Editor

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...

UMassD webinar: Vote 2020 – What to Expect

On October 28th the UMass Dartmouth Student Government Association sponsored a Zoom webinar titled VOTE 2020: "What to Expect," hosted by Student Government Association President Elizabeth Anusaukas and Student Trustee Dakeyla Johnson, which asked a four-person panel for their thoughts on how the 2020 election might unfold. Kenneth Manning, UMassD Professor of Political Science; Dwight Duncan, UMassD Law School Professor; Dr. LaSella Hall, NAACP New Bedford President; and Alex Psilakis, Policy and Communications Manager at MassVOTE all offered their views. You can watch a recording of the webinar here.

Election Protection observers needed

Partnering for Election Protection The NAACP New Bedford Branch is partnering with the Urban League, MassVote and Lawyers for Civil Rights on the 1619 Project, a voter protection campaign to protect the right to vote. The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts has taken the lead on the project, a coalition of more than 30 Black- and brown-led organizations. It draws on the expertise of MassVote and Lawyers for Civil Rights for field operations, managing a statewide hotline, and watching social media threats. Massachusetts permits any citizen to be an election observer ("poll watcher"). This year, with the President directing supporters...

Vote like your life depends on it

This could be the most consequential vote any of us have participated in during our lifetime. The NAACP is encouraging everyone to come out on November 3rd — or earlier — to vote like your life depends on it. Because it does. Click on the links from the MA Secretary of State below for more information on voting Today is the Last Day for Early Voting If you are over 65, this could minimize the risk of standing in a long line on November 3rd Online Voter Registration is now closed! next time... Where do I vote? verify your polling...

Revenge of the Springfield PD

[caption id="attachment_1226" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Bishop Talbert Swan II, Mayor Domenic Sarno, PD Chief Cheryl Clapprood (MassLive)[/caption] Massachusetts representatives and police unions believe the Commonwealth's police forces are nothing like those bad ones in other states. What happened to George Floyd could never happen in Massachusetts, they say. But as we have seen in New Bedford and elsewhere, there are plenty of problems with unaccountable police. And that includes Springfield. So when Greater Springfield NAACP Branch President Bishop Talbert W. Swan II spoke out against police violence and impunity, he made an enemy of Police Chief Cheryl Clapprood, who eventually fired...

“Justice was the second casualty in this case”

On October 14th, the NAACP New Bedford Branch issued a press release referring to letters to state and federal prosecutors calling for independent investigations of the murder of Malcolm Gracia by New Bedford Police. One letter was addressed to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, the other to Eric Drieband, Assistant Attorney General for the USDOJ's Civil Rights Division. Here is what we called for: The NAACP New Bedford Branch urges your office to investigate the killing of Malcom Gracia in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 2012. Today, eight years later, this killing haunt our community and puts a pall over community-...

2020 Stand for Justice High School Graduate Scholarship Awards

Because of COVID-19 we were unable to hold our annual Freedom Fund Breakfast last June. Our backup date in August was a bit over-optimistic, so plan C was to hold an informal awards ceremony in the Fall. Thanks to our donors — many from the community who really stepped up this year — we were able to hold the 2020 Stand for Justice High School Graduate Scholarship Fund ceremony on October 10th. Despite clouds, chill, wind, masks and social distancing, the ceremony was joyous and successful. Ten students received awards in 2020: Yileisy Almada (New Bedford Voc), attending Bay Path...