Editor

Community Forum and Discussion: Juvenile Justice in New Bedford and School Resource Officers

NAACP New Bedford Branch Community Forum and Discussion Juvenile Justice in New Bedford and School Resource Officers Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 6:00pm- 7:00pm Please join the NAACP New Bedford Branch for a panel discussion on Juvenile Justice reform and School Resource Officers in New Bedford, MA. Panelists will be discussing a new report on juvenile justice in New Bedford and a new initiative led by youth of the city. Panelists: Leon Smith, Esq., Executive Director, Citizens for Juvenile Justice Joshua Dankoff, Citizens for Juvenile Justice Matthew Cregor, Staff Attorney, Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee Ricardo Rosa, Ph.D., Co-chair, New...

NAACP New Bedford General Body Meeting

All current and prospective members of the NAACP New Bedford Branch are invited to participate in our first General Body Meeting of the New Year via Zoom. Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 7:00pm https://umassd.zoom.us/j/93764563617?pwd=NURFbGdrVUZzWWxuNjk3WDc2QTgwQT09 Meeting ID: 937 6456 3617 Passcode: 1909

Martin Luther King Day, 2021

Today, the third Monday of January, is the day we recall some of the lessons of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., who was assassinated in 1968. King lived a brief but amazingly concentrated life that corresponded to an equally brief, unfinished, phase in America's racial awakening. King's teachings had a profound effect on everyone — those who loved and respected him, and even those who loathed him and everything he stood for. Had Reverend King lived, many Republicans claim, he would have been a Republican himself, a social conservative, an ardent defender of Israel and the unborn, and would have...

Essays

Where do we go from here? Reflections on a year of reckoning and re-imagining

by Renee Ledbetter, NAACP New Bedford Vice President Has everything been placed in perspective this year? Is racial equity a priority for all, this year? Were the elections important to every single person throughout the nation, this year? Will the economy ever get better? Will the landlords that are capitalizing on this year's pandemic ever be held accountable for their lack of human dignity? Will law enforcement reform happen? Will congregations open completely so that all can worship together? Will the local, state and national government prioritize their mission and vision for our communities and country? Will we as people...

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...