“Virginia’s Black Conservative Leaders Reject Political Stunt of NAACP”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2010
Leaders of Virginia’s black conservative community who are strong supporters of the tea party movement issued the following statements today denouncing the NAACP for adopting a resolution condemning the Tea Party movement:
Bishop E.W. Jackson, Sr., President of STAND, Chesapeake VA
“While I have great admiration for the historic contribution the NAACP once made toward equality and justice for black Americans, they have lost their way. Instead of seeking justice, they play racial politics and march lockstep with the far left. They were once independent. Now liberals say jump, and the NAACP says, ‘How high?’
“The NAACP was silent during the hateful, racist, anti-Semitic rants of Jeremiah Wright and the New Black Panther Party. Instead of defending Kenneth Gladney’s right to freely express his political views as a black American, they were silent when he was viciously attacked at a Tea Party rally and called the “N” word by SEIU thugs. It seems that the NAACP is only for the advancement of liberal “colored” people. Therefore it has lost credibility as a true civil rights organization.”
Sonnie Johnson, President of the Frederick Douglass Foundation of Virginia, Woodbridge VA
“Here comes the Talented Tenth to the racial rescue! As an organization claiming to represent the black community, the NAACP would serve that community well by focusing on the critical issues of unemployment, education, and financial literacy. But instead they are playing politics with a racial resolution against the Tea Party—a non-partisan organization that represents Black, White, Brown, and all colors in between.
“From the Jackson Ward Area of Richmond to the Vinger Hill area of Charlottesville, I understand how the NAACP’s politics damages the black community. After forty years of advancing a big government agenda, trading political favors, and rewarding the children of former civil rights leaders for the courage shown by their parents, they continue to destroy productive communities that could otherwise flourish under the freedom that comes with small government.”
Gilbert Wilkerson, Richmond Tea Party Board of Directors, Richmond VA
“As an African American, I expect the NAACP to condemn the violent crimes in our neighborhoods, the genocide of millions of unborn black babies, and the high dropout rate among our black youth. Instead, the NAACP steps over the weightier matters to condemn the Tea Party for unproven racial slurs and a few offensive posters about the president (which the Tea Party itself has condemned). Is this how the many black supporters of the NAACP want their money used?”
Coby W. Dillard, Co-Founder of the Hampton Roads Tea Party, Norfolk VA
“With 15% of blacks unemployed and 13% in fair or poor health nationwide, one would expect the NAACP to focus on problems that truly damage the black community. Instead, they choose to sow more racial divisiveness against the Tea Party—a movement that seeks to restore those founding principles that unite Americans of all colors as one nation, indivisible.
“Sadly, this continues the NAACP’s recent history of division among the very lines they claim to work to eliminate. How unfortunate that this organization, with its proud history during the civil rights era, chooses to denigrate the Tea Party movement instead of seeking common ground.
“When the NAACP is truly ready to work towards its goal of ‘One Nation, One Dream,’ they are welcome to unite with us as we work towards that same end.”
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