NAACP Statement on Houston protest by white supremacist outside NAACP office

The National NAACP issued the following statement in response to a protest held outside the Houston branch office by armed men and women on this past Sunday:

“Yesterday, a small group of white supremacists, armed with automatic weapons and waving confederate battle flags, held a brief protest outside our office in Texas.

“While some may be shocked by what they witnessed yesterday in Houston, it is important to remember that the NAACP is subject to this type of harassment on a regular basis. The presidents of our more than 2,200 local chapters and branches often field angry and harassing phone calls, as well as vandalism, bomb threats and other calls for violence simply for standing up for the civil rights of all people. This hateful rhetoric has only increased during the current presidential election.

“Racism is a longstanding and divisive issue in this country, and many people at first feel victimized when confronted with the facts of how it continues to affect the lives of millions. But a misguided sense of victimhood does not justify brandishing weapons on a Sunday afternoon in a residential neighborhood, or make the statements of this group true or correct.

“We are encouraged that, in the face of flagrant hate and ignorance, the protestors in Houston were met by a larger crowd opposing their ignorance and dedicated to peace and prayer. Justice comes when communities refuse to let evil people perpetuate their misguided anger on innocent people.

“For more than a century, the NAACP has worked to unite people of every race, religion and background in the fight against segregation, discrimination, and violence. We continue to work nonviolently in every city and county to ensure that every person can advance through access to quality schools, economic opportunity, professional and accountable law enforcement, and the freedom to vote and be a part of our American democracy. We happily invite anyone who feels the same to join us.”

Congresswoman Marcia Fudge dismisses Donald Trump's pitch to minorities

U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge fired back Tuesday against comments Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump made in Akron about living conditions in minority communities.

Fudge, a Democrat representing a Northeast Ohio district that stretches from Cleveland to Akron, forcefully maintained during a Tuesday conference call organized by Hillary Clinton's campaign that black Ohioans would not buy into Trump's offer.

"And no matter what Donald Trump thinks, he's still only going to get 1 percent of the black vote out of Ohio," said Fudge, a Clinton supporter.

Fudge outlined what she believes minorities have to lose if they vote for Trump — in very plain terms. Civility. Patriotism. The right to vote. Trump also described inner cities as war zones, according to the Washington Post, another remark Fudge derided.

"He asked what we have to lose. We have to lose the respect of the rest of the world, with the exception of possibly Russia," said Fudge, of Warrensville Heights. "We have an awful lot to lose, so I hope that I get an opportunity to answer that question if he comes back to my district."

Fudge noted that she lives "by choice" in a predominantly black city.

"It is not a war zone," she said. "My district is not a war zone. Do we have issues? Like every other district, like every other city, yes."

[SOURCE]

Newark NJ police mistook 10 year old black boy for a grown robbery suspect

Officials are investigating claims that Newark police officers pulled their guns on a 10-year-old boy, Legend Preston after they allegedly mistook the child for an armed robbery suspect that was 6' tall adult suspect with dreadlocks. It's apparent to anyone with eyes that Preston does not have dreadlocks. Legend Preston told WABC-TV (NY) about his terrifying ordeal Watch that story below.

Donald Trump's most African Americans live in poverty lie

By George L. Cook III [EMAIL]

Donald Trump has recently been making "outreach" to African American voters. Now he is doing it by spouting negative stereotypes and lies about blacks living in the inner city masquerading as facts in front of predominantly white audiences. One of those lies is that most African Americans live in poverty. What was surprising to me was even black Republicans who have avoided even talking about Trump supported this statement as it fits into their attacks against the Democratic Party. They should know better. Now as the old Daniel Patrick Moynihan saying goes "Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts."

Trump's statement is simply not true. You can imagine the surprise among myself, family, and friends when we discovered via Trump that most of us lived in poverty. While none of us are rich most of us are lower to upper middle class, own homes, and have some savings.

Now there are those of us that live in poverty, and I know a few, but they are hardly the majority. According to the following sources 26%-27%of African Americans do live in poverty:

National Poverty Center

State of Working America

Poverty Initiative

While 26%-27% is a nothing to be happy about and a percentage that needs to be improved it is in no way the majority of African Americans. I know Trump is good at spinning numbers but in no country, or planet, galaxy, universe, alternate universe, or multiverse in would that be true that 26%-27% is more than 73%-74%.

That would make Trump's statement a bold faced lie. Then why tell it? Because his supporters won't check those numbers and will eat it up because it fits in with their stereotypes of African Americans. Trump can then claim that he tried outreach to black voters while knowing that he was actually catering to the racial beliefs of his base.

Yeah, that's a great way to get the black vote.

George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com

Southside with You: Movie about Barack & Michelle's first date

Some may have heard of a new movie titled Southside with You is being released this Friday August 26,2016 about the first date of Barack Obama and then Michelle Robinson, but I'm sure many more have not. The film has John Legend as an executive producer and stars Parker Sawyers (Zero Dark Thirty, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit) as Barack and Tika Sumpter (The Haves & the have Nots, Sparkle) as Michelle. Sumpter is also a producer of the film.

Inspired by Barack and Michelle Obama’s first date, SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU recounts the eventful summer day in 1989 when a young law firm associate named Barack Obama tried to woo lawyer Michelle Robinson during a daylong date that took them from the Art Institute of Chicago to a screening of Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing to the site of their first kiss outside of an ice cream parlor. Watch the trailer below.