North Carolina NAACP branch to hold Souls to the Polls march

WILMINGTON, N.C - The New Hanover County Branch of the NAACP will hold the Souls to the Polls march on Sunday, October 30 at noon, per the NAACP.

The march will begin at St. Stephen AME Church and end at the Cape Fear Community College early voting location. The NAACP aims to highlight that this is the only Sunday in this election cycle during which polls are open in New Hanover County.

Transportation will be offered to and from the polls for anyone who needs it. The NAACP writes on social media that they will share lunch from On Thyme with people participating in the march.

California & Los Angeles NAACP Call for the Resignation of All Involved in Racist LA City Council Conversation

The local and state branches of the NAACP have released the following statement calling for the resignation of not just Nury Martinez, but all who were heard in the leaked audio:

The CA/HI State Conference of the NAACP and the Los Angeles Branch of the NAACP called for the immediate resignation of President Nury Martinez, Councilmembers Gil Cedillo, Kevin de León, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera after a recording came to light where the three Latino members of the Los Angeles City Council and a top county labor official held a conversation last fall that included racist remarks, derisive statements about their colleagues and council President Nury Martinez saying a white councilman handled his young Black son as though he were an “accessory.”

“The President of the LA City Council, and all of the involved Councilmembers should immediately resign. This kind of overt racism has no place in political discourse. We clearly know where your heart and mind are, and both of them are corroded with the rust of racism and hate.”, said Rick L. Callender, President of the CA/HI State Conference of the NAACP. Callender further pointed out that all were complicit in the conversation in the recording which was published by the LA Times.

We will not sit idly by and allow our elected representatives to engage in these kinds of disgusting and racist behaviors, said Latricia Mitchell, President of the Los Angeles Branch of the NAACP.

Both the State Conference and the LA Branch of the NAACP are calling into question, and ask for the City of Los Angeles to investigate, how far the racial animus has impacted hiring and other decisions of the City Council.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson’s Statement on Jackson, Mississippi Water Crisis

NAACP President Derrick Johnson released the following statement on the Jackson, Mississippi water crisis:

Somehow, in the year 2022, equality and justice remain out of reach for Black communities across America. The disparities facing our community are stark - just look at the catastrophe unfolding in my hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. More than a hundred thousand people, the majority of whom are Black, are without safe access to drinking water for the foreseeable future.

This crisis is the direct result of the failures of politicians who have put party and politics over the issues that will help people in communities like Jackson, Mississippi, Flint, Michigan, and the many other majority Black cities that have been left behind for too long. We need elected officials who will put people over politics and will address issues that impact Black communities.

While the NAACP continues to mobilize volunteers, clean water distribution efforts, and collaboration with local, state, and federal administrations, we remind elected officials that those seeking to win our vote must show they are with us, and they will fight for us.

NAACP Statement in Support Senator Warnock's amendment for Medicaid Expansion

The NAACP supports Senator Warnock's amendment to expand the ACA and close the healthcare coverage gap.

The ACA was designed to ensure that people at all levels of income have affordable healthcare coverage. But as of today – 10 years since the ACA was passed into law – there are still millions who don't have coverage or access to an affordable plan.

It shouldn't matter who you are, what you look like, or where you live. Healthcare access is a right for all. We support Senator Warnock and his efforts to help finish what the passing of the ACA started. It would be shameful for Congress not to take this opportunity to make sure that every American has access to an affordable plan.

WATCH: Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at NAACP national convention in N.J.

Watch Vice President Kamala Harris full speech at the 113th NAACP National Convention in Atlantic City.

NAACP calls for Department of Justice to investigate death of Jayland Walker

The NAACP is making a direct plea to Attorney General Merrick Garland for the Justice Department to open a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting death of Jayland Walker, the Black man who was killed last month by officers in Akron in a hail of police gunfire.

“No one is above the law, including law enforcement. Those responsible for hunting him down and firing 90 bullets at him should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We are urging you and your Department of Justice to conduct a thorough investigation into the murder of Jayland Walker, and – if what we all saw with our own eyes is true – federally charge the officers responsible for his gruesome assassination,” Derrick Johnson, the president and CEO of the NAACP, wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland.

“If the officers’ conduct did not scream just how inhumane and fatally dangerous they are, the very fact that they handcuffed his corpse speaks volumes. This does not happen to white people in America,” Johnson said. “Just over a week ago, a mass shooter was detained as a ‘person of interest’ before being officially charged 24 hours later. He killed seven people and wounded countless others at a parade, yet officers did their job professionally and arrested him with dignity.”

“It is time to hold law enforcement officials accountable for treating Black Americans by different standards. We pray that your department will launch this critical investigation in the quest for justice in this case,” he added.

The Justice Department has yet to comment on the letter.

NAACP statement on the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe vs Wade

The NAACP released the following statement on the Supreme Court overturning Roe vs Wade:

"Today's Supreme Court decision marks a significant regression of our country," said NAACP General Counsel Janette McCarthy Wallace. "As a legal professional, I am horrified by this decision. As a Black woman, I am outraged to my core. The deciding Justices have ignored fundamental civil rights guaranteed by our Constitution and years of judicial precedent to advance a politically partisan agenda. There is no denying the fact that this is a direct attack on all women, and Black women stand to be disproportionately impacted by the court's egregious assault on basic human rights. We must all stand up to have our voices heard in order to protect our nation from the further degradation of civil rights protections we have worked so hard to secure."

"It is evidently clear at this time that the future of our democracy hangs in the balance. This Supreme Court is turning back the clock to a dangerous era where basic constitutional rights only exist for a select few. They've stripped away our right to vote, and now women have lost their right to their own body. What's next?" said Portia White, Vice President of Policy and Legislative Affairs. "We cannot allow our future to rest in the hands of those determined to crush every bit of it. We need to fight back. Just this week, the NAACP and Vote.org formed an alliance to register and mobilize voters in what will be the most critical midterm election America has ever faced. If you're not registered to vote, or know someone who isn't, now is the moment. This is no time for anyone to sit on the sidelines."

NAACP and ADL to meet with AG Garland to discuss the spread of white supremacy

In the wake of the terrible tragedy in Buffalo, the NAACP and ADL are convening a meeting with AG Garland this Friday. The meeting will focus on the spread of white supremacy across social media platforms and hate crimes tearing through Black communities across America.

The NAACP and ADL have also invited representatives from the following organizations to attend Friday's meeting with AG Merrick Garland:

• Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

• National Council of Negro Women

• National Urban League

• Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights

• National Action Network

• Legal Defense Fund

• The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation

NAACP statement on racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo NY

A gunman wearing military gear opened fire with a rifle at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket in what authorities called “racially motived violent extremism,” killing 10 people and wounding three others Saturday before he was arrested.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson released the following statement on the racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo New York:

This is absolutely devastating. Our hearts are with the community and all who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy. Hate and racism have no place in America. We are shattered, extremely angered and praying for the victims' families and loved ones, as well as the entire community."

NAACP Announces Settlement in Lawsuit Against Tennessee Comptroller

At the beginning of April, the NAACP filed a lawsuit against the state comptroller of Tennessee after he threatened to take over the small, majority-Black town of Mason, TN. Today, NAACP President Derrick Johnson and the NAACP Office of the General Counsel, led by Janette McCarthy Wallace, are announcing a settlement in this case – a major victory for the NAACP.

​"This is a victory for the town of Mason and beyond. The state government attempted to take over a Black town, and they miserably failed. They had no right to take over Mason, so we took them to court and we won. Similar injustices are happening all across the country, and the NAACP knows all too well that if we don't put out small fires across America, they quickly become wildfires. This settlement is a significant victory for all those who believe in justice and fairness," said NAACP General Counsel Janette McCarthy Wallace.

NAACP's Tennessee State Conference President Gloria Sweet-Love added,​"It is mighty strange. When the majority of elected officials are Black and the Ford Motor Company is going to be within 4.5 miles of this little city that could begin to see an increase in revenue, all of a sudden, the state wants to take over Mason. But today, they lost this fight. They had no legal authority. Justice prevailed, the NAACP prevailed."

The settlement was able to accomplish the following:
 
1. Preserve its charter
2. Reduce its monthly payments to its water and sewer fund in half
3. Move its expenditure approval cap up from $100 to $1,000
4. Amend its weekly reporting obligation to a monthly obligation which is more suitable and manageable for the Town of Mason
5. The Corrective Action plan will conclude on August 31, 2022, after the fiscal year 2021 audit is filed and the year 2023 budget is approved.

NAACP President urges Elon Musk to not allow Donald Trump to return to Twitter

NAACP President Derrick Johnson released the following statement after news broke that Elon Musk had reached a deal to buy Twitter.

"Mr. Musk: free speech is wonderful, hate speech is unacceptable. Disinformation, misinformation and hate speech have NO PLACE on Twitter. Do not allow 45 to return to the platform. Do not allow Twitter to become a petri dish for hate speech, or falsehoods that subvert our democracy. Protecting our democracy is of utmost importance, especially as the midterm elections approach. Mr. Musk: lives are at risk, and so is American democracy."

NAACP Statement on Police Killing Patrick Lyoya

NAACP President Derrick Johnson issued the following statement in response to the police cam video showing a law enforcement officer killing Patrick Lyoya in Grand Rapids, Michigan:

"This is horrifying, heartbreaking, and deeply frustrating because we had meaningful legislation designed to avoid exactly what we are all witnessing in this video. The law enforcement officer involved has blood on his hands, and so do the partisan senators who killed the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act, a bill aimed at reducing police brutality and holding law enforcement accountable for egregious abuses of power.

An unregistered license plate should not be a death sentence. Another Black man has died at the hands of police, and the officer in this video has got to be held accountable.

President Biden, sign the police reform executive order now. While we fully understand an executive order is not a substitute for meaningful legislation, we must do everything in our power to protect our community. This executive order is not sufficient, but it is necessary."

NAACP Statement on the Confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson

NAACP President Derrick Johnson issued the statement below on today's historic senate confirmation vote of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States:

"Today's vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court is of enormous consequence to our nation and to history. After 233 years, the Court will finally have a Black woman justice deciding our most significant cases with tremendous impact on our lives and the lives of our families. 

This has taken far too long. Fifty-five years ago, former NAACP Chief Counsel Thurgood Marshall broke down the wall when he was confirmed as the first Black American to sit on the Supreme Court. Today, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson shatters the glass ceiling to finally make room for a Black woman on our nation's highest court. 

Judge Jackson is a breathtakingly qualified candidate to make this history. We joined the nation in beaming with pride as we learned about her background and family. She has impeccable credentials and a brilliant intellect. Her work as a public defender and on the Sentencing Commission will bring a perspective to the Court that has been missing since Thurgood Marshall served. Her impressive record as a trial and appellate jurist makes her one of the most prepared and experienced justices ever appointed to the Court. She has an even-handed approach to the law and is committed to fairness and equal justice. Our Supreme Court will be better and stronger with Judge Jackson's presence, her votes, and her voice. 

We greet this moment with joy, hope, and gratitude. We thank President Biden for keeping his promise to nominate the first Black woman justice. We thank the Senate for its bipartisan vote to confirm this historic nominee. We extend special gratitude to Senator Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney, who rejected appeals to partisanize this vote and instead, voted their conscience. 

History is watching this moment. The votes to confirm Judge Jackson will recorded as ones in favor of justice and equality. The votes against her will forever be known as hostile and cowardly, as were the attacks by certain Senators throughout this process. The unjust hurdles Black women like Ketanji Brown Jackson face each and every day were regrettably centerstage during her confirmation. But as Black women do, Ketanji Brown Jackson outshined the hate. Today and every day, we celebrate Black women. 

The NAACP remains committed to tearing down the racist obstacles that continue to obstruct paths for far too many Americans, especially Black women, throughout our nation. While we celebrate today, tomorrow we are back at work tackling student debt, voting and reproductive rights, climate change, and police reform, so that everyone in America can realize their dream."

NAACP General Counsel Janette McCarthy Wallace, who attended today's confirmation of Judge Jackson, released the following statement:

"Today, Black women truly are supreme. Over the past few weeks, it has been an incredible privilege to bear witness to the rise of the first Black woman Supreme Court Justice. The significance of this moment for the Black community, especially for Black women like me who have spent decades in the legal profession, is impossible to overstate. Representation is powerful – now, Black women and girls who dream of reaching the highest levels of our government, or any profession for that matter, can see that it is possible. While soon-to-be Justice Jackson's confirmation did not come without racist, misogynistic attacks on her career and character, it is without question that Ketanji Brown Jackson is imminently qualified to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. Alongside the rest of our nation, I celebrate her confirmation and this stride toward achieving true equity, and look forward to seeing her take the bench."

NAACP wants President Biden to cancel student loan debt

The Biden administration is planning to extend a pause on federal student loan repayments through August 31, according to an administration official familiar with the matter.

Wisdom Cole, National Director of the NAACP Youth and College Division, released the following statement in response to President Biden's student loan repayment extension.

"President Biden, student loan debt is a racial and economic justice issue that stains the Soul of America. With each and every repayment extension, you make a stronger case for canceling it.

At this point, just cancel it. $50,000 is the bare minimum. $10,000 is not enough."

NAACP HOLDING A "CONFIRM KETANJI BROWN JACKSON" WATCH PARTY

A Black woman nominated for the Supreme Court of the United States is history in the making and long overdue. Let's celebrate, support, and prepare for a more inclusive Court.

Since 1789, of the 115 people who have served on the Supreme Court, only three of them have been people of color – and only five have been women. Having a Black woman on the Supreme Court bench is vital.

Join the NAACP as they mark this historic appointment at their watch party for her Senate hearing on Monday, March 21 at 10:45 AM ET. You can watch at NAACP.ORG or at the  NAACP | Facebook Page.

We will be joined by powerful influencers and public figures as well as viewers from all 50 states. Hear from scholars, leaders, and organizers throughout our community as we share the joy and significance of this nomination together. Join us for this watch party moderated by Aisha Mills, Host of AMplified on BNC, and featuring the following commentators:

• Star Jones, Attorney, Author, Host
• Janette Wallace, General Counsel, NAACP
• Rev. Leah Daughtry, Political Strategist
• Donna Brazile, Political Analyst
• Sarah Glover, Managing Editor, MPR News
• Keith Boykin, Political Commentator
• Stephanie Young, Executive Director, When We All Vote
• Nicole Austin-Hillery, President and CEO, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
• Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP

NAACP Releases Statement on the Treatment of Africans During Russia's Attack on Ukraine

The NAACP released the following statement on the treatment of Africans trying to leave Ukraine during the Russian attack:

The NAACP is disheartened with the events surrounding the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. In these crisis moments choosing citizenship over humanity is an atrocity.

Right now in Ukraine, Black families, immigrants from the African diaspora and other people of color – mothers, children, and students are not only facing challenges to evacuate a deadly warzone but are being pushed from trains and beaten by police officers.

These callous acts are atrocious and reprehensible. As the world comes to the aid of the Ukraine and nations support the resettlement of people fleeing the nation, every individual must be treated with dignity and humanity. We call upon the Biden Administration and the United Nations to take every necessary action to protect the rights and to ensure the safe passage of all persons fleeing this blatant attack on a Nation's sovereignty. The NAACP will do everything in its power to fight racist, cruel acts such as these – no matter where they are happening.

NAACP calls for officers in NJ mall fight video to be disciplined

The NAACP NJ State Conference is asking for the officers to be disciplined based on the controversial actions the two Bridgewater police officers took while breaking up a fight between two teenagers, one Black and one white at a mall.

Video of the incident shows both teens involved in the fight inside the Bridgewater Commons Mall, but when the officers arrive, the Black teen is pinned on the ground with a knee in his back and handcuffed, while the white teen sits on a couch.

Read the NAACP NJ State Conference statement on the disturbing incident below.

NAACP calls for federal charges against officer who killed Laquan McDonald

The NAACP on Tuesday sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging him to file federal civil rights charges against the white Chicago police officer who fatally shot Black teenager Laquan McDonald in 2014.

Former officer Jason Van Dyke was sentenced to six years and nine months after his conviction in October 2018 for the killing of McDonald, who was 17 at the time. Van Dyke is set to be released from prison on Thursday after serving less than half of his prison sentence.

In the letter, NAACP President Derrick Johnson urged Garland to "provide your commitment to move forward with appropriate and applicable federal charges based on the Federal Grand Jury findings and other relevant evidence"

"Given the egregious nature of his crime, the NAACP believes that at a minimum, the murderous officer should be charged with a federal civil rights violation under Title 18, U.S.C., Section 242 - Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law," Johnson added.

He added that over its 113-year history, the organization has "seen unfair and inequitable favor given to law enforcement officers who unjustly take the lives of members of the Black community and have fought fervently in opposition to such favor."

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

NAACP asks DOJ to investigate Bridgeport police handling of the Lauren Smith-Fields case

A Bridgeport, Connecticut, chapter of the NAACP is demanding the Department of Justice investigate the Bridgeport Police Department over the cases of two Black women, Lauren Smith-Fields and Brenda Lee Rawls, who were both found dead in their homes.

The demand comes after two Bridgeport police detectives assigned to both cases, were placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the police department's internal affairs office.

Rawls was found dead and alone in her home on Dec. 12, 2021. The cause and manner of death are still undetermined, according to the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Smith-Fields was found dead in her apartment that same day, shortly after being with a man she had met on a dating app.

The families of Smith-Fields, 23, and Rawls, 53, claim Bridgeport police failed to notify them of the deaths and say they learned of the deaths from others.

During a virtual press conference on Wednesday, Bridgeport NAACP president Rev. D. Stanley Lord recommended new training, revised hiring practices, community input and oversight, and more in order to address criticisms of "insensitivity" and "prejudicial" treatment toward "Blacks and other citizens of color" from the department.

"The operation within the Bridgeport Police Department seems to be a constant disarray and dysfunction," Lord said.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson's letter to U.S. Senators asking them to pass voting rights reform

The president of the NAACP Derrick Johnson penned a letter to all U.S. senators on Tuesday stating that it is essential that they approve voting rights reform. Read the entire letter below.