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Monday, August 31, 2020
New video by Unicorn Riot on YouTube - go check it out ;-)
Watch on YouTube here: Protesters Demand Justice for Kobe Heisler, One Year Later
Via Christian Gasper
The RNC, the Push Towards Open Fascism, and the Path Ahead
The post The RNC, the Push Towards Open Fascism, and the Path Ahead appeared first on It's Going Down.
On this episode of the It’s Going Down podcast, we discuss both the RNC, it’s open drift into fascism, the Republican party’s embrace of far-Right and reactionary white identity politics, and what this means for the 2020 election and beyond. Looking at the events in Kenosha as a turning point, we also touch on what... Read Full Article
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New post from the NAACP: NAACP Joins Condemnation of Attacks on Organization’s Efforts to Identify & Combat White Supremacy by Marc Banks
The NAACP condemns attacks on the Southern Poverty Law Center. In our 111-year history, we have been subject to multiple deadly attacks and investigations challenging our mission and our work. Our leaders and members, such as Medgar Evers and Harry T. Moore, have been murdered by white supremacists as a result of our advocacy for equal rights and racial justice. In the 1950s, the State of Alabama sought to prevent us from conducting business in the state because of our civil rights activities. Fortunately, the Supreme Court ruled in our favor in the seminal case, NAACP v. Alabama.
We will not stand by as a national political party attacks the legitimacy of an organization such as the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Center has led this nation’s efforts to identify and combat white supremacy and race-based domestic terrorism. It is needed now more than ever as our own government stokes hatred and bigotry and offers cover and support to white supremacists. We join 24 other national civil rights organizations in issuing the following statement:
“Hate crimes and incidents terrorize entire communities and we are seeing an unprecedented increase in them. These acts of hate cause people devastating harm and undermine our democracy as people fear for their lives. Yet during this ongoing crisis, the RNC is condemning an organization for doing work that helps community leaders, law enforcement, and state and local governments combat hate.
The Southern Poverty Law Center’s research and analysis on hate groups have long provided critical data to help local leaders protect people targeted for hate violence. That research documented a 50 percent increase in the number of white nationalist hate groups last year. This year, when the FBI elevated racist, violent extremists to a national threat priority, the FBI director acknowledged that most racist attacks are fueled by some type of white supremacy. Offering research and data helps people understand the source of violent threats so we can all combat hate and keep our communities safe is part of a commitment to making our country safe for all to thrive.
This resolution seeks to undermine the truth and enable white nationalists and hate groups like QAnon to continue targeting hate against the communities we represent and serve alongside. We condemn this resolution that only seeks to hide evidence of the damage this administration and its supporters have wrought on our communities and our country. Until we reckon with the many ways that white nationalism and hate groups continue to devastate our country, we cannot keep people safe nor come closer to realizing a country as good as its ideals.”
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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. The NAACP is a c4 organization (contributions are not tax-deductible), and we have a partner c3 organization known as the NAACP Empowerment Programs (contributions are fully tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS).
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 Joins Condemnation of Attacks on Organization’s Efforts to Identify & Combat White Supremacy appeared first on NAACP.
Read more here.
Sunday, August 30, 2020
New post from the NAACP: MEDIA ADVISORY: 2020 Virtual March on Washington by Marc Banks
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES CONTACT:
Luke Foreman, lforeman@skdknick.com, (203) 803-8778
FOR INTERVIEW REQUEST CONTACT:
Marc Banks, dbanks@naacpnet.org, (410) 580-5701
Media Advisory
TODAY: 2020 Virtual March on Washington
Virtual Event to Feature Keynote Address from Rev. William Barber II and Remarks from NAACP President Derrick Johnson and Rep. Karen Bass, CBC Chair
Washington — Today, the 2020 Virtual March on Washington will conclude with a night of virtual programming, including a major keynote address from Rev. William Barber II, co-chair of The Poor People’s Campaign, and musical performances by award-winning artists. Speakers are expected to call for police accountability reform and mobilize voters ahead of the November elections. The virtual march and programming will air live at 2020march.com.
Tonight’s programming will follow the Commitment March, convened by Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King, III. The 2020 Virtual March on Washington will include a livestream of the Commitment March on 2020march.com, along with remarks from the families of Black people who have died at the hands of police officers; Rep. Karen Bass, CBC Chair; Lt. Garlin Gilchrist, Lt.Gov MI; Mayor Steve Benjamin, Columbia, SC; Melanie Campbell, President of National Coalition for Black Civic Participation; Dr. Glenda Glover, President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The March will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
WHO: The virtual event will be hosted by April Ryan with remarks from NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, Rev. William Barber, II, and more.
WHAT: The 2020 Virtual March on Washington is part of a series of events led by the NAACP, National Action Network, and a coalition of civil rights partners—including Martin Luther King, III, and the families of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor — to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington.
WHEN: The virtual programming will start at 9:00 p.m. ET. Times below are ET and for planning purposes only.
- 9:15pm: Leon W. Russell, Chairman of NAACP Board of Directors
- 9:21pm: Beverly Smith, National President and CEO of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
- 9:24pm: Dr. David E. Marion
- 9:32pm: Dr. Everett Ward, President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
- 9:34pm: Dr. Yusef Salaam, speaker and activist, member of the “Exonerated Five”
- 9:36pm: Steven Reed, Mayor, Montgomery, AL
- 9:39pm: Performance from Burna Boy
- 9:44pm: Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán
- 9:46pm: Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz
- 9:47pm: Cavanaugh Bell
- 9:48pm: Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
- 9:49pm: Performance by Alvin Ailey Dance Company
- 9:55pm: Keynote address by Rev. William Barber II
- 10:26pm: Performance by Bebe Winans
- 10:32pm: Closing Remarks from NAACP President Derrick Johnson
The 2020 Virtual March on Washington will set forth a bold new Black agenda — advocating for comprehensive police accountability reform, economic empowerment, and equitable access to health care, education, and the voting booths. For more information, visit 2020march.com.
###
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. The NAACP is a c4 organization (contributions are not tax-deductible), and we have a partner c3 organization known as the NAACP Empowerment Programs (contributions are fully tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS).
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 MEDIA ADVISORY: 2020 Virtual March on Washington appeared first on NAACP.
Read more here.
Saturday, August 29, 2020
Friday, August 28, 2020
“Not a Family Friendly Event”: Militia Leader Invokes Kenosha Killer on Eve of “Straight Pride” Rally Backed by Local Pastors
The post “Not a Family Friendly Event”: Militia Leader Invokes Kenosha Killer on Eve of “Straight Pride” Rally Backed by Local Pastors appeared first on It's Going Down.
Last year, Don Grundmann, a former member of the militant pro-life group Operation Rescue, who has been involved in far-Right and pro-life groups for much of his life, finally gained 15 minutes of fame after calling for a “Straight Pride Parade” in Modesto, California, located east of the bay area. Community opposition to the event... Read Full Article
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Autonomous Disaster Relief Efforts Are Organizing in the Face of Wildfires & Hurricanes
The post Autonomous Disaster Relief Efforts Are Organizing in the Face of Wildfires & Hurricanes appeared first on It's Going Down.
Mutual Aid Disaster Relief (MADR) presents a list of efforts aimed at combating the recent wave of natural disasters. There is a growing ecosystem of people-powered disaster relief efforts and mutual aid responses to crises. We consider these folks our extended family and encourage you to generously support these efforts for disaster relief that are... Read Full Article
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Thursday, August 27, 2020
Hurricane Laura Phone Zap in Support of Prisoners and Detainees
The post Hurricane Laura Phone Zap in Support of Prisoners and Detainees appeared first on It's Going Down.
As Hurricane Laura touches down, please participate in the following phone-zap in support of prisoners and detainees. Donate to hurricane commissary and support fund. Updates: There are 5 facilities in Lake Charles which have been heavily impacted. We are trying to get info on where people may have been evacuated to, and who may have... Read Full Article
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New post from the NAACP: 2020 Virtual March on Washington Kicks Off With Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Cory Booker, Mahershala Ali, Stacey Abrams, and more by Marc Banks
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES CONTACT:
Luke Foreman, lforeman@skdknick.com, (203) 803-8778
FOR INTERVIEW REQUEST CONTACT:
Marc Banks, dbanks@naacpnet.org, (410) 580-5701
Politicians, activists, performers to appear in virtual programming on 57th anniversary of March on Washington
Washington — Today, the 2020 Virtual March on Washington kicks off its programming, which will feature prominent members of Congress, activists, actors, and musicians. The virtual programming takes place the evening before civil rights leaders and families of Black men and women who died at the hands of law enforcement attend the in-person march on August 28th. Speakers are expected to call for police accountability reform and mobilize voters ahead of the November elections. It can be viewed live online at 2020march.com.
WHO: The event will be hosted by April Ryan and will feature remarks from NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Cory Booker, actor Mahershala Ali, Stacey Abrams, and more.
WHAT: The 2020 Virtual March on Washington is part of a series of events led by the NAACP, National Action Network, and a coalition of civil rights partners—including Martin Luther King, III, and the families of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor — to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington.
WHEN: The event will start at 8pm ET, times below are for planning purposes only.
- 8:10 pm: Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO
- 8:18 pm: Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14)
- 8:20 pm: Rev. Al Sharpton
- 8:22 pm: Mahershala Ali, actor and activist
- 8:24 pm: Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)
- 8:27 pm: Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League
- 8:34 pm: Sherilynn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF)
- 8:37 pm: David Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition
- 8:39 pm: Vanita Gupta, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
- 8:47 pm: Speaker Nancy Pelosi
- 8:50 pm: Jamal Bryant, pastor
- 8:51 pm: Sylvia Garcia (TX-29)
- 8:54 pm: Performance from Lisa Ramey
- 8:57 pm: Teresa Younger, President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women
- 9:00 pm: Roxanne Taylor, filmmaker
- 9:01 pm: Sheryl Underwood, comedian and actress
- 9:03 pm: Stacey Abrams, New York Times bestselling author and voting rights activist
- 10:11 pm: Performance from Macy Gray
WHERE: It can be viewed live online at 2020march.com.
The 2020 Virtual March on Washington will set forth a bold new Black agenda — advocating for comprehensive police accountability reform, economic empowerment, and equitable access to health care, education, and the voting booths. For more information, visit 2020march.com.
###
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. The NAACP is a c4 organization (contributions are not tax-deductible), and we have a partner c3 organization known as the NAACP Empowerment Programs (contributions are fully tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS).
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 2020 Virtual March on Washington Kicks Off With Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Cory Booker, Mahershala Ali, Stacey Abrams, and more appeared first on NAACP.
Read more here.
New post from the NAACP: Civil Rights Leaders Issue Statement on Armed White Militia Violence Against Protesters and Police Camaraderie with Militia Members by Marc Banks
Leading national racial justice organizational leaders issued a joint statement on armed white militia violence and police camaraderie with militia members following the arrest of a militia member in connection with the killing of two police accountability protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
“Last night, two protesters who were advocating for accountability following the horrific police shooting of Jacob Blake were allegedly shot and killed by a 17-year-old associated with a white militia group. We are outraged by these killings. The ability of a minor to travel from another state at the urging of adult white supremacists organizing on Facebook highlights the corrosive and dangerous convergence of race, police violence, and the presence of these violent groups. That this volatile cocktail was allowed to develop led directly to one of the most violent nights in the city’s history. In light of the fact that the suspect apparently crossed state lines in order to commit this crime, the federal government should launch an investigation to determine whether he was involved in an interstate criminal conspiracy.
“We are equally outraged by videos showing Kenosha Police Department Officers exhibiting camaraderie toward militia members – who were out in violation of the curfew before the shootings — and also seemingly ignoring protesters who tried to identify the shooter in this incident. Police solidarity with white militia members is abhorrent and intolerable – and it represents a highly dangerous threat to the lives and rights of people of color. In addition, the fact that Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis blamed protestors for the killings is another example of the racially disparate treatment that Americans across the country have been protesting against since May and for decades before. We call on Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul, to immediately investigate and prosecute these killings, the shooting of Mr. Blake, and the increasingly pervasive issue of armed white militia members confronting and attacking protesters demanding police accountability. They must also demand the immediate removal of Chief Miskinis.
“Finally, turning to Facebook, the prevalence of armed white militia groups organizing on the platform is not new. Facebook must also be held accountable for its inaction while these violent groups have been allowed to grow and organize. Facebook must take immediate steps to ensure that its platform is not used to foment violence and hatred — and to take immediate and comprehensive action to put an end to groups using its services to organize activities that perpetuate racism and cause harm.”
The following leaders signed the statement:
- Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
- Reverend Al Sharpton, founder and president, National Action Network
- Melanie L. Campbell, president and CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Convener, Black Women’s Roundtable
- Kristen Clarke, president and executive director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
- Vanita Gupta, president and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
- Derrick Johnson, president and CEO, NAACP
- Marc H. Morial, president and CEO, National Urban League
###
Founded in 1940, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization. LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute (TMI) is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Follow LDF and TMI on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender. For more information go to www.nationalactionnetwork.net
The post Civil Rights Leaders Issue Statement on Armed White Militia Violence Against Protesters and Police Camaraderie with Militia Members appeared first on NAACP.
Read more here.
Hunger Strike at Eastern Oregon Correctional
The post Hunger Strike at Eastern Oregon Correctional appeared first on It's Going Down.
Report on hunger strike at Eastern Oregon Correctional from Perilous Chronicle. On July 25, a crowd of friends and family of those incarcerated at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institute (EOCI) in Pendleton, Oregon gathered outside the facility. They rallied to demand better access to their loved ones along with their release in response to COVID-19. Infection... Read Full Article
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Tallahassee, FL: Abolitionists Block Streets and Hold Mock Funeral in Solidarity with Prisoners Threatened with COVID-19
The post Tallahassee, FL: Abolitionists Block Streets and Hold Mock Funeral in Solidarity with Prisoners Threatened with COVID-19 appeared first on It's Going Down.
Report on recent abolitionist action in Tallahassee, Florida in support of prisoners threatened with COVID-19. On August 22nd, organizations from across Florida held a public funeral service and procession and blocked streets in front of the Florida State Capitol building in remembrance of the dozens of prisoners’ lives senselessly lost from COVID-19 due to the... Read Full Article
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Wednesday, August 26, 2020
“How It Might Should Be Done”: Identity Politics, Counter-Insurgency, and Open Rebellion
The post “How It Might Should Be Done”: Identity Politics, Counter-Insurgency, and Open Rebellion appeared first on It's Going Down.
“There’s a lot of talk about how to end racism, especially within corporate and academic circles. We saw how to end racism in the streets the first weeks after George Floyd was murdered.” -Idris Robinson On this episode of the It’s Going Down podcast, in collaboration with Red May in Seattle, we present an audio... Read Full Article
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Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Final Straw: Peter Gelderloos On our Current Historical Moment
The post Final Straw: Peter Gelderloos On our Current Historical Moment appeared first on It's Going Down.
Long-running anarchist radio and podcast show the Final Straw presents an interview with Peter Gelderloos on the current political moment. Its not uncommon to hear pundits and regular folks making comparisons between the crises we are now facing and other historical moments, such as the 1920s in Germany or the global rebellions of the 1960s.... Read Full Article
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Black August Hunger Strike at Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center
The post Black August Hunger Strike at Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center appeared first on It's Going Down.
Report on hunger strike organized by African detainees in the Bravo Delta dorm of the Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center from Perilous Chronicle. by Ryan Fatica On August 10, 48 African detainees in the Bravo Delta dorm of the Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center declared their collective refusal to eat, continuing a yearslong saga of... Read Full Article
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Announcing New Issue of Philadelphia Anarchist Publication Anathema
The post Announcing New Issue of Philadelphia Anarchist Publication Anathema appeared first on It's Going Down.
Long running anarchist publication Anathema from Philadelphia returns with a brand new issue. Volume 6 Issue 6 (PDF for reading 8.5 x 11) Volume 6 Issue 6 (PDF for printing 11 x 17) In this issue: Black August What Went Down New Projects What Next? Repression Updates Die-Off Debate DIY Defunding Back to School PSL,... Read Full Article
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New post from the NAACP: Virtual March on Washington Programming to Feature Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Cory Booker, Stacey Abrams, Rev. William Barber, Among Others by Austyn Ross
Politicians, activists, performers, highlight virtual programming on 57th anniversary of March on Washington
BALTIMORE — Today, the NAACP announced the list of high-profile speakers and performers participating in the 2020 Virtual March on Washington programming on August 27th and 28th. Before civil rights leaders, activists, and families of those who died at the hands of law enforcement attend the in-person march on August 28th, speakers are expected to call for police accountability reform and mobilize voters ahead of the November elections.
The virtual march is a part of a series of events led by the NAACP, National Action Network, and a coalition of civil rights partners—including Martin Luther King, III, and the families of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor — to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington. Over several days, thousands will physically and virtually March on Washington as a part of the Commitment March to recommit to the dream Dr. Martin Luther King defined in the 1963 march.
Rev. William Barber will give the keynote address for the virtual march, followed by speeches from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Brenda Lawrence, Stacey Abrams, April Ryan, Tamika Mallory, Yusef Salaam, and more. H.E.R., Macy Gray, BeBe Winans, and Lisa Ramey are some of the names expected to perform.
“These speakers embody everything this movement stands for; collectively, they’ve spent their lives working tirelessly against racial discrimination, advocating for equal access to the polls, fighting for justice, and they continue to use their platforms to call for reforms of the systems that enable police brutality and voter disenfranchisement,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of NAACP. “Our 2020 Virtual March on Washington is about pursuing equity, justice, and equal opportunity for all, and we look forward to the opportunity to demonstrate our collective power by marching and demanding accountability.”
The NAACP will also execute a robust civic engagement effort with multiple levers of change, including registering participants to vote and encouraging them to participate in the Census.
A series of virtual and in-person programming will take place on the following dates:
- THE CALL: Thursday, August 27, 8pm ET: There will be virtual programming carried on television networks and key social media platforms, including musical performances, remarks from young activists and emerging organizations and other entertainment.
- THE MARCH: Friday, August 28, 11am ET: There will be a Virtual March on Washington, streamed across key social media platforms and television networks. Led by Martin Luther King, III, and the families of Black people who have died at the hands of police officers, thousands will virtually March on Washington to restore and recommit to the dream Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. defined in 1963. The virtual march will be in partnership with a socially distant, in-person march for those in the D.C. area.
- THE CHARGE: Friday, August 28, 9pm ET: The event will conclude with a night of virtual programming, including a major keynote address from Rev. William Barber, and musical performances by award-winning artists.
Coming days after both the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention, the 2020 Virtual March on Washington will set forth a bold new Black agenda — advocating for comprehensive police accountability reform, economic empowerment, and equitable access to health care, education, and the voting booths. For more information, visit 2020march.com.
###
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. The NAACP is a c4 organization (contributions are not tax-deductible), and we have a partner c3 organization known as the NAACP Empowerment Programs (contributions are fully tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS).
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 Virtual March on Washington Programming to Feature Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Cory Booker, Stacey Abrams, Rev. William Barber, Among Others appeared first on NAACP.
Read more here.
New post from the NAACP: The Response to the Pandemic by Adam Lee
The Coronavirus pandemic has hit communities of color – particularly African Americans – disproportionately hard. African Americans are infected with COVID-19 at nearly three times the rate of white Americans, and are twice as likely to die from the virus. Furthermore, systemic racism hasn’t just evidenced itself in the health care system: because of the long and enduring history of bigotry and inequality in our nation, the impact of the pandemic is being felt much more acutely by African Americans in almost every aspect of life. From unemployment to rental evictions to hunger to the ability for our children to learn remotely to safely casting a ballot, and that is just naming a few areas, African Americans are having to deal with the pain of the pandemic on our lives at disproportionately higher cases than white Americans – too many of whom are suffering as well.
These unprecedented times require extraordinary, bold, new, comprehensive and well-honed leadership and empathy by our federal government.
For more information and to find out how you can advocate, please read our Action Alert and take Fast Action.
The post The Response to the Pandemic appeared first on NAACP.
Read more here.
Paramilitary Organization Violently Attacks Zapatista Support Bases
The post Paramilitary Organization Violently Attacks Zapatista Support Bases appeared first on It's Going Down.
Communique from the National Indigenous Congress denouncing the recent attack carried out by the paramilitary organization, ORCAO, against Zapatista support bases in the community of Cuxuljá, Ocosingo, Chiapas To the People of Mexico and the World As the Indigenous Governing Council- National Indigenous Congress, we denounce the cowardly attack carried out by members of... Read Full Article
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New post from the NAACP: President and CEO of the NAACP Issues Condemning Statement in the Shooting of Jacob Blake. by Marc Banks
Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, issued the following statement regarding the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Wisconsin father of three:
“The appalling and heinous shooting of Jacob Blake is yet another stark reminder of the free-willing atrocities committed against Black people at the hands of those entrusted to maintain public safety. This recent shooting comes on the heels of civil unrest that has caused the world to take heed to a long-standing pandemic of systemic racism and injustice.
The unfortunate and sobering reality is that Black men and women are under perpetual fear of having their life taken from them at any given moment while engaging with police officers. In a country where the phrase, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” epitomizes “unalienable rights,” Jacob Blake is another prime example, in a succession of individuals, that the promises of this nation ring hollow for too many to be meritorious.
At this moment, the work of the American people is clear and unquestionable; we must continue to fight, organize, and mobilize against police brutality, and state-sanctioned killings at the hands of law enforcement. While the visions of Jacob Blake, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others play over and over in our minds, we must not grow weary until we’ve achieved police liability and substantive change is realized. If there was ever a time for us to unite against a common threat to the existence of Black people, it is now.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jacob Blake, his family, and friends, as he continues to fight for his life and to return to his children.
#WeAreDoneDying
###
About 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 to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
The NAACP is a c4 organization (contributions are not tax-deductible), and we have a partner c3 organization known as NAACP Empowerment Programs (contributions are fully tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS).
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 President and CEO of the NAACP Issues Condemning Statement in the Shooting of Jacob Blake. appeared first on NAACP.
Read more here.
Rebellions Break Out in Lafayette and Kenosha as Solidarity Marches Hit the Streets
The post Rebellions Break Out in Lafayette and Kenosha as Solidarity Marches Hit the Streets appeared first on It's Going Down.
A new round of uprisings has kicked off across the so-called United States following the police killings of Trayford Pellerin, “a 31-year-old Black man who was fatally shot Friday night” in Lafayette, New Orleans and 29-year-old Jacob Blake, also Black, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Pellerin was killed after police were called to the scene of a... Read Full Article
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Monday, August 24, 2020
This Week in Fascism #71: Where We Fail One, We Fail All
The post This Week in Fascism #71: Where We Fail One, We Fail All appeared first on It's Going Down.
Welcome fellow antifascsts! In this week’s column, we present to you a behind the scenes look at the recent far-Right rally in Portland, where out of town racist losers and Trump worshipers were pushed out of the city and took to social media to lament their epic failure, show-case their degree of infighting, and to... Read Full Article
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Sunday, August 23, 2020
Hundreds of Portlanders Push Out Violent Far-Right, Qanon & Proud Boy Rally
The post Hundreds of Portlanders Push Out Violent Far-Right, Qanon & Proud Boy Rally appeared first on It's Going Down.
Report from PopMob in Portland on Saturday’s recent mass defense of the city against a violent far-Right rally. This Monday will mark three months of Portlanders showing up night after night in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement – calling for abolition of the police in Portland and across the country. These remarkably sustained... Read Full Article
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Friday, August 21, 2020
Grand Jury Resistor Jailed for Fighting Federal Repression Against BLM
The post Grand Jury Resistor Jailed for Fighting Federal Repression Against BLM appeared first on It's Going Down.
Report on grand jury resistor recently jailed for refusing to work with a grand jury. For more updates see Freedom Fighters Legal Support. Madison, WI. At 3:00pm, today, Wednesday, August 19th, Jesse Shackelford, 28, was taken into federal custody at the Dane County Jail and joined a long history of grand jury resisters. He claimed... Read Full Article
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New post from the NAACP: NAACP Sues Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service to Restore Reliable Mail Delivery Ahead of November Elections by Marc Banks
(WASHINGTON, DC) — Today, the NAACP filed suit in the United States District Court of Washington, D.C. against the United States Postal Service and Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service, Louis Dejoy. The lawsuit alleges that Dejoy has impeded the timely distribution of mail, implemented crippling policies on postal workers, and sabotaged the United States Postal Service in a blatant attempt to disenfranchise voters of color, who are already more harshly impacted by the coronavirus and require alternative methods to in-person voting to protect their health and safety.
“As the country faces an uphill battle against COVID-19 and systemic racism, we’re witnessing a significant onslaught against our postal system at a time when prompt mail delivery matters more than ever, especially for voters of color,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP. “This willful and blatant attempt to obstruct the mail system amidst a pandemic and on the precipice of a pivotal election is a direct threat to the people of this nation’s right to vote in a fair and free election.”
The Lawsuit, which addresses DeJoy’s significant new restrictions on the nature of letter carrier routes, seeks to suspend these changes and restore prompt and reliable mail delivery and ensure that mail-in ballots are a priority as they have been in past years. Since implementing his operational “pivot,” there have been substantial delays with entire towns in rural areas not receiving their mail on certain days and people in some cities going days or weeks without receiving any mail at all. These delays have caused Americans to go without medicines and benefits, and they have prevented eligible Americans from voting by mail in their primary elections.
The coronavirus pandemic has directed the nation’s attention to the necessity of our postal system and the crucial role it plays in upholding our democracy. This cynical attack on the United States Postal Service places our democracy in danger, and the backlog of mail has caused extraordinary legal, political, economic and health repercussions. The people of this nation deserve better. The NAACP is committed to fighting long and hard to ensure its members and the people of this nation have unfettered access to the ballot box, whether by voting in-person or by utilizing mail-in voting.
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About 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 to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
The NAACP is a c4 organization (contributions are not tax-deductible), and we have a partner c3 organization known as NAACP Empowerment Programs (contributions are fully tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS).
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 Sues Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service to Restore Reliable Mail Delivery Ahead of November Elections appeared first on NAACP.
Read more here.
Notes from the Rockford Rebellion: Black Revolt in the Rustbelt from a New Afrikan Anarchist Perspective
The post Notes from the Rockford Rebellion: Black Revolt in the Rustbelt from a New Afrikan Anarchist Perspective appeared first on It's Going Down.
What follows is a New Afrikan anarchist perspective on the rebellion that broke out in so-called Rockford, Illinois following the police murder of George Floyd. “Just put a rag on ya face when you ride you don’t want them sattelites to take ya picture” – Dead Prez, D.O.W.N. (2004) “They building up the East Side... Read Full Article
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Thursday, August 20, 2020
New Documents Shed Light on Police Surveillance of Wet’suwet’en Solidarity Organizing Efforts
The post New Documents Shed Light on Police Surveillance of Wet’suwet’en Solidarity Organizing Efforts appeared first on It's Going Down.
Report from North Shore Counter-Info on newly released documents that show the extent of which the so-called Canadian State put anarchists and anti-colonial land defenders who were engaged in organizing in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en under surveillance. North Shore Counter-Info has received legal documents that have not yet been made public containing details about recent investigations... Read Full Article
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Antifascists Are Facing Off Against the far-Right, Backed Up by Local Cops, Weekly in Sunland-Tujunga
The post Antifascists Are Facing Off Against the far-Right, Backed Up by Local Cops, Weekly in Sunland-Tujunga appeared first on It's Going Down.
Every Friday in Sunland-Tujunga, a small neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, just 15 minutes from Downtown LA, a group of violent far-Right Trump supporters meets under the guise of rallying in support of the police. Here’s how local antifascists have responded. They assemble out front of a... Read Full Article
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Wet’suwet’en Cabin Destroyed in Arson Attack
The post Wet’suwet’en Cabin Destroyed in Arson Attack appeared first on It's Going Down.
Report from the Gidimt’en Camp on cabin belonging to Gidimt’en Chief Gisday’wa being burned in an arson attack. August 17th 2020, Houston (BC): On Saturday August 15 2020, a cabin belonging to Chief Gisday’wa was burned to the ground by unknown arsonists. The arson took place two days after the Houston Today newspaper ran a... Read Full Article
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Vancouver Island, BC: 2nd Fairy Creek Blockade Established
The post Vancouver Island, BC: 2nd Fairy Creek Blockade Established appeared first on It's Going Down.
Report on recent forest defense blockade on logging roads into the headwaters of the Fairy Creek watershed. Originally published on BC Blackout. August 17, 2020 — Grassroots forest defenders from across Vancouver Island have successfully prevented Teal Jones Group from blasting logging roads into the unlogged headwaters of the Fairy Creek watershed for the past week.... Read Full Article
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Comrade Malik’s Black August Message
The post Comrade Malik’s Black August Message appeared first on It's Going Down.
Statement from Keith “Malik” Washington on Black August and the ongoing rebellion in the streets. by Keith ‘Malik’ Washington, Liberate the Caged Voices “Black Men born in the U.S. and fortunate enough to live past the age of 18 are conditioned to accept the inevitability of prison. For most of us, it simply is the... Read Full Article
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Wednesday, August 19, 2020
On Facebook Banning Anarchist and Antifascist Pages & the Digital Censorship to Come
The post On Facebook Banning Anarchist and Antifascist Pages & the Digital Censorship to Come appeared first on It's Going Down.
Today Facebook deleted a variety of far-Right militia and Qanon accounts along with anarchist and antifascist pages, including It’s Going Down and CrimethInc. The following is a joint statement in response. Facebook has taken down multiple Facebook pages they believe to be connected with crimethinc.com and itsgoingdown.org, among other anarchist and anti-fascist publishing projects, officially... Read Full Article
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This Week in Fascism #70: Far-Right Opens Fires in the PNW; Militia Attempts to Intimidate a Witness
The post This Week in Fascism #70: Far-Right Opens Fires in the PNW; Militia Attempts to Intimidate a Witness appeared first on It's Going Down.
Welcome, fellow antifascists! This week, we’ve got the Proud Boys showing up in Michigan, neo-fascist crew Portland’s Liberation macing protesters and firing a gun, another attempted bomb attack in Portland and Stone Mountain, Georgia, protecting their community from a white nationalist rally, plus, new doxxes of Proud Boys. Without further ado, let’s begin! News After... Read Full Article
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Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Message in a Molotov: Trump Moves to Attack the Post Office & the Election
The post Message in a Molotov: Trump Moves to Attack the Post Office & the Election appeared first on It's Going Down.
For the last few months, we’ve heard a chorus from Centrist and liberal media outlets that Biden is ahead and that Trump’s days are numbered. While people have floated the scenario that Trump may refuse to leave office, many, including Biden, have stated that this is a slim possibility, as the American State and military... Read Full Article
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Monday, August 17, 2020
Report Back on ‘Protect the South’ Rally in Stone Mountain
The post Report Back on ‘Protect the South’ Rally in Stone Mountain appeared first on It's Going Down.
Report back on mass action against neo-Confederate rally in Stone Mountain, Georgia this past Saturday. The rally was disrupted initially by the park’s decision to close Stone Mountain Park for the entire day on Saturday, August 15th. Tennessee Radical Collective (TRC) arrived on the ground at Stone Mountain Village at 8:00am. When we arrived, the... Read Full Article
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“Nothing has Changed”: Phone-Zap in Support of Ware Prisoners
The post “Nothing has Changed”: Phone-Zap in Support of Ware Prisoners appeared first on It's Going Down.
Prisoners at Ware Prison outside of Atlanta, Georgia are facing post-rebellion repression. The following is a call from Atlanta IWOC to take part in a phone-zap to demand better conditions for prisoners. To read about the recent rebellion, go here. Updates from inside as of August 10th. They are being fed spoiled food Commissary is... Read Full Article
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Saturday, August 15, 2020
New post from the NAACP: Viewing Social Security Through The Civil Rights Lens by Austyn Ross
By NAACP President Derrick Johnson
Today, our nation marks the 85th anniversary of one of the most consequential social programs ever enacted—the Social Security Act of 1935. Considered a signature part of New Deal reform, Social Security sought to provide a measure of income security for older persons and some other vulnerable populations. It also paved the way for future federal protections such as Medicare and the Affordable Care Act. When Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the bill, he recognized its impact and its promise, calling it “a cornerstone in a structure which is being built but is by no means complete.”
But like other components of the New Deal, the origins of Social Security were rooted in racism. The Act initially omitted large categories of workers of color from retirement benefits and unemployment insurance. When Congress held hearings on the bill in 1935, the NAACP testified that a provision insisted upon by Southern politicians to exempt agricultural and domestic workers would disproportionately exclude Black workers. It was none other than Charles Hamilton Houston, architect of the legal challenge to the “separate but equal” doctrine resulting in Brown v. Board of Education, who objected on behalf of the NAACP and warned Congress that the bill would exclude “Negro sharecroppers and Negro cash tenants, who are just about at the bottom of the economic scale.”
Despite the NAACP’s opposition, the Social Security Act passed with these exemptions intact. As a result, 65 percent of African Americans throughout the country were ineligible for benefits, with an even higher percentage of African Americans in the South excluded from the program. The NAACP’s Charles Hamilton Houston described the law as a “sieve with the holes just big enough for the majority of Negroes to fall through.” The exemptions were finally repealed in the 1950s, but they had significantly worsened the economic gap between Blacks and Whites.
Today’s Social Security program protects Black families through retirement, disability, or death. Its insurance benefits are critical for African Americans who have fewer resources and become disabled at higher rates. Its progressive structure helps low-income earners—many of whom are African American—receive more benefits in relation to past earnings than high-wage earners. Older African Americans with lower lifetime earnings and fewer pension benefits are dependent upon Social Security: In 2017, 35 percent of married older African Americans and 58 percent of unmarried older African Americans received 90 percent or more of their income from Social Security. Nevertheless, African Americans benefit less overall from this program due to the persistent pay gap, as well as shorter life spans.
For Black women, Social Security is a critical lifeline out of poverty. Given their longer lifespan and caregiver responsibilities across multiple generations, many of them have an increased reliance on Social Security during retirement. In addition, Black women’s lower lifetime earnings—which lag behind those of White men and women and Black men—make them even more dependent on Social Security’s progressive structure.
This safety net must be protected. In 2005, President George W. Bush threatened to privatize the program and used the shortened life expectancy and systemic inequality experienced by African Americans as justification. The NAACP mounted a nationwide campaign, “SOS—Save Our Social Security,” and joined with the Congressional Black Caucus to successfully defend the program. NAACP then-Chairman Julian Bond stated: “We urge the Administration to address the long-term problems the system faces now. Recognizing the shorter life expectancy of people of color is commendable but placing them further at risk is no solution.” Donald Trump’s efforts today to cut payroll taxes which fund Social Security must be similarly defeated.
Social Security continues to provide a backstop against persistent economic inequality. Our nation has made little progress in reducing wealth and income disparities between Black and White households. The net worth of a White family is still 10 times greater than that of a Black family. Despite laws banning pay discrimination, Black men earn 83 cents and Black women earn 62 cents for every dollar earned by White men. Redlining and housing discrimination have made home-ownership impossible or much less lucrative for Black households. These structural barriers produce diminished opportunities for Black families to build wealth, save for retirement, and pass financial stability to the next generation.
Social Security is even more critical during the coronavirus crisis, which has exacerbated racial disparities. Fewer than half of Black adults currently have a job. Small businesses owned by Black Americans have been forced to close at twice the rate of White-owned small businesses. Black families are now significantly more likely to be food insecure, and their chances of missing a rental or mortgage payment are higher than other racial groups.
The racial disparities revealed by coronavirus and the spotlight on systemic racism resulting from horrific police brutality give our nation a new mandate for building bold social programs that correct longstanding inequalities, repair our economy, and restore the welfare of our families. The relief legislation currently considered by Congress, future programs from a new administration, and private efforts by industry all must center people of color in plans to rebuild and strengthen our economic security. Although the original Social Security Act was racially flawed, we have a new opportunity to move forward with a bold, fair, and comprehensive approach to economic security for all Americans—which must include a robust Social Security.
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About 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 Viewing Social Security Through The Civil Rights Lens appeared first on NAACP.
Read more here.
New post from the NAACP: NAACP Calls Attacks on Postal Service “Unprecedented Threat to Democracy” by Austyn Ross
The NAACP strongly condemns the Trump administration’s deliberate attempt to sabotage the U.S. Postal Service to obstruct voting by mail and to ensure a favorable outcome in the election. Disrupting the machinery of democracy constitutes a strike against the integrity and legitimacy of our elections. It must not stand.
Yesterday, Trump vowed to block emergency funding of $25 billion for the U.S. Postal Service necessary to allow it to handle & process expected enormous increases in mailed ballots as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Trump has blatantly attacked voting by mail generally, repeating false claims that mail-in ballots lead to fraud which have been widely disproven. He has specifically stated that allowing voting by mail would harm his reelection chances.
Trump’s most blatant attack yet on our democratic process comes on the heels of drastic changes to the delivery of U.S. mail that are certain to obstruct a free and fair election. Trump’s newly installed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who has contributed millions to Trump’s campaign and the Republican Party, has purged top officials in the postal service and instituted sweeping operational changes to impair the delivery of mail and undermine the November elections. These changes include cutbacks in the number and use of mail processing equipment, declassifying election mail as first class, altering mail sorting and delivery policies, restricting mail delivery, and reducing overtime for postal workers.
These unprecedented attacks on the Postal Service will disenfranchise voters of color, who are already more harshly impacted by coronavirus and require alternative methods to in-person voting in order to protect their health and safety. Many states rely on deadlines for requesting and returning absentee ballots within days of Election Day. It is imperative that we have a fully functioning postal service prepared to follow standard delivery times to ensure all votes by mail are counted.
We are sounding the alarm bell: Our democracy is in crisis. We call on Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to condemn the hijacking of one of our most revered institutions, the U.S. Postal Service. We call upon Congress to pass emergency funding for the U.S. Postal Service by a veto-proof majority. We call upon Congress to immediately exercise desperately-needed oversight to ensure that delivery of mail in connection with the November election is unimpeded and untainted by partisanship and an overt attempt to steal this election.
We have fought too long and too hard to fully participate in our democracy to allow it to be subverted in this heinous and scandalous manner. The American people need our leaders to keep our democratic institutions intact and fully operational at any time, and especially now.
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About 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 NAACP Calls Attacks on Postal Service “Unprecedented Threat to Democracy” appeared first on NAACP.
Read more here.
Friday, August 14, 2020
Some of the Same Nazis Who Marched to “Unite the Right” Are Now Promoting Saturday’s Rally at Stone Mountain
The post Some of the Same Nazis Who Marched to “Unite the Right” Are Now Promoting Saturday’s Rally at Stone Mountain appeared first on It's Going Down.
Update on the mobilization against white nationalist and neo-Confederate groups at Stone Mountain in Georgia. More info here. Three years ago today, white nationalists and their far-Right allies rallied in Charlottesville, Virginia. The event ended in gang beatings by white supremacists and a vehicular attack that left Heather Heyer dead, with dozens more wounded. Now,... Read Full Article
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“Disruption Towards Freedom”: Marquis Bey on Anarcho-Blackness
The post “Disruption Towards Freedom”: Marquis Bey on Anarcho-Blackness appeared first on It's Going Down.
On this episode of the It’s Going Down podcast, we speak with educator and author Marquis Bey, author of the new book, Anarcho-Blackness: Notes Towards a Black Anarchism, out this month from AK Press. From the book’s description: In this bold and expansive treatise, Marquis Bey seeks to define the shape of a Black anarchism—not, he... Read Full Article
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Thursday, August 13, 2020
New post from the NAACP: NAACP Launches an Unprecedented “Black Voices Change Lives” Campaign to Activate Infrequent Black Voters in Critical Battleground States by Marc Banks
Civic Engagement Campaign Seeks to Recruit Community Volunteers to Mobilize Infrequent Black Voters to Turn Out in November
As the Nation Commemorates the 55th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, NAACP Leadership Call on the Black Community to use Their Voice in the Most Powerful Way
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the NAACP, the nation’s largest and most highly recognized civil rights organization, announced the “Black Voices Change Lives” campaign, an unprecedented effort to engage Black voters across the country by deploying a blend of traditional and innovative turnout tactics in a select number of battleground states. The NAACP turnout strategy is anchored in an innovation pioneered by the data science firm GSSA, called indirect relational voter turnout (IRVT) where high-propensity Black voters are recruited as volunteers to encourage low-frequency Black voters to vote.
To listen to the Radio Ads, please visit https://blackvoiceschangelives.org/press/
The first phase, announced today, focuses on recruiting high-propensity Black voters to volunteer. The campaign is launching a multi-media advertising blitz in Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to complement efforts to recruit volunteers by SMS, phone calls, direct mail, and e-mail. The second phase will launch in the fall and focus exclusively on using the enlisted volunteers to mobilize infrequent voters in battleground states – states where the data tells us the Black vote is the determining factor in the outcome of the election no matter who is running for office. The goal of the effort is to increase Black turnout by more than five percent compared to 2016.
“We are excited to announce the ‘Black Voices Change Lives’ campaign to mobilize and turn out Black voters all across the country this November. Our nation is in a once ina lifetime health and economic crisis. This pandemic shows just how important it is to elect people who stand with us and fire the ones who don’t,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson. “It is not enough for anyone of us to simply vote. In this time of crisis, each of us is obligated to make sure that all people in our communities vote. We have to call our neighbors, text our friends, e-mail our loved ones and remind them to vote because our lives literally depend on it.”
According to the Pew Research Center, Black voter turnout declined for the first time in 20 years, falling to 59.6 percent in 2016, this is after reaching a historic high of 66.6 percent in the 2012 elections. The NAACP’s “Black Voices Change Lives” aims to increase the Black vote by galvanizing community members to actively engage infrequent Black voters to get to the polls in November.
As systemic racism, unemployment, and the COVID-19 pandemic threaten the lives and livelihoods of Black Americans and communities of color, the NAACP is leading this grassroots civic engagement campaign to address the urgency of the 2020 presidential election. “Black Voices Change Lives” volunteers will receive a list of up to 20 infrequent Black voters in their community who they will contact and urge to vote in November. The initiative provides tools, training, and resources to the volunteers who will call and text the voters they are assigned and encourage them to cast their ballot.
For more information on the “Black Voices Save Lives” campaign, visit the website.
About 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 NAACP Launches an Unprecedented “Black Voices Change Lives” Campaign to Activate Infrequent Black Voters in Critical Battleground States appeared first on NAACP.
Read more here.
Report Back from Solidarity Caravan Outside of Ware State Prison Following Rebellion
The post Report Back from Solidarity Caravan Outside of Ware State Prison Following Rebellion appeared first on It's Going Down.
Report back from car caravan in solidarity with the recent rebellion at Ware State Prison in Georgia. To read more about the rebellion, go here. On Tuesday of last week, abolitionists organized a caravan and noise demonstration in front of the Ware State Prison. While they stopped through town, the demonstration was not for the... Read Full Article
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This Is America #123: LA Tenants Union, Streets On Fire, the GOP & the Rise of Conspiracy
The post This Is America #123: LA Tenants Union, Streets On Fire, the GOP & the Rise of Conspiracy appeared first on It's Going Down.
cover photo with permission from @BesharmKutti Welcome, to This Is America, August 12th, 2020. On this episode, first we speak with someone involved in the Los Angeles Tenants Union. We talk about how the organization has grown to include autonomous chapters across the LA area, what organizing the group is involved in currently, ongoing rent... Read Full Article
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Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Philadelphia, PA: Report from Protest Against Police Terror & Tribute to Delbert Africa
The post Philadelphia, PA: Report from Protest Against Police Terror & Tribute to Delbert Africa appeared first on It's Going Down.
Report back from Philadelphia Anarchist Black Cross (ABC) on a recent protest march in so-called Philadelphia in tribute to Delbert Africa. Reporting back from the August 8, 2020 tribute to Delbert Africa, we wanted to share some images and video from the event as well as what Del meant to members of Philly ABC. We... Read Full Article
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Caledonia: Account of the Raid at the #1492LandbackLane Reclamation Site
The post Caledonia: Account of the Raid at the #1492LandbackLane Reclamation Site appeared first on It's Going Down.
Report back from resistance to an attempted police eviction of the #1492LandBackLane land reclamation on Six Nations territory in so-called Ontario. Originally published on North Shore Counter-Info. Disclaimer: This is written from a white settler perspective. I was out on the land for about a third of the occupation. I was around for the raid... Read Full Article
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Tuesday, August 11, 2020
New post from the NAACP: NAACP Recognizes Senator Kamala Harris’s Appointment to Major Party Ticket as ‘Defining Moment in U.S. History.’ by Marc Banks
Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, released the following statement on the selection of Senator Kamala Harris as a candidate on the presidential ticket of a major political party:
Throughout the history of this nation, Black women have been at the forefront of moving us toward a more representative and unified society. From the voting booth to grassroots movements, Black women have fought for and uplifted this country with their vote and voice. But their representation in the highest levels of government has never matched their unwavering participation in our democracy. Today’s announcement of a Black woman, Sen. Kamala Harris, as the first vice-presidential candidate of a major political party, breaks down one of these barriers in historic proportions. That it comes at a time in which Black Americans face dueling threats from a global health crisis and ingrained racism is all the more powerful.
This moment is long overdue. For far too long, we have undervalued Black women’s political power and their role in shaping our culture, communities, and country. The selection of Sen. Harris as a vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket is the culmination of the tireless work of Shirley Chisolm, Charlene Mitchell, Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, Barbara Jordan, Ida B. Wells, and Myrlie Evers in their fight for representation and equality. Their sacrifices, told and untold, made it possible for Sen. Harris to make political history today. Regardless of party affiliation, every American should be proud that this milestone was finally reached.
While we do not support a political party, we recognize the overwhelming significance of this moment and what it means for this nation. We must not allow coverage of Sen. Harris’ historic candidacy to decline into ugly racist and sexist stereotypes and attacks. We call upon the media, members of both political parties, and the people of this nation to honor this historic moment and treat Sen. Harris’s candidacy with the respect and esteem it deserves throughout this election season.
As the presidential campaign progresses, the NAACP remains steadfast in our pursuit of full participation in democracy for Black people. With our ongoing commitment to dismantling institutional injustice, uplifting Black culture, and maximizing our economic and political power, we know that this pivotal moment sets the stage for our continued work to realize equal justice.
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The post NAACP Recognizes Senator Kamala Harris’s Appointment to Major Party Ticket as ‘Defining Moment in U.S. History.’ appeared first on NAACP.
Read more here.
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