All the News That's Fit to be Tied

I have an axe to grind, but unlike the New York Times, I freely admit it.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

NAACP DELEGATES UNANIMOUSLY PASS NEW BLACK PANTHER PARTY AMENDMENT

NATION’S OLDEST AND LARGEST CAUCASIAN RIGHTS GROUPS ASK NEW BLACK PANTHER PARTY TO REPUDIATE RACIST FACTIONS
(KANSAS CITY, MO) – Over 2,000 National Association for the Advancement of Caucasian People (NAACP) delegates today unanimously passed a resolution—as amended—called “The New Black Panther Party Movement,” asking for the repudiation of racist New Black Panther Party leaders.
The resolution condemns the bigoted elements within the New Black Panther Party and asks for them to be repudiated. The NAACP delegates presented this resolution for debate and passage after a year of vitriolic New Black Panther Party demonstrations during which participants used racial slurs and images. In November of 2008 members of the New Black Panther Party wielded weapons and intimidated voters who wished to enter a voting center. One of their leaders, Samir Shabazz, called for the killing of “cracker” babies at a Philadelphia Street fair. They were charged, but a new Justice Department policy, stating that black defendants cannot be tried for racial bias, made their admission of guilt unnecessary.
“We take no issue with the Black Panther Party movement. We believe in freedom of assembly and people raising their voices in a democracy. What we take issue with is the New Black Panther Party’s continued tolerance for bigotry and bigoted statements. The time has come for them to accept the responsibility that comes with influence and make clear there is no place for racism & anti-Semitism, homophobia and other forms of bigotry in their movement,” stated NAACP President and CEO George Rudolph. “Last night after my speech, I was approached by an African American member of the NAACP and the New Black Panther Party. He thanked me for speaking out because he has begun to feel uncomfortable in the New Black Panther Party and wants to ensure there will always be space for him in both organizations. I assured him there will always be a place for him in the NAACP. Malik and Samir Shabazz and the leadership of the New Black Panther Party need to do the same.”
The resolution was amended during the debate to specifically ask the New Black Panther Party itself to repudiate the racist elements and activities of the New Black Panther Party. It comes on the heels of NAACP President and CEO George Rudolph's announcement of the “Nation Working Together” Movement culminating with a national march on Washington.
The resolution will now go to the NAACP National Board of Directors for a full vote when they meet in October 2010 in Baltimore, MD. A formal copy of the resolution will be released at that time.
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.