attack against the very seat of our democracy—interfered with my ability to exercise my constitutional responsibility of certifying the 2020 presidential election. This violence was anything but spontaneous; it was the direct result of a conspiracy to incite a riot, instigated by President Trump, Rudolph Giuliani, the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers. Today, without joy but with firm resolve, I have joined Congressman Bennie Thompson’s suit against those who solicited this violence. Those responsible for placing me and my colleagues in danger must face accountability for their criminality,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10)

“Donald Trump orchestrated one of the gravest attacks on our democracy in the history of this country, and he must face consequences. Donald Trump and his allies rallied a mob at the White House, encouraged them to storm the Capitol, and disrupt Members’ constitutional duties. Marauders, white supremacists, and members of right-wing terrorist organizations ransacked the Capitol, destroyed property, endangered Members of Congress, and defiled the seat of what is supposed to be the greatest democracy in the world. These actions must have consequences and the country cannot heal from the wounds inflicted on our institutions by the previous President until he, along with Rudy Giuliani the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, are brought to justice and held accountable,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43). 

“What we witnessed on January 6, 2021, was the climax of a meticulously organized coup incited by Donald Trump that placed Members of Congress and the integrity of our democracy in peril. We witnessed Donald Trump chip away at our nation’s civility and dignity with his failed leadership for the past four years. In his last act of desperation, he conspired with Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and Rudy Giuliani to stop the constitutional process of certifying the 2020 presidential election while also disenfranchising African-American voters who cast valid ballots,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP.

“We are pleased that such a distinguished group of Representatives has joined this suit, which seeks to hold accountable the principal architects of the assault on the Capitol and on democracy that occurred on January 6. While the threat to the peaceful transfer of power was profound, this lawsuit provides a powerful means to redress the harm caused to these Members of Congress, explore in more detail the dark forces that contributed to the insurrection we observed and demonstrate that our courts are available to protect against such lawlessness,” said Joe Sellers, Partner at Cohen Milstein, Chair of the firm’s Executive

###

Committee and Chair of the Civil Rights & Employment Practice Group.

The NAACP has, since its founding, represented individuals in court to eliminate race-based discrimination. Throughout the 2020 election cycle, and after the election, the NAACP utilized the judiciary to protect the rights of

African-American voters and ensure that their ballots were counted. This case is a continuation of that work.

 

About NAACP

Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate

race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund, also referred to as the NAACP-LDF, was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization, and shares our commitment to equal rights.

 

About Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll

Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC is recognized as one of the premier law firms in the country handling major, complex plaintiff-side litigation. With more than 100 attorneys, Cohen Milstein has offices in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y., Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Philadelphia, Pa. and Raleigh, N.C. For additional information, visit www.cohenmilstein.com or call 202.408.4600.

The post Ten New Members of Congress Seek to Join Federal Lawsuit to Hold Trump and Giuliani Responsible for Inciting Capitol Riot appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, Releases the Following Statement on the Passing of Congressman Alcee Hastings by Marc Banks

Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP released the following statement on the passing of Congressman Alcee Hastings:

“We are saddened by the loss of Congressman Alcee Hastings. His tremendous crusade against racial injustice as a civil rights lawyer and member of the U.S. House of Representatives is etched into the fabric of our history. As a friend of the NAACP and fierce public servant, his absence will be felt in the halls of congress and throughout Florida’s 20^th district. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends, family, and loved ones during this time.”

###

The post NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, Releases the Following Statement on the Passing of Congressman Alcee Hastings appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: Sustainable Building Competition Returns to 2021 ACT-SO by Interactive Strategies

Courtesy of New River Brokerage via The Charlotte Observer

It is our great pleasure to announce the 2^nd annual ACT-SO Sustainable Building Competition during the NAACP 112th Annual National Convention, hosted by the NAACP Centering Equity in the Sustainable Building Sector (CESBS) Initiative and ACT-SO.

Sustainable building regenerates, advances, and sustains the social, cultural, economic, and environmental health of place and community. Given how buildings influence our lives, communities, ecosystems, and the climate, the NAACP sees sustainable building as a human and civil rights issue.

Participating teams will demonstrate their knowledge of sustainable and equitable architectural design by developing a proposal based on a real development project in Charlotte, NC. The proposal will consist of a concept and design for mixed-use redevelopment of a historic building in the West End, according to a mock Request for Proposals (RFP). To learn more, please read the Competition Procedures and Protocols.

All interested NAACP units must complete the registration form before the deadline of 5 pm Pacific Time / 8 pm Eastern Time on April 19, 2021. Your registration will be confirmed by email by NAACP National staff with additional details in coming weeks.

Questions can be directed to CESBS Program Manager Mandy Lee (slee@naacpnet.org).

###

The post Sustainable Building Competition Returns to 2021 ACT-SO appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: New NAACP Report: Fossil Fueled Foolery 2.0 by Interactive Strategies

An Illustrated Primer on the Fossil Fueled Industry’s Deceptive Tactics

 

BALTIMORE (April 1, 2021) – On April 1, 2019, the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program (ECJP) released “Fossil Fueled Foolery: An Illustrated Primer on the Top 10 Manipulation Tactics of the Fossil Fuel Industry.” This April Fools’ Day, ECJP is releasing “Fossil Fueled Foolery 2.0: An Illustrated Primer on the Fossil Fueled Industry’s Deceptive Tactics.” 

The NAACP’s inaugural edition of the Fossil Fueled Foolery primer, 2019, shed light on the deceptive tactics used by fossil fuel conglomerates and their supporters at the expense of communities most affected by their pollution. Communities already fraught with decades of disenfranchisement, disinvestment, and displacement are also subject to the worst effects of climate change and increased toxins in the environment. 

In just the past six months, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), low-income, and other frontline communities have experienced the disproportionate impacts of:

• Record-breaking storms making landfall and reaching “hurricane” status in the U.S.
• GOP representatives continuing to push skewed climate agendas that protect fossil fuels companies that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions
• A massive snowstorm in Texas that left millions without water and power during below-freezing temperatures.

In 2021, the effects of a respiratory-based pandemic have intensified these inequities, ravaged the economy, and accelerated the need for environmental and healthcare solutions. 

Although it is April Fools’ Day, indeed, this is no joke. 

The NAACP seeks to empower communities most affected by climate change to network resources and develop community-driven strategies. The scales are “tipped” and to beat wealthy corporations at their own game, we must be knowledgeable about the strategies and tactics they use. When we take up this fight, we fight for us: our histories, our identities, our health. We must, as Shirley Chisolm notes, be “Unbought, Unbossed, and Unbamboozled.”

In accordance with the NAACP’s longstanding commitment to justice and civil rights, the purpose of this primer is to: 

• Identify and describe the common tactics used by the fossil fuel industry and associated supporters that not only promote their agendas, but embed climate injustices;
• Provide real facts on the issues; and
• Provide stories and strategies of action and advocacy within our communities that ground resistance to injustices caused by the fossil fuel industry

Please download the report here. 

 

 ###

About the NAACP:

Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization, and shares our commitment to equal rights.

The post New NAACP Report: Fossil Fueled Foolery 2.0 appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: NAACP Georgia State Conference Sues Georgia Secretary of State and State Election Board to Prevent Enforcement of SB 202 by Marc Banks

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The NAACP Georgia State Conference, alongside the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda, the League of Women Voters of Georgia, GALEO Latino Community Development Fund, Common Cause, and the Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe, are suing Secretary of State Raffensperger and members of the State Election Board to prevent them from enforcing any provisions of SB 202 – Georgia’s new voting law that is designed to restrict the right of Georgia citizens to vote. The lawsuit states that SB 202 is a violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting practices or procedures that discriminate based on race, and violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution as undue burdens on the right to vote and the right to free speech and freedom of association.

SB 202 restricts voting at every stage. It makes it easier to restrict early voting hours  – even allowing for the elimination of early voting on Sundays – which will prevent voters from being able to get to the polls.  Black voters and other voters of color utilize Sunday early voting hours more often than white voters. It limits where voters can cast their vote in their own counties. And, it also shortens the runoff period. Their efforts to try and restrict voting access, as required by SB 202, constitute intentional discrimination in violation of the U.S. Constitution and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

SB 202 makes it harder to vote by absentee ballot by imposing stricter ID requirements, making it harder for voters to receive them and return them, and moving up the deadline to request one which will prevent some who need to vote absentee from being able to do so.

SB 202 includes provisions that target and make early in-person voting, voting by absentee ballot, and using ballot drop boxes more difficult, all of which were used much more extensively by voters of color than voting in-person on election day. Furthermore, SB 202 removes the voting power of the Secretary of State on the State Elections Board, and allows the State Election Board to take over county election boards, which would give the State Elections Board unprecedented authority to target jurisdictions with a large population of Black voters and other voters of color. Even as it will cause longer lines and delays to vote, SB 202 goes so far as criminalizing individuals and charitable organizations who provide food and water to voters when they are waiting in line to vote.

“SB 202 is a blatant attempt by the Georgia legislature and Governor Kemp to suppress the participation of Black voters and other voters of color,” said Janette Louard, Interim General Counsel, NAACP. “The Georgia law is part of a broader attempt to disenfranchise Black voters in states across the country. Voting is a fundamental right and efforts should be made to make it easier and to encourage more people to do their civic duty.  Instead, we are seeing efforts to restrict voting for Black voters and other people of color. We will not let these blatantly discriminatory actions take place. They must be declared unconstitutional.”

###

The post NAACP Georgia State Conference Sues Georgia Secretary of State and State Election Board to Prevent Enforcement of SB 202 appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: Civil Rights, Racial Justice Organizations Decry the Racist and Misogynistic Murders of Asian American Women in Atlanta by Marc Banks

The Racial Equity Anchor Collaborative—the foremost diverse coalition of national racial justice and civil rights organizations representing and serving more than 53 million people in the United States— condemn in the strongest terms the heinous murders of eight people, including six Asian American women and one Asian American man on March 16 in Atlanta. This attack against Asian American women is white supremacy and misogyny in action.

Too often, racist policies at home and abroad pigeonhole Asian women, immigrant women, and poor women into unprotected, low-wage jobs — including as massage workers in spas — where they are subject to racist and sexist abuse on a daily basis, whether from their customers, employers or police. Violence against Asian American women— regardless of their country of origin or citizenship status — is not new. Racist narratives have exotified, fetishized and hypersexualized Asian women. As Georgia state Rep. Bee Nguyen said, Asian women constantly experience brutality at the “intersection of gender-based violence, misogyny and xenophobia”.

The core element of discrimination and bias, whether based on race, gender, nationality, or other characteristics, is the dehumanization and “othering” of people. This assumes all individuals within these categories are the same and are all of less value than those making these judgments. Many times, multiple forms of “othering” converge to target the most vulnerable intersections of these identities.  The dehumanization of these women was personified when the killer justified the murders as the result him just having a bad day.

These murders are the most recent large-scale manifestations of centuries of violence against communities of color. These murders represent a flashpoint in the ongoing violence against communities of color fueled by systemic racism; and is the same fuel that fed the past four years of vitriolic rhetoric from America’s most powerful leaders and inaction against white supremacy.  In the face of the disturbing rise in Anti-Asian hate, this Collaborative consistently has stood by the Asian community (in 2017 and as recently as last month). We will continue to stand in solidarity with all those who are impacted by racist violence and attacks.

We advocate for community-based solutions that advance collective safety and ensure that all workers, including Asian women, are treated with dignity and respect without an overreliance on law enforcement response.  We also call on the Biden administration to heed the recommendations from our previous statement, which help us all to better track and address acts of hate violence.

 

As members of the Racial Equity Anchor Collaborative, we stand united against anti-Asian hate in all of its forms. And we believe that the best approach to end anti-Asian hate violence is to lift up and provide adequate resources to community organizations that serve Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, especially those for and by AAPI women, and to support multiracial efforts that include Asian American and Pacific Islander leadership indirectly addressing the problems caused by systemic racism and misogyny.

 

# # #

 

The Racial Equity Anchor Collaborative includes the following leading national racial equity anchor organizations (the Anchors): Advancement Project National Office, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Demos, Faith in Action, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Congress of American Indians, National Urban League, Race Forward, and UnidosUS. Supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, we work together to promote racial equity, advance racial healing, and ensure that all children, families, and communities have opportunities to reach their full potential.

The post Civil Rights, Racial Justice Organizations Decry the Racist and Misogynistic Murders of Asian American Women in Atlanta appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: Eddie Murphy to be Inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame by Marc Banks

Jazmine Sullivan and Maxwell set to perform during the live telecast airing on BET and Simulcast across viacomCBS networks

Presenters announced for the televised and non-televised awards

 

BEVERLY HILLS, CA (March 11, 2021) – Today, the NAACP revealed that legendary entertainer, film icon and two-time Image Award recipient Eddie Murphy will be inducted into the acclaimed NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame during this year’s ceremony. Additionally announced, Image Award Outstanding Female Artist nominee Jazmine Sullivan will perform–along with Grammy Award-winning singer Maxwell, who will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his debut album Urban Hang Suite–during  the 52nd NAACP Image Awards airing LIVE on BET and simulcast across ViacomCBS Networks including CBS, BET Her, VH1, MTV, MTV2, and LOGO on Saturday, March 27th, 2021 at 8/7c.

The Hall of Fame Award, which will be presented by Eddie Murphy’s collaborator and long-time friend Arsenio Hall, is bestowed on an individual who is a pioneer in his or her respective field and whose influence will shape the profession for generations to come. As one of the most commercially successful actors in the history of the motion picture business, Murphy has entertained and kept audiences laughing for over 40 years.

He began his career doing stand-up comedy as a teenager and later joined the cast of Saturday Night Live. At age 21, Murphy starred in the box-office hit 48 Hours, and went on to star in more than 70 films including Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, Harlem Nights, The Nutty Professor, Dr. Dolittle Shrek, Dreamgirls, Dolemite Is My Name, and Coming 2 America–which secured the #1 opening weekend of any streaming movie in the past year. An Academy Award nominee, he has been recognized for his work with two NAACP Image Awards, as well as Golden Globe, Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, and Grammy Awards.

“We are honored to celebrate one of the most influential comedic geniuses in the entertainment industry and an individual who has inspired a generation of Black talent,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP. “To this day, Eddie Murphy’s work continues to bring joy and laughter to individuals around the world, and he is an amazing example of Black excellence, creativity, and artistry.”

Presenters for the LIVE show include Alicia Keys, Andra Day, Arsenio Hall, Cynthia Erivo, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michelle Obama, Misty Copeland, Regina King, Samuel L. Jackson, the cast of Tyler Perry’s Sistas, Swizz Beatz, and Tracy Morgan.

The non-televised award categories will be announced virtually March 22-26. Presenters include the cast of BET’s Bigger (Tanisha Long, Angell Conwell, Rasheda Crockett, Tristen J. Winger, and Chase Anthony,) CeCe Winans, Damson Idris, Daymond John, Javicia Leslie, JB Smoove, Leslie Jones, Madalen Mills, MAJOR., Marcus Scribner, Method Man, Nicole Beharie, Retta, Reno Wilson, Susan Kelechi Watson, Tamar Braxton and Terrence Terrell.

Earlier this week, nominees for the inaugural Outstanding Social Media Personality award were announced, which included Desi Banks (@iamdesibanks), Karlton Humes (@notKarltonBanks), Kevin Fredricks (@KevOnStage), Tabitha Brown(@iamtabithabrown), and Tiffany Aliche (@thebudgetnista).

The NAACP Image Awards honors the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature, and film and also recognizes individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors.

For all information and the latest news, please follow NAACP Image Awards on Instagram @NAACPImageAwards.

 

NAACP

Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

 

In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP.

 

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization, and shares our commitment to equal rights.

 

About BET:

BET, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation’s leading

provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel is in 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

 

The post Eddie Murphy to be Inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: Interim National Director of the NAACP Youth & College Division, Wisdom Cole, Releases Statement After Meeting with U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona by Marc Banks

Wisdom Cole, Interim National Director of the NAACP Youth & College Division, released the following statement after meeting with U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona:

“Today, we had an introductory meeting with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to discuss the issues plaguing current college students and over 40 million Americans. The need for meaningful action around student loan debt, education equity, campus safety & policing can no longer go unanswered.

This crisis is an economic issue that crosses all generations and communities. We recognize that this is not just a student issue; it plagues families, children, and communities looking to improve upon their plight. The Covid-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the inequities of the U.S. education system, perpetuating the lack of resources and access for Black students across the country. During our meeting, we made it abundantly clear that addressing the needs of our nation’s most promising demographic must be a priority to ensure our society’s viability and sustained growth.

We had a full and frank dialogue, but words are no substitute for impact and action. The NAACP looks forward to continuing its efforts to ensure the Biden-Harris administration’s promise of Building Back Better includes addressing the inequities of this nation and standing with those that seek to create a society that provides access to education.”

The post Interim National Director of the NAACP Youth & College Division, Wisdom Cole, Releases Statement After Meeting with U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: Urban Land Institute Washington and NAACP Announce Inaugural ACT-SO Sustainable Building Intensive Featuring UrbanPlan by Shunkecia Lewis

For more information, contact Margit Nahra at 240-605-8735 or Margit.Nahra@uli.org. 

WASHINGTON (March 4, 2021) – The Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Washington, D.C. District Council and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) have announced the inaugural UrbanPlan workshop for high school students participating in the NAACP’s Afro-Academic Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) Sustainable Building Intensive. The workshop will introduce students from across the country to the forces that shape urban development as well as career opportunities in real estate.  

Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. The NAACP has more than 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2 million activists. The NAACP’s mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.  

The NAACP’s ACT-SO program is a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students. ACT-SO includes 29 competitions in STEM, humanities, business, and performing, visual and culinary arts. Almost 300,000 young people have participated in the program since its inception.  Starting in 2020, the NAACP’s Centering Equity in the Sustainable Building Sector Initiative and ACT-SO program began hosting a national competition about Sustainable Building, and this year’s inaugural Intensive will help prepare students to compete in 2021.  

The ACT-SO Sustainable Building Intensive is an invitation for 24 ACT-SO students (grades 11 and 12) to participate in a virtual UrbanPlan competition spanning two days from March 13-14. Guided by industry professionals, the students will form teams to create a development plan for a fictional disinvested neighborhood. Each team will present their design proposal to a “city council” comprised of other industry professionals and the winning team will get a prize at the end of the competition.  

ULI is a global, member-driven organization comprising more than 45,000 real estate and urban development professionals dedicated to advancing the mission of shaping the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. ULI Washington represents more than 2,300 members in the DC metro area. UrbanPlan harnesses the power of experiential learning to demystify land-use dynamics and the complexities of real estate development. Generously supported by member gifts to the ULI Foundation and offered through district councils and national councils, UrbanPlan has reached nearly 60,000 students and public officials globally. 

“Our aim as the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization is to be a beacon of inspiration and transformation in centering equity in the sustainable building sector. In doing so, we can catalyze the building of a bigger, broader tent for the sustainable building movement, towards the betterment of the building users, the communities, the economy, and the planet.” 

Jacqui Patterson, Senior Director for Environmental and Climate Justice  

The post Urban Land Institute Washington and NAACP Announce Inaugural ACT-SO Sustainable Building Intensive Featuring UrbanPlan appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: Reverend James Lawson Announced as Recipient of Chairman’s Award For 52nd NAACP Image Awards by Marc Banks

SPECIAL AWARDS INCLUDE DR. KIZZMEKIA CORBETT RECOGNIZED WITH THE KEY OF LIFE AWARD AND TONI VAZ RECOGNIZED WITH THE FOUNDERS AWARD

BEVERLY HILLS, CA (March 4, 2021) – Today, the NAACP announced that Civil Rights Movement icon Rev. James Lawson will receive the prestigious NAACP Chairman’s Award during the 52nd NAACP Image Awards. The Chairman’s Award, which is sponsored by Wells Fargo, is bestowed in recognition of individuals who demonstrate exemplary public service and use their distinct platforms to create agents of change. Past honorees of the Chairman’s Award include Tyler Perry, then-Senator Barack Obama, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Former Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, Ruby Dee, The Neville Brothers, Bono, Danny Glover, and last year’s recipient the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis. The award will be presented to Rev. James Lawson during the two-hour LIVE TV special airing on BET and will be simulcast across ViacomCBS networks including CBS, BET Her, VH1, MTV, MTV2, and LOGO on Saturday, March 27th, 2021 at 8/7c.

As a prominent civil rights leader, revered teacher and mentor, Rev. James Lawson is one of the most impactful social justice leaders of the twentieth-century. Rev. Lawson will be honored with the Chairman’s Award in recognition of his work as a social change advocate and his critical contributions to the civil rights movement, specifically the integral role in the nonviolent protests of the south in the 1960s.

“Last summer we saw millions around the world take to the streets in the most powerful protests for racial justice and civil rights in a generation. These protests were inspired by the work of Civil Rights Movement leaders like Rev. James Lawson,” said Chairman Leon W. Russell. “In this pivotal moment for Black history, there is no better time to recognize Rev. Lawson’s tremendous contributions to American history and to live up to his example.”

Spotlighting her tremendous work and leading role in the COVID-19 vaccine research and development efforts, Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett will receive the Key of Life Award presented by Wells Fargo. The award will recognize Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett’s historical role as the scientific lead on the Vaccine Research Center’s coronavirus team which has been key to the development of the Moderna vaccine and will be bestowed upon her by Dr. Barney Graham.

NAACP Image Awards Co-Founder, Toni Vaz, will additionally be honored with the Founder’s Award to spotlight her work at creating the nation’s preeminent multicultural award show. Toni Vaz co-founded the NAACP Image Awards in 1967 as a way to change the perception of Black people in Hollywood. The award will be presented by actress Yvettee Nicole Brown.

The 52nd NAACP Image Awards is presented by Wells Fargo, and sponsored by AT&T, FedEx, Nike, Bank of America, Alaska Airlines.

Winners of the LIVE televised award categories will be revealed during the 52^st NAACP Image Awards telecast on Saturday, March 27th, 2021 at 8/7c. Non-televised award categories will be announced virtually between March 22-26. The 52nd NAACP Image Awards will be simulcast across ViacomCBS Networks which will include BET, CBS, MTV, VH1, MTV2, BET HER and LOGO.

The NAACP Image Awards honors the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature, and film and also recognizes individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors.

For all information and the latest news, please follow NAACP Image Awards on Instagram @NAACPImageAwards.

  

NAACP

Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization, and shares our commitment to equal rights.

 

About BET:

BET, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel is in 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

 

The post Reverend James Lawson Announced as Recipient of Chairman’s Award For 52nd NAACP Image Awards appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, Releases Statement on the Passing of Civil Rights Icon, Vernon Jordan by Marc Banks

“Today, the world lost an influential figure in the fight for civil rights and American politics, Vernon Jordan. An icon to the world and a lifelong friend to the NAACP, his contribution to moving our society toward justice is unparalleled. In 2001, Jordan received the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal for a lifetime of social justice activism. Vernon started his career as Georgia Field Secretary for the NAACP in the 1950s. He served along with Medgar Evers, in Mississippi; Robert Saunders in Florida; and I. DeQuincey Newman in South Carolina during the period after Brown v. Board of Education. He went on to become a courageous leader within the National Urban League and a stalwart in the Movement. He was an NAACP giant and a mover and shaker in the legal and political world. His influence and his inspiration will be missed. His exemplary life will shine as a guiding light for all those who seek truth and justice for all people.”

###

 

 

The post NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, Releases Statement on the Passing of Civil Rights Icon, Vernon Jordan appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: NAACP To Hold Virtual Press Conference on Federal Lawsuit Accusing Trump and Giuliani of Inciting U.S. Capitol Riot by Marc Banks

BALTIMORE — The NAACP will hold a press conference on Tuesday, February 16, at 1:00 p.m. ET to discuss the federal lawsuit filed accusing Trump and Giuliani of inciting the U.S. Capitol Riot on January 6, 2021. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday morning in Federal District Court in Washington, D.C. by the NAACP and civil rights law firm Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll on behalf of Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS). Other members of Congress, including Representatives Hank Johnson (D-GA) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), intend to join the litigation as plaintiffs in the coming days and weeks.

“January 6th was one of the most shameful days in our country’s history, and it was instigated by the President himself. His gleeful support of violent white supremacists led to a breach of the Capitol that put my life, and that of my colleagues, in grave danger. It is by the slimmest of luck that the outcome was not deadlier. While the majority of Republicans in the Senate abdicated their responsibility to hold the President accountable, we must hold him accountable for the insurrection that he so blatantly planned. Failure to do so will only invite this type of authoritarianism for the anti-democratic forces on the far right that are so intent on destroying our country,” said Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS). 

“Donald Trump needs to be held accountable for deliberately inciting and colluding with white supremacists to stage a coup, in his continuing efforts to disenfranchise African-American voters. The insurrection was the culmination of a carefully orchestrated, months-long plan to destroy democracy, to block the results of a fair and democratic election, and to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of African-American voters who cast valid ballots. Since our founding, the NAACP has gone to the courthouse to put an end to actions that discriminate against African- American voters. We are now bringing this case to continue our work to protect our democracy and make sure nothing like what happened on January 6th ever happens again,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP.

Media interested in attending the virtual press conference can register to attend below:

Media must RSVP to attend the press conference: RSVP

WHAT:	Federal Lawsuit Accusing Trump and Giuliani of Inciting U.S. Capitol Riot
WHO:	Congressman Bennie Thompson    Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP Janette McCarthy Wallace, General Counsel, NAACP Joseph M. Sellers, Co-Counsel, Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll
WHEN:	Tuesday, February 16, 2021, 1:00 p.m. ET
WHERE:	ZOOM (https://naacpheadquarters.zoom.us/j/96285234544)

###

About NAACP

Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP.

 NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization, and shares our commitment to equal rights.

The post NAACP To Hold Virtual Press Conference on Federal Lawsuit Accusing Trump and Giuliani of Inciting U.S. Capitol Riot appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: NAACP Files Federal Lawsuit Accusing Trump and Giuliani of Inciting U.S. Capitol Riot by Marc Banks

Lawsuit Alleges Violation of the “Ku Klux Klan Act,” a Civil War-Era Statute Prohibiting Interference with Congress’ Constitutional Duties  

Filed by NAACP and Civil Rights Law Firm Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, Lawsuit Also Names Proud Boys and Oath Keepers

WASHINGTON D.C—Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson filed a federal lawsuit today accusing Donald J. Trump, Rudy Giuliani, the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers of conspiring to incite a violent riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, with the goal of preventing Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election. The lawsuit alleges that, by preventing Congress from carrying out its official duties, Trump, Giuliani and the hate groups directly violated the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act. 

Following acquittal by the U.S. Senate in the second impeachment trial, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell openly encouraged litigation against Trump, saying: “We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being accountable by either one.” 

The insurrection was the result of a carefully orchestrated plan by Trump, Giuliani and extremist groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, all of whom shared a common goal of employing intimidation, harassment and threats to stop the certification of the Electoral College. They succeeded in their plan. After witnessing Capitol police barricading the doors of the House chamber with furniture, Congressman Thompson and fellow lawmakers donned gas masks and were rushed into the Longworth House Office Building where they sheltered with more than 200 other representatives, staffers and family members. 

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday morning in Federal District Court in Washington, D.C. by the NAACP and civil rights law firm Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll. Other members of Congress, including Representatives Hank Johnson (D-GA) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), intend to join the litigation as plaintiffs in the coming days and weeks. 

The coup attempt was a coordinated, months-long attempt to destroy democracy, to block the results of a fair and democratic election, and to disenfranchise millions of ballots that were legally cast by African-American voters.  The NAACP is representing Congressman Thompson in this lawsuit because the events on January 6th were just one more attempt by Donald Trump and his allies to make sure that African-American voters were disenfranchised – this time, by trying to stop members of Congress from doing their job and certifying the election results.

“January 6th was one of the most shameful days in our country’s history, and it was instigated by the President himself. His gleeful support of violent white supremacists led to a breach of the Capitol that put my life, and that of my colleagues, in grave danger. It is by the slimmest of luck that the outcome was not deadlier. While the majority of Republicans in the Senate abdicated their responsibility to hold the President accountable, we must hold him accountable for the insurrection that he so blatantly planned. Failure to do so will only invite this type of authoritarianism for the anti-democratic forces on the far right that are so intent on destroying our country,” said Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS). 

“Donald Trump needs to be held accountable for deliberately inciting and colluding with white supremacists to stage a coup, in his continuing efforts to disenfranchise African-American voters. The insurrection was the culmination of a carefully orchestrated, months-long plan to destroy democracy, to block the results of a fair and democratic election, and to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of African-American voters who cast valid ballots. Since our founding, the NAACP has gone to the courthouse to put an end to actions that discriminate against African- American voters. We are now bringing this case to continue our work to protect our democracy and make sure nothing like what happened on January 6th ever happens again,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP.

“The insurrection at the Capitol did not just spontaneously occur—it was the product of Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani lies about the election. With the Senate failing to hold the President accountable, we must use the full weight of the legal system to do so. The judicial system was an essential bulwark against the President during his time in office, and its role in protecting our democracy against future extremism is more important than ever,” said Joe Sellers, Partner at Cohen Milstein, Chair of the firm’s Executive Committee and Chair of the Civil Rights & Employment Practice Group. 

The lawsuit alleges that Trump and Giuliani violated 42 U.S.C. 1985(1), often referred to as the Ku Klux Klan Act, which was passed in 1871 in response to KKK violence and intimidation preventing Members of Congress in the South during Reconstruction from carrying out their constitutional duties. The statute was intended specifically to protect against conspiracies. 

In the months leading up to the insurrection, Trump and Giuliani allegedly mobilized and prepared supporters for an attack. In fact, Trump acknowledged the potential for violence and bloodshed if the election results were not overturned, tweeting: “People are upset, and they have a right to be. Georgia not only supported Trump in 2016, but now. This is the only State in the Deep South that went for Biden?  Have they lost their minds?  This is going to escalate dramatically. This is a very dangerous moment in our history….”

As Electoral College certification grew closer, Trump encouraged his supporters to descend on Washington that day, tweeting “Big protest in DC on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!” Extremist groups responded to Trump’s and Giuliani’s rhetoric. In early January, Proud Boys leader Joseph Biggs said, “Every lawmaker who breaks their own stupid Fucking laws should be dragged out of office and hung.” Members of the Oath Keepers worked together to find a hotel that had “a good location and would allow us to hunt at night if we wanted to.”

On the day of the insurrection, Trump and Giuliani spoke to participants at the “Save America” rally, which both the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers attended. Both Trump and Giuliani allegedly made incendiary comments designed to incite the crowd and direct them to take action to thwart Congress’ ability to certify the election, including: 

• “If we’re right, a lot of them will go to jail. So let’s have trial by combat …”
• “So we are going to … walk down Pennsylvania Avenue… we’re … going to try and give them the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country.”

Shortly after, rioters breached the Capitol, including members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. Video footage shows a member of the Proud Boys breaking through a window with a shield captured from a U.S. Capitol police officer. The militia members then began to roam the hallways, using earpieces and walkie talkies to coordinate and communicate as they enacted their plan to hunt for Members of Congress, with some even bringing plastic handcuffs in preparation for detaining captured elected officials. 

Once inside, the rioters made clear they were acting at the behest of President Trump to interrupt the certification process, with one saying, “We were invited here by the President of the United States.”

Eventually, the rioters began pounding on the doors where Congressman Thompson and the House of Representatives were voting to certify the Electoral College. Behind the barricaded doors, Thompson heard the rioters trying to break into the chamber refer to Speaker Pelosi as a “bitch,” saying they wanted to get their hands on her and refer to Vice President Pence as a person who had betrayed President Trump. 

Even as the insurrection was occurring, Giuliani made phone calls to Members of Congress insisting that they do everything they could to “slow down” the Electoral College vote count in Congress, again referring to unfounded claims of voter fraud. Later in the evening, President Trump tweeted, “These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long. Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!”

The NAACP has, since its founding, represented individuals in court to eliminate race-based discrimination.  Throughout the 2020 election cycle, and after the election, the NAACP utilized the judiciary to protect the rights of African-American voters and ensure that their ballots were counted.  This case is a continuation of that work.

 

About NAACP

Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP.

 

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization, and shares our commitment to equal rights.

 

About Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll

Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC is recognized as one of the premier law firms in the country handling major, complex plaintiff-side litigation. With more than 100 attorneys, Cohen Milstein has offices in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y., Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Philadelphia, Pa. and Raleigh, N.C. For additional information, visit www.cohenmilstein.com or call 202.408.4600.

The post NAACP Files Federal Lawsuit Accusing Trump and Giuliani of Inciting U.S. Capitol Riot appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: NAACP Welcomes Entertainment Executive Kyle Bowser as Senior Vice President of Hollywood Bureau by Marc Banks

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 4, 2021) – The NAACP is pleased to announce that Kyle Bowser will serve as its Senior Vice President of the Hollywood Bureau. In this capacity, Mr. Bowser will be responsible for advancing NAACP’s Hollywood projects, relationships, and overseeing NAACP’s Image Awards production.

For nearly three decades, Kyle Bowser has worked as an entertainment industry executive. His experience spans film, television, music, theater, radio, and digital media. This immersion within a vast sphere of media interests has provided Bowser with unique insight into the intersecting parameters of the arts, culture, business development, and emerging technologies.

“I am excited to add Kyle to the outstanding and growing team we have here at the NAACP,” said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP. “Kyle brings a long successful track record and deep knowledge of the industry with him that will be an invaluable asset to the organization as we continue to restructure our efforts to advance our advocacy strategy.”  “It is an honor to commit the acumen and goodwill I’ve developed throughout my career to the mission and legacy of the NAACP,” responded Bowser. President Johnson’s leadership provides both a platform and covering to pursue progressive and measurable results, as we reimagine the breadth of stakeholders in entertainment.”

Bowser’s career began in theater management and concert promotion. His involvement in television began with NBC Business Affairs in New York City. He later moved to Los Angeles to join Fox, Inc., where he developed television programming of multiple genres and creatively managed primetime fare aired on the Fox Broadcasting Company. Bowser next served as Director of Creative Affairs for HBO Independent Productions, where he developed new programs and creatively supervised content licensed to primetime broadcast carriers. Throughout Bowser’s storied career, his producing talents have been engaged by countless media companies, including NBC, Fox, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Comedy Central, Lifetime, Cooking Channel, PBS, iNDemand, Facebook, Warner Bros., Harper Collins, AEG, the NFL, and more.

A native of Philadelphia, PA, Kyle Bowser received his Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University in Radio/Television Communications and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Widener University School of Law. He was admitted to the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar Associations and supports the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association and the National Association of Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) – for whom he founded the annual Vision Awards and received its coveted Legacy Award.

###

 

 

The post NAACP Welcomes Entertainment Executive Kyle Bowser as Senior Vice President of Hollywood Bureau appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.

New post from the NAACP: NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, Releases Statement on President Biden’s Executive Actions by Marc Banks

NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, Released the Following Statement on President Biden’s Executive Actions:

“The NAACP is very encouraged by the executive actions taken by President Biden today. It is refreshing to finally hear a President acknowledge white supremacy in their inaugural speech, and follow that with concrete actions less than a week later. President Biden’s whole-of-government approach for racial equity, embedded within the Domestic Policy Council lead by Susan Rice, is a very good first step. However, Executive Orders are only as strong as the current President and can be reversed by future administrations. So we must continue to urge Congress to pass laws that ensure racial equity for all people in this country and codify it to prevent future Presidents from reversing these critical measures. We look forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration as we continue to address the systemic racism that has plagued our communities for centuries.”

 

###

The post NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, Releases Statement on President Biden’s Executive Actions appeared first on NAACP.

Read more here.