2020 – NAACP New Bedford

What comes next for law enforcement reform

From: Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz <sonia.chang-diaz@masenate.gov> Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2020 3:29 PM Subject: What comes next for law enforcement reform As you’ve likely heard by now, Governor Baker has returned the law enforcement reform bill to the Legislature with amendments. So here’s what comes next: The Senate, then the House, will take up the bill again in light of the Governor’s amendments. It’s possible that opponents of reform will use this opportunity to run out the clock on the bill, with still more amendments and procedural delay tactics. It’s imperative that we get the bill back to Baker’s desk by...

General Body Meeting, Branch Election results

NAACP New Bedford General Body Meeting The last General Body meeting of the year occurred on December 10, 2020 at 7:00pm. It consisted of a presentation from the New Bedford Schools and moved on to Branch elections. NBPS Presentation Jariel Vergne and Erin Duarte, Wraparound Services at NBPS, talked about their backgrounds, their efforts as wraparound service providers, especially regarding family support, and outlined their reasons for reaching out to the NAACP. Jariel and Erin presented a PowerPoint on their work with NBPS. Jariel discussed NBPS's SRO community committees, then wrapped up at 7:45pm. Branch Elections Following the NBPS presentation...

Urge Gov. Baker to sign police reform legislation without amendment, without more delay

We can’t miss this moment. Urge Governor Baker to sign the Legislature's police reform bill into law, without amendment. For months, people across the Commonwealth raised their voices for racial justice. This week the Legislature passed a bill that takes serious steps toward answering those calls — and includes reforms proposed by a diverse array of advocates and elected officials, including Governor Baker himself. The police reform package includes critical measures to increase accountability and civilian oversight. It will establish a system for investigating and decertifying officers, set boundaries on police use of force — like banning chokeholds, limit no-knock...

Ask Governor Baker to sign the police reform bill (S.2963) without delay

Note: this is similar to a previous post but the email address for the Governor has changed. The Massachusetts legislature just sent long-awaited police reform legislation to Gov. Baker. It limits police use of force, creates a POST (police oversight) system to hold officers accountable for misconduct, makes having school resource officers a decision for school superintendents, and finally regulates racially-biased and dangerous face surveillance technology. Can you please [email/call] Gov. Baker right now to urge him to sign the bill? These basic protections are long overdue and come not a moment too soon. We also welcome the bill's provisions...

December General Body Meeting, with important note on branch elections

NAACP New Bedford Branch Monthly General Body Meeting (December Meeting) Thursday, December 10th, 2020 at 7:00pm (Zoom invitation below) On Thursday evening the NAACP New Bedford Branch will be holding its December General Body Meeting. At the beginning of the meeting we have invited Jariel Vergne from the New Bedford Schools to discuss NBPS efforts to promote equity in the District. At the end of the meeting the Branch will host elections of officers for 2021 through 2022. Those members who are interested in running for branch officer should email Peggy Dias, Elections Chair, at peggy.dias@umassd.edu to be placed on...

Ask Governor Baker to sign the police reform bill (S.2963) without delay

The Massachusetts legislature just sent long-awaited police reform legislation to Gov. Baker. It limits police use of force, creates a POST (police oversight) system to hold officers accountable for misconduct, makes having school resource officers a decision for school superintendents, and finally regulates racially-biased and dangerous face surveillance technology. Can you please [email/call] Gov. Baker right now to urge him to sign the bill? These basic protections are long overdue and come not a moment too soon. We also welcome the bill's provisions to regulate face surveillance. Without safeguards in place, this racially-biased technology can track and target people remotely...

Community

“New Bedford Light” Survey

The "New Bedford Light" is a project by local people working to create a new, community-oriented on-line newspaper. We have been asked if Branch members might be interested in shaping this new, free, on-line news source for New Bedford and neighboring communities. You can share your ideas and preferences about news you need or want by responding to this short survey in one of four languages. It should take you about five minutes or less to complete: Español: https://s.surveyplanet.com/tpLfLEcza Cabo Verdean Creole: https://s.surveyplanet.com/nTjCv8tCo Portugués: https://s.surveyplanet.com/6IGeJA1dW English: https://s.surveyplanet.com/HktnGUavq

NAACP

Dear NAACP Friends and Family

Dear NAACP Friends and Family, 2020 is a year most of us will be happy to forget. America was three years into the Trump presidency when the COVID-19 virus hit. Soon followed the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, protests from people who had had enough of dying, an election season that for the first time energized voters of all colors to support Black Lives. And then there was the election itself. Throughout a year of national upheaval, the NAACP New Bedford Branch was out there fighting the good fight as well. We called for the Massachusetts Attorney General...

YWCA Post-Election Panel

On Thursday, November 12th, 2020 a group of panelists convened by the YWCA Southeastern MA met over Zoom to discuss the state of affairs following the 2020 Presidential election and outlined priorities for after the election. Panelists offered updates with information on how to support our community during this year of tremendous and seismic changes. Panelists were Gail Fortes (YWCA Southeastern MA), Jennifer E. DeBarros, PhD (NorthStar Learning Centers, Inc.), Lisa M. Lemieux (1199 SEIU), Dr. LaSella Hall (NAACP New Bedford Branch), Andy Pollock (SouthCoast LGBTQ+ Network), Helena da Silva Hughes (Immigrants Assistance Center), and Dr. Juli Parker (UMass Dartmouth...

NBCSOS – USOS forum on school safety during COVID-19

New Bedford Coalition to Save Our Schools (NBCSOS) in Collaboration with Uniting to Save Our Schools (USOS) Presents a Community Forum What does it mean to safely return to schools? How do we build power to demand safety & equity? Please join us this Thursday from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. for an online community forum on school re-opening during the COVID-19 Pandemic and impacts on students in special education and other vulnerable populations. You may join the forum by clicking the link below/copying the link into your browser. A meeting ID and passcode are also provided in case you need...