NAACP New Bedford

Defund SROs: put real resources back in our schools

There was an unintended display of fireworks at the July 13th Zoom meeting of the New Bedford School Committee. Christopher Cotter, Vice Chair of the Committee and a New Bedford Police officer, lectured two of his colleagues about the true nature of "School Resource Officers" ( SROs) — otherwise known as school cops: "Shame on you," Cotter scolded Committee members Joshua Amaral and Colleen Dawicki, for suggesting there are still a lot of questions about the SRO program. "You sit there and say that you don't know what the program is, what it entails, whatever the case is, you have...

NAACP partnerships support Black-owned business

As part of the NAACP's ongoing commitment to the sustainability of Black businesses and economic empowerment for communities of color, we are proud to partner with two prominent organizations to provide support for Black businesses that have fallen on tough times in recent months. NAACP x BeyGOOD The NAACP is delighted to administer a meaningful program in partnership with BeyGOOD’s Black-Owned Small Business Impact Fund to assist our small business communities that have been directly impacted by the recent events across the country. The grants in the amount of $10,000 will be offered to Black-owned small businesses in select cities...

Senate passes “Reform, Shift + Build Act”

On July 14th the Massachusetts Senate passed by a vote of 30 to 7 (with 3 abstentions) S.2820, the "Reform, Shift + Build Act" (S.2820) to "reform police standards and shift resources to build a more equitable, fair and just commonwealth that values Black lives and communities of color." You can read the text of S.2820 here. Senators in the Hall of Shame for not voting for S.2820 include: Nick Collins (D, First Suffolk); Diana DiZoglio (D, First Essex); Ryan Fattman (R, Worcester & Norfolk); Anne Gobi (D, Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire & Middlesex); Michael Moore (D, Second Worcester); Patrick O'Connor...

Six reasons to scrap Qualified Immunity

From a note by Juan Cofield, NAACP New England Area Conference, to area Branch Presidents The [Massachusetts] House leadership is most concerned about is the Qualified Immunity issue. This issue is the one that the police interests are most opposed to. Accordingly, I have attached a fact sheet, prepared by NEAC's Legal Redress Chair, Stephanie Soriano, to explain Qualified Immunity (QI). The Senate adopted bill, which NEAC is now strongly supporting, along with several bills proposed by the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus is the message we want to send. NEAC's adopted Policing Reform Package seeks the outright elimination of...

Support the Reform, Shift + Build Act

In response to resounding calls for racial justice, the Senate’s S.2800 An Act to Reform Police Standards and Shift Resources to Build a More Equitable, Fair and Just Commonwealth that Values Black Lives and Communities of Color—the *Reform, Shift + Build Act*—proposes a number of reforms. The bill is a product of the Senate’s Racial Justice Working Group on which I’ve been proud to serve at the request of the Senate President. You can also download a summary of the bill here. The bill seeks to: Encourage the use of de-escalation techniques by police officers Foreground work to better resource...

Black Addiction Counselor Education program

Enroll Today! Now taking applications for classes beginning September 2020 Black Addiction Counselor Education Program (BACE) is established to train Black people in addiction and mental health treatment, while creating access to addiction treatment credentials: Licensure and Certification. to increase the number of Blacks with addiction treatment credentials to increase the Black community’s access to culturally competent care to increase the capacity of the publicly funded system to serve Blacks while improving treatment outcomes Please note: For this academic year, we will be conducting virtual classes Contact: Program Director Della Blake 413-348-3452 Website: BlackCounselors.org

Video: Young Voices of the Movement

https://youtu.be/TctAtrqEr8o   On July 9th the New Bedford Branch hosted a panel featuring Young Voices of the Movement featuring: Akia S. Callum, M.Ed; President, CT State Conference NAACP Youth & College; National NAACP Youth Work Committee Drea Moore, President, Collective 4 Change Livia Fonseca, Vice President of Administration for Collective 4 Change Charlemya Erasme, NAACP Education Committee Chair Amanda Kuffoh, NAACP Education Committee Liaison Kamiya Parkin, President, NAACP UMass Boston College Chapter

NAACP New Bedford Youth Council Dance Crew

Taken at the 2018 Cabo Verde Independence Day parade. The Dance Crew was founded in 2002 by Branch VP Renee Ledbetter. As members have grown older they have added African-American, Cape Verdean, and ethnic dances to their repertoire — all while representing the NAACP Youth Council. 80% of the Crew pictured have graduated from high school or college, or are college-bound. The NAACP Youth Council itself was re-established in 2015, and is an ongoing effort to develop youth leadership experience and knowledge of problems facing African-Americans and other racial and ethic minorities. Love those berets!

NAACP New Bedford Branch Issues Demands to Protect Communities of Color

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: LaSella L. Hall, Ph.D.: (404) 422-2543 Date: July 7, 2020 – 10:20 a.m. president@naacpnewbedford.org NAACP New Bedford Branch Issues Demands to Protect Communities of Color The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. The horrific death of George Floyd and, more recently, the deliberate shooting of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta along with Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and other Black citizens too numerous to name,...
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