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.“

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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.

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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.

 

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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.

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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

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New post from the NAACP: GSA Revives Commitment to Renewable Energy, Pledging 100 Percent of Renewable Electric Resources by 2025 by Austyn Ross

As part of tackling the climate crisis, GSA stands up task groups on decarbonization and partners with NAACP on environmental justice WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced its commitment to 100 percent renewable electricity sources for the federal real estate portfolio by 2025. By leveraging its purchasing power, GSA will provide renewable energy to its real estate footprint of 186 million square feet. GSA is continuing its plan to eliminate fossil fuel use in newly constructed facilities and facilities undergoing major modernization and achieving net-zero by 2030. This aligns with President Biden’s pledge to tackle the climate crisis and invest in innovation to spur transformational technologies that can help reduce emissions, while also creating new economic opportunities to build the industries of the future.

“I am proud to affirm GSA’s commitment to 100 percent renewable energy by 2025,” said Acting Administrator Katy Kale. “This is an important step in reasserting the federal government’s leadership role in addressing the existential crisis of climate change.”

“Buildings account for 40 percent of all energy consumed in the US, and 70 percent of the electricity. By the federal government demonstrating a path toward decarbonization, we can encourage greater use of renewable and clean electric resources across the country,” said Mark Chambers, Senior Director for Building Emissions, White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Additionally, to strengthen the mission of GSA and advance diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility into how federal buildings are designed and renovated, GSA collaborated with the NAACP to establish an Environmental Justice and Equity Task Group. This group’s mission is to improve engagement with diverse and underrepresented communities to create solutions throughout the federal sustainable building process. This includes design, construction, operation, renewal and occupancy leading to opportunities and green jobs.

“We are gratified and eager to begin this critical work of examining the past and present impacts of federal buildings on Black, Indigenous, people of color and low-income communities, as well as advancing the transformative possibilities through the work of the Environmental Justice and Equity Task Group,” said Jacqui Patterson, NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program Senior Director. “In working towards centering equity in addressing our federal building infrastructure we aspire to spur a broader transition to a universally equitable and sustainable building sector.”

GSA also established the Federal Building Decarbonization Task Group. This group will explore opportunities and challenges for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in alignment with national climate goals and action plans, through the use of renewable energy, energy efficiency, electrification and smart building technologies at federal buildings.

### About GSA

GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of more than 370 million rentable square feet and overseeing approximately $68 billion in annual contracts. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris administration’s priorities. For more information, visit: www.gsa.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

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 GSA Revives Commitment to Renewable Energy, Pledging 100 Percent of Renewable Electric Resources by 2025 appeared first on NAACP.

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New post from the NAACP: Shots in Arms, Transit Equity, and Labor Justice in Lansing, MI by Austyn Ross

 

Written by Jerome L. Reide, Former NAACP Regional Field Director

A March announcement that the Capital Area Transit Authority (CATA), which serves the greater Lansing and East Lansing communities, would transport people in need to get Covid-19 vaccines sounded like great news. Disabled, unemployed, communities of color, low-income, and homebound people will focus on this effort.

“Michigan’s public transit systems are uniquely positioned to support the state’s COVID- 19 vaccination efforts by transporting arms to shots and shots to arms,” said Bradley T. Funkhouser, chief executive officer of the Capital Area Transportation Authority, which serves much of the Greater Lansing area. “It is our obligation as public transportation systems to do what we can to make the COVID vaccine accessible to all residents, and we know our systems are positioned to help achieve an equitable distribution of vaccines to people and communities that face transportation obstacles.”

A surge in Covid-19 infections, disparities in access to Lansing mass transit, and a labor dispute with bus drivers are three challenges that may harm Lansing’s African American community.

There were 22,204 reported Covid-19 cases in Ingham County that includes Lansing and East Lansing. Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s use of executive powers to put strict restrictions on school restaurants and large gatherings slowed down the spread of the virus despite political opposition to the shutdown measures. Governor Whitmer lifted restrictions in March, and by April 13, Michigan saw 4,000 hospitalizations in one day.

Bridge Michigan (bridgemi.com) reports that white Michigan residents get the Covid-19 vaccine twice the rate of African Americans. In Ingham- 106, 462 people have at least one dose (36.77%), and 62,408 people (21.55%) are fully vaccinated. The Lansing Metropolitan Statistical Area is 76% white, nine percent African American, seven percent Hispanic, and five percent Asian. Bridge also reports that more than 40% of the vaccines administered did not collect racial information.

Lansing was included in a recent report, “Access to Opportunity through Equitable Transportation”

The report says this small sprawling population and highly segregated has a high unemployment rate. The Capital Area Transit Authority carries more than 11 million passengers a year. Low-wage workers on the outskirts of Lansing lack ready access to jobs in the central city and centrally located healthcare facilities.

CATA bus drivers and mechanics recently protested after 17 months of negotiations disagreed on overtime, retiree benefits, and vacation.

“CATA’s maintenance and operations employees are the life-blood of the transit system, and they have risked their lives to ensure that public transit continues to operate in the Greater Lansing area,” says Union President/Business Agent Steven Soliz. “The Union is not willing to throw its contractual protections under the bus, especially at a time when CATA has received an unprecedented ten million dollars from the federal government. The Union looks forward to getting back to the bargaining table and reaching an agreement that respects its employees and the sacrifices they have already made.”

CATA and ATU Local 1039 Fact Finding Report and Response

Lansing’s African American community sits at the intersection of inequitable mass transit, disparities in Covid-19 vaccine distribution, and a labor dispute. Hopefully, these issues can be sorted out so that there is adequate Lansing public transportation available to get Covid-19 vaccinations in the arms of the most vulnerable community.

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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.

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New post from the NAACP: How Should We Equitably Power Ohio Forward? by Austyn Ross

 

Written by Tom Roberts, NAACP Ohio State Conference President

There is a vast amount of opportunity in Ohio.  Our auto manufacturing has the chance to lead to an electrified future. According to ¹Powering Ohio, embracing new options versus the status quo would result in  $6 billion-plus, potential investments of 9,000 plus middle-income jobs, and 18,000 other jobs.

We are the seventh most populated state in the nation, with ~11.7 million people.  Ohio has a solid industrial sector that significantly contributes to air pollution. The movement of goods by heavy-duty vehicles coming in and out of communities negatively affects their air and health.   Also, 92% of Ohioans drive their cars to work.  Many Ohioans drive to others cities and have an average commute of 22 minutes.  ²One of the most prevalent causes of air pollution is vehicle emissions.  The  ³American Lung Association State of the Air 2020 Report list several Ohio counties as ranking D and F for Ozone and 2,289,855 people of color at risk for lung disease, followed by 1,278,157 of those in poverty.  As of February 2021, Ohio unemployment in 88 counties ranged from 3.1% low to a high of 8.1%, according to Bureau of Labor Markets, and the ⁴African American unemployment rate is consistently twice the white unemployment rate.

We can reimagine an automotive and transit system that will pave the way for a just transition and resiliency for overburden and disadvantaged communities.  Such a transition is an opportunity to employ initiatives like the NAACP PowerUp initiative that acts as a conductor for Black to Green pipelines, such as training and job opportunities in the electric vehicle sector and other clean energy jobs.

We can infuse equity that would decrease high unemployment, reduce harmful emissions, particularly greenhouse gases and reduce the economic burdens to affordable access to electric vehicles and so much more.

Equitable transportation systems, access to good jobs, green jobs, and the right to clean air are human and civil rights issues.

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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.

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New post from the NAACP: Environmental Justice the Struggle Continues… is Hope Around the Corner? by Austyn Ross

 

Written by James Mosley, President & CEO, EnviroKinetics, Inc., Chairman, NAACP-Evansville Environment & Climate Justice Committee

The U.S. government first recognized Environmental Justice (EJ) as an essential focus of federal environmental protection efforts in 1992 when President George H.W. Bush appointed Dr. Clarice Gaylord as the first Director of the US EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice.

During my time in DC, I had the good fortune of meeting Dr. Gaylord and listening as she explained the choice to rebrand the new division the Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) versus Environmental Equity. She said that this was done because equity was viewed as evenly distributing the placement of NIMBYs such as community-based residential facilities, recycling transfer stations, and polluting industries throughout US cities.  Moreover, predominantly white, affluent residents in these cities had the wherewithal to hire zoning attorneys to keep undesired projects out of their communities.

According to Dr. Gaylord, funding the OEJ was always an uphill battle that often meant last-minute riders attached to unrelated legislation proposed by members of the Congressional Black Caucus like Rep. John Lewis.   Dr. Gaylord’s passion and commitment to environmental justice inspired me and changed the direction of my professional and personal life.

I introduced Evansville, Indiana to EJ when I co-founded the Environmental Justice Resource Center (EJRC) at the Carver Community Organization (CCO).  Carver was the first non-profit in Indiana awarded a grant by the US EPA OEJ, Region 5.   The EJRC promoted awareness around lead poisoning prevention/abatement techniques, water, ozone and air quality education through various scientific learning processes.  The EJRC developed high-level advisory committees and collaboratives, sponsored a calendar of environmental events and workshops utilizing resources from national associations in Washington, D.C.

Some of the EJRC’s achievements included sponsoring Dr. Robert Bullard, founding Director of Clark Atlanta University’s EJ Resource Center as a special guest in its EJ Science Fair and as keynote speaker at Carver’s Annual Banquet. The EJRC also established the State of Indiana’s EJ Advisory Committee. This network included the EJ Center at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, IN, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), and the IU School of Public & Environmental Affairs Bloomington,  IN.  Carver’s EJRC  program was placed on the US EPA’s website as a success story.

I founded EnviroKinetics, Inc. (EKI) as a people-oriented business promoting sustainable communities through environmental services, public involvement & community-based planning. In 2000, EKI consulted on the Evansville Urban Enterprise Association’s Brownfield Efficacy pilot project in Evansville’s Jacobsville area. At that time, IDEM provided Technical Assistance grants for testing properties at CCO and helped designate Jacobsville as a US EPA Superfund Site. Carver’s Director Dave Wagner and I also addressed the challenges of economic revitalization in “hard-to-develop communities” at Indiana’s first Statewide Brownfields Conference, held in Bloomington in 2001.

Deliverables from EKI’s pilot project included the establishment of the State of Indiana’s first full-time Brownfield Coordinator position housed at the City of Evansville’s Department of Metropolitan Development.

For me, an example of EJ for sustainable development would be hiring residents from disadvantaged communities to remediate contaminated sites in those same communities. This approach results in adaptive reuse and training for career-path green jobs such as weatherization and solar panel installation. US EPA Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training grants and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s Rise-Up scholarships are valuable tools to help transform disadvantaged inner-city communities throughout Indiana in this manner.  Looking ahead, future possibilities include 3-D printing of specialty products in Evansville and the recycling of abandoned steel mills in Gary, IN to educational tourist attraction theme parks.

Another promising development is the recently completed Evansville Climate Action Plan 2021, which proposes electrifying Evansville’s diesel transit bus fleet and making traffic thoroughfares in disadvantaged neighborhoods safe for pedestrians and bicyclists. I applaud the US Department of Transportation’s proposed urban policies to undo the damage done by highways splitting up and isolating inner-city communities of color by redesigning those highways as multimodal complete streets.

Finally, I view Earth Day as an opportunity for all of us to recommit ourselves—regardless of race, creed, or socioeconomic status—to the critical mission of restoring and preserving a clean, healthy environment for all people.  This is particularly necessary for communities that remain on an unequal environmental quality footing due to social and economic obstacles.

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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 Environmental Justice the Struggle Continues… is Hope Around the Corner? appeared first on NAACP.

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New post from the NAACP: NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, Releases Statement on Verdict in Derek Chauvin Trial by Marc Banks

“While justice landed Derek Chauvin behind bars for murdering George Floyd, no amount of justice will bring Gianna’s father back. The same way a reasonable police officer would never suffocate an unarmed man to death, a reasonable justice system would recognize its roots in white supremacy and end qualified immunity. Police are here to protect, not lynch. We will not rest until all in our community have the right to breathe.”

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New post from the NAACP: NAACP, NYU Civil Rights Clinic, and Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Urge Cities Across the United States to Abandon Unlawful, Racially Discriminatory Crime-Free Housing Ordinances by Marc Banks

April 16, 2021 – The NAACP, the Civil Rights Clinic at New York University School of Law, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law today began calling on cities around the country to repeal their racially discriminatory crime-free housing ordinances to comply with federal civil rights law.

These ordinances, which do not actually reduce crime, typically make any form of alleged criminal activity a violation of the rental agreement—often in the absence of a conviction or even an arrest—and induce landlords to screen broadly to determine whether a tenant has prior justice system involvement. They unnecessarily increase the involvement of law enforcement in the rental and eviction process, leading to predictably discriminatory results.

“America has a long and ugly history of segregating housing on the basis of race. In light of federal laws that make housing discrimination illegal, municipalities have found new and creative ways to exclude people of color. Exploiting the disproportionate arrests of Black and Latinx persons, crime-free housing ordinances transform contact with the criminal legal system into race-based grounds to keep potential renters out and to evict current renters,” said Hadiya Williams, Civil Rights Clinic Student Advocate. “These ordinances are not only unlawful—they don’t even achieve the pretextual goal of making communities safer.”

“Crime-free housing ordinances encourage and allow renters to be thrown out of their homes for allegations of minor infractions, even if those alleged infractions were not committed by the renters, but instead by a family member or even an acquaintance,” said Anthony Ashton, the NAACP’s Director of Affirmative Litigation. “Crime-free housing ordinances are a thinly veiled attempt to achieve or maintain racial segregation in housing.”

The NAACP, the Civil Rights Clinic, and Lawyers’ Committee are calling on local elected officials in these jurisdictions and across the country to repeal crime-free housing ordinances in their entirety.

“Crime-free housing ordinances treat renters differently than those with the financial means to own their homes. They stand for the proposition that individuals convicted of any crime, no matter how small, can never pay their debts to society and must continue to pay for the rest of their life,” said Professor of Clinical Law at NYU Law School Deborah Archer. “These ordinances are unlawful and fall far short of the ideals of a truly integrated society. They must be repealed.”

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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, NYU Civil Rights Clinic, and Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Urge Cities Across the United States to Abandon Unlawful, Racially Discriminatory Crime-Free Housing Ordinances appeared first on NAACP.

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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.”

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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

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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.

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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.”

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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).

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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. 

 

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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.

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.

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New post from the NAACP: NAACP Applauds Biden’s First Judicial Nominations as “Bold, Transformative Choices” by Austyn Ross

Baltimore, MD—Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP, issued the following statement on President Biden’s first announcement of nominees to the federal courts:

“We are extremely pleased with many of this administration’s first judicial picks. These are terrific nominees who reflect the rich diversity of our country, and their backgrounds will bring fresh perspectives to judicial decision-making.

We are encouraged that President Biden nominated three Black women nominees to federal appellate courts: Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson for the DC Circuit, Candace Jackson-Akiwumi for the Seventh Circuit, and Tiffany Cunningham for the Federal Circuit. There is a dearth of Black women on these courts. President Biden has demonstrated he recognizes this diversity crisis, and we look forward to many more such nominees. We also applaud the nomination of the first Black woman to Maryland’s bench, Judge Lydia Griggsby, and the nomination of Julien Neals, a Black male, to the District of New Jersey.

We note that Judge Ketanji Brown-Jackson, Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, and two other nominees served as public defenders. At this moment of national crisis for our criminal justice system, it is vitally important that the administration appoints judges who recognize the racism existing within that system and the ongoing challenges to ensuring equal justice for all.

We have strongly encouraged the Biden administration to move quickly and boldly in transforming our courts. Donald Trump appointed 234 judges to the federal bench. These appointments represented the most ideological and least diverse set of judges in the modern era.

Our federal courts urgently need balance. We must repair the damage caused by Trump’s appointments and the decades-old practice by both Democratic and Republican administrations of excluding civil rights lawyers from consideration. We call upon President Biden to nominate civil rights lawyers to the bench. We need judges who have served as voting rights lawyers and who have devoted their careers to securing equal justice for underrepresented communities.”

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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 Applauds Biden’s First Judicial Nominations as “Bold, Transformative Choices” appeared first on NAACP.

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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.”

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New post from the NAACP: Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, released the following statement on the recent signing of SB202 and the arrest of Rep. Park Cannon: by Marc Banks

Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, released the following statement on the recent signing of SB202 and the arrest of Rep. Park Cannon:

“The recent underhanded attack on Georgian’s voting rights by Governor Brian Kemp is reminiscent of the Jim Crow era. This is nothing more than an attempt to suppress the voters and make it harder for Georgia’s most vulnerable communities.

Further, state Rep. Park Cannon’s arrest and detainment for simply knocking on the Governor’s door is a gross misuse and abuse of power. Georgia’s highest elected official exploiting his authority to suppress a sitting representative and the voters places the state down a dangerous path.

We will work with our Georgia state conference and branches to end this blatant encroachment on the people’s voting rights.”

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New post from the NAACP: Lebron James to Receive President’s Award During 52nd NAACP Image Awards by Marc Banks

NAACP SIX-TIME IMAGE AWARD RECIPIENT ANTHONY ANDERSON RETURNS AS HOST

THE STAR-STUDDED TWO-HOUR LIVE TV SPECIAL TO FEATURE APPEARANCES AND PERFORMANCES BY ALICIA KEYS, ANDRA DAY, ARSENIO HALL, CYNTHIA ERIVO, JAZMINE SULLIVAN, LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA, MAXWELL, MC LYTE,
MICHELLE OBAMA, MISTY COPELAND, REGINA KING, SAMUEL L. JACKSON, THE CAST OF “TYLER PERRY’S SISTAS,” SWIZZ BEATS, AND TRACY MORGAN

BEVERLY HILLS, CA (March 25, 2021) – The NAACP today announced that NBA superstar, business entrepreneur, and philanthropist, LeBron James, will receive the prestigious President’s Award during the 52nd NAACP Image Awards. Additionally, six-time NAACP Image Awards Winner, Anthony Anderson, will return as host of this year’s two-hour LIVE TV special, which will air on BET, Saturday, March 27^th at 8/7c, and will be simulcast across ViacomCBS networks including CBS, BET Her, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Paramount, Pop, Smithsonian, TV Land, VH1, BET PLUTO, and CMT.

Marking his eighth consecutive year as host, Anthony Anderson is an Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor and currently the star and Executive Producer of ABC’s multi-award winning sitcom, “black-ish.”  He also holds the record for the most wins in the NAACP Image Award category of Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series with six wins.

The President’s Award is presented in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service, with previous recipients including Rihanna, Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, Jesse Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Soledad O’Brien, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Muhammad Ali, among others.

 

“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes of his generation, and through his work both on and off the court, has transcended beyond sports to become a cultural icon,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, who will present the award to LeBron James during the LIVE TV special. “This is nowhere more evident than over the past year, where LeBron has used his platform to speak out on issues that were directly affecting the Black community including voting initiatives, police brutality, and racial inequality. LeBron epitomizes the type of leadership, sportsmanship, and commitment to social justice that we seek to highlight with our President’s Award.”

 

Alongside his incredible achievements on the court – which include four NBA MVP Awards, four NBA Championships, four NBA Finals MVP Awards, and two Olympic gold medals – off the court, LeBron has used his platform to inspire and uplift others through the LeBron James Family Foundation, which invests its time, resources and passion into creating generational change for kids and families through a focus on education and co-curricular educational initiatives including the groundbreaking, public I PROMISE School, I PROMISE Village by Graduate Hotels that provides transitional housing for families, and House Three Thirty that will offer job training and financial health programming, as well as More Than A Vote, a coalition of Black athletes and artists LeBron founded in 2020 that is dedicated to educating, energizing and protecting Black voters.

 

As a business entrepreneur, James has infused his commitment to empowering others into the business and entertainment sectors through The SpringHill Company, which unites three companies he co-founded with Maverick Carter including UNINTERRUPTED, the athlete empowerment media and consumer product company, SpringHill Entertainment, the premium scripted and unscripted film and television production company and The Robot Company, the brand and culture consultancy. With a diverse team committed to creating the most culturally inspired brands, entertainment and products, The SpringHill Company is telling important stories, empowering diverse creators, and connecting brands and consumers to culture and entertainment. Coupled with his achievements in sports, business, philanthropy and activism, James’ diverse business portfolio of innovative partnerships and investments has established him as one of the most influential figures in the world.

 

As previously reported, the LIVE broadcast of the 52nd NAACP Image Awards will feature performances from Image Award Outstanding Female Artist nominee Jazmine Sullivan who will perform–along with Grammy Award-winning singer Maxwell, who will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his debut album Urban Hang Suite. Throughout the evening there will be appearances from 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. MC Lyte will serve at the night’s Voice Over announcer.

 

Earlier this week, the NAACP Image Awards kicked-off its’ Virtual Experience, which is streaming at naacpimageawards.net. The celebration of “Black Excellence” has included a portion of the non-televised awards, virtual red carpet, curated conversation series, a theatre featuring past performances and speeches and much more. Following the LIVE broadcast on Saturday, the Virtual Experience will host an after party which will feature classic cuts by DJ Questlove, current cuts by DJ Kiss, and a Jazz Lounge performance by Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway.

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

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.

The 52^nd NAACP Image Awards is produced by Hudlin Entertainment and The Gurin Company.  Executive Producers Connie Orlando, Reggie Hudlin and Phil Gurin, Co-Executive Producer Byron Phillips, and Producer Robin Reinhardt.

 

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

 

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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.

 

 

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New post from the NAACP: Following Colorado Massacre, NAACP President Derrick Johnson Calls on Congress to Ban Assault Weapons by Marc Banks

“We cannot return to “normal”. Normal in America means endless mass shootings in churches, schools and even grocery stores. Normal in America means crushing trauma for families and communities across the nation. Normal in America means that only 83 days into 2021, 102 mass shootings have already occurred at the hands of gunmen.

 

Assault weapons are military-style weapons of war, made for offensive military battlefields. They do not belong in the hands of ordinary citizens.

 

President Biden, we agree with you. We can no longer ‘wait another minute’ to act on the gun violence epidemic. That is why the NAACP is calling on Congress to immediately ban assault weapons. Preventable deaths have been the tragic result of paralyzed progress. As our nation prepares to reopen, the lives of innocent Americans depend on expeditious action.”

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