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	<description>Flagler County Naacp</description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 28 Aug 2010 22:58:59 -0400</pubDate>
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		<title>Civil Rights Organizations Release Redistricting Guide to Promote Community Participation in 2011 Redistricting Processes</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS RELEASE REDISTRICTING GUIDE TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN 2011 REDISTRICTING PROCESSES</FONT></SPAN></B></P><P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><I><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., the Asian American Justice Center, and MALDEF release "The Impact of Redistricting In Your Community: A Guide to Redistricting"</FONT></SPAN></I></P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><BR>LOS ANGELES, CA - Today, three leading civil rights groups launched a campaign to promote their collaborative redistricting guide for the upcoming local, state and congressional redistricting processes.&nbsp; MALDEF, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), and the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), a member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, have joined forces to produce "The Impact of Redistricting In Your Community: A Guide to Redistricting."&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<BR><BR>The coalition designed the manual for a broad set of audiences that include community members, activists and policy makers.&nbsp; The manual provides the legal and policy framework for redistricting and outlines how communities can participate in the redistricting process, keep the line drawers accountable and help ensure that the voting strength of minority communities is not unjustly weakened.&nbsp; Key features of the manual includes a "Frequently Asked Questions" section on redistricting, an overview of the redistricting process and the role of the Voting Rights Act, an explanation of the importance of community participation, particularly in minority communities, and a directory of state-by-state information on local redistricting information. <BR><BR>Redistricting will determine political representation for the decade to come.&nbsp; During this process, the political lines are redrawn so that each district is roughly equal in population size based on the most recent Census data.&nbsp; Redistricting affects districts at all levels of government - from local school boards and city councils to state legislatures and the United States House of Representatives.&nbsp; Minority communities have an important role to play in the redistricting process to ensure that their voices are heard, their needs are addressed, and their rights are protected.<BR><BR>"Community participation in the redistricting process is vital, especially for Asian Americans," said Terry M. Ao, director of census &amp; voting programs at AAJC, a member of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice. "If our social, economic and civic needs are to be met in relationship to local, state and national government, we must participate. Getting involved is the only way to ensure that our voting strength is not diluted and that all of our elected officials understand and represent our interests."<BR><BR>"Redistricting is one of the most important events in our democracy.&nbsp; Too often, officials fail to draw lines that adequately protect minority voting strength and recognize increasing levels of diversity all throughout our nation.&nbsp; Efforts must be made now to prepare communities to play a meaningful role in the process," said Kristen Clarke, Co-Director of LDF's Political Participation Group.<BR><BR>"Latino participation in the upcoming redistricting process is vital to ensuring that Latinos have a representative voice in Congress, in state legislatures and in local governments," said Nancy Ramirez, MALDEF Western Regional Counsel.&nbsp; "Fair representation is a concern for all communities, particularly for those that have been historically underrepresented.&nbsp; MALDEF will be working closely with its civil rights partners in the African American and Asian American communities to encourage public participation in the redistricting process and to ensure that minority voting rights are not compromised.&nbsp; This collaborative redistricting guide is the first step in promoting accountability of the line drawers and protecting minority voting rights." &nbsp;<BR><BR>With ongoing promotion of the manual, LDF, MALDEF and AAJC will continue to educate the public about why the manual and continued vigilance by minority community leaders during redistricting is necessary; the ways in which minority communities can collaborate to ensure redistricting serves as a vehicle to protect rather than threaten their representation; and the importance of participation within and collaboration between minority communities in all redistricting efforts.</SPAN>]]></description>
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		<title>Dr. King's dream, AND Sarah Palin and Dr. Laura Join Forces</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<DIV align=center><TABLE style="WIDTH: 466.5pt; mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184" class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellPadding=0 width=622>    <TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes">    <TD                          style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 11.25pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 11.25pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 11.25pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 11.25pt"    ><SPAN                  style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt"      >      <DIV align=center>      <TABLE                            style="WIDTH: 466.5pt; mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184"       class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellPadding=0 width=622>                <TR                      style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"        >          <TD                                      style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt"          >            <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><A                                      href="http://action.naacp.org/page/m/474a37b4/79953649/7e25bdea/2f61568a/365328374/VEsH/"             target=_blank><SPAN                                style="COLOR: blue; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none"            ><IMG             id=_x0000_i1025 border=0 alt=NAACP                                       src="http://action.naacp.org/page/-/images/email/bg-header-email.jpg"             width=625 height=161></SPAN></A><o:p></O:P></P></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV></SPAN>      <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.75pt"             class=MsoNormal><SPAN                  style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt"      ></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>      <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.75pt"             class=MsoNormal><SPAN                  style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt"      >&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT             size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><v:stroke             joinstyle="miter"></V:STROKE></FONT></FONT><v:formulas><v:f                eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></V:F><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></V:F><v:f                eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></V:F><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></V:F><v:f                eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></V:F><v:f                eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></V:F><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></V:F><v:f                eqn="prod @6 1 2"></V:F><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></V:F><v:f                eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></V:F><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></V:F><v:f                eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></V:F></V:FORMULAS><v:path o:extrusionok="f"       gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></V:PATH><o:lock v:ext="edit"             aspectratio="t"></O:LOCK><V:SHAPE                                                                           style="Z-INDEX: 251658240; POSITION: absolute; MARGIN-TOP: 170.25pt; WIDTH: 150pt; HEIGHT: 187.5pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 22.25pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 4.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 4.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 4.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 4.5pt; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: line"       id="_x0000_s1027" target="_blank" href="http://action.naacp.org/page/m/474a37b4/79953649/7e25bdea/2f61568b/365328374/VEsE/"       alt="Share       stories       of the dream"       type="#_x0000_t75" o:allowoverlap="f" o:button="t"      ><V:IMAGEDATA       src="http://action.naacp.org/page/-/2010%2008%2019_Stories%20image.jpg"></V:IMAGEDATA><W:WRAP             type="square"></W:WRAP></V:SHAPE>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT             size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <v:stroke             joinstyle="miter"></V:STROKE></FONT></FONT><v:formulas><v:f                eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></V:F><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></V:F><v:f                eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></V:F><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></V:F><v:f                eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></V:F><v:f                eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></V:F><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></V:F><v:f                eqn="prod @6 1 2"></V:F><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></V:F><v:f                eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></V:F><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></V:F><v:f                eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></V:F></V:FORMULAS><v:path o:extrusionok="f"       gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></V:PATH><o:lock v:ext="edit"             aspectratio="t"></O:LOCK><V:SHAPE                                                                           style="Z-INDEX: 251658240; POSITION: absolute; MARGIN-TOP: 170.25pt; WIDTH: 150pt; HEIGHT: 187.5pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 22.25pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 4.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 4.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 4.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 4.5pt; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: line"       id="_x0000_s1026" target="_blank" href="http://action.naacp.org/page/m/474a37b4/79953649/7e25bdea/2f61568b/365328374/VEsE/"       alt="Share       stories       of the dream"       type="#_x0000_t75" o:allowoverlap="f" o:button="t"      ><V:IMAGEDATA       src="http://action.naacp.org/page/-/2010%2008%2019_Stories%20image.jpg"></V:IMAGEDATA><W:WRAP             type="square"></W:WRAP></V:SHAPE>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT             size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <v:stroke             joinstyle="miter"></V:STROKE></FONT></FONT><v:formulas><v:f                eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></V:F><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></V:F><v:f                eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></V:F><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></V:F><v:f                eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></V:F><v:f                eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></V:F><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></V:F><v:f                eqn="prod @6 1 2"></V:F><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></V:F><v:f                eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></V:F><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></V:F><v:f                eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></V:F></V:FORMULAS><v:path o:extrusionok="f"       gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></V:PATH><o:lock v:ext="edit"             aspectratio="t"></O:LOCK><V:SHAPE                                                                           style="Z-INDEX: 251658240; POSITION: absolute; MARGIN-TOP: 170.25pt; WIDTH: 150pt; HEIGHT: 187.5pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 22.25pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 4.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 4.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 4.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 4.5pt; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: line"       id="_x0000_s1026" target="_blank" href="http://action.naacp.org/page/m/474a37b4/79953649/7e25bdea/2f61568b/365328374/VEsE/"       alt="Share       stories       of the dream"       type="#_x0000_t75" o:allowoverlap="f" o:button="t"      ><V:IMAGEDATA       src="http://action.naacp.org/page/-/2010%2008%2019_Stories%20image.jpg"></V:IMAGEDATA><W:WRAP             type="square"></W:WRAP></V:SHAPE></SPAN></P>      <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.75pt"             class=MsoNormal><SPAN                  style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt"      ><IMG       style="WIDTH: 668px; HEIGHT: 197px"                     src="http://action.naacp.org/page/-/images/naacp_dream_banner.jpg/@mx_840"       width=727 height=205></SPAN></P>      <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.75pt"             class=MsoNormal><SPAN                  style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt"      ></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>      <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.75pt"             class=MsoNormal><SPAN                  style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt"      >Dear       Friend,<BR></SPAN><SPAN                  style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt"      ><A                    href="http://action.naacp.org/page/m/474a37b4/79953649/7e25bdea/2f61568b/365328374/VEsE/"       target=_blank></A></SPAN><V:SHAPETYPE id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75"                      o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f"       stroked="f"><v:stroke              joinstyle="miter"></V:STROKE><v:formulas><v:f                 eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></V:F><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></V:F><v:f                eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></V:F><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></V:F><v:f                eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></V:F><v:f                eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></V:F><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></V:F><v:f                eqn="prod @6 1 2"></V:F><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></V:F><v:f                eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></V:F><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></V:F><v:f                eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></V:F></V:FORMULAS><v:path o:extrusionok="f"       gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></V:PATH><o:lock v:ext="edit"             aspectratio="t"></O:LOCK></V:SHAPETYPE><V:SHAPE                                                                           style="Z-INDEX: 251660288; POSITION: absolute; MARGIN-TOP: 0px; WIDTH: 150pt; HEIGHT: 187.5pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 110pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 4.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 4.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 4.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 4.5pt; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: line"       id="_x0000_s1026" target="_blank" href="http://action.naacp.org/page/m/474a37b4/79953649/7e25bdea/2f61568b/365328374/VEsE/"       alt="Share       stories       of the dream"       type="#_x0000_t75" o:allowoverlap="f" o:button="t"      ><V:IMAGEDATA       src="http://action.naacp.org/page/-/2010%2008%2019_Stories%20image.jpg"></V:IMAGEDATA><W:WRAP             type="square"></W:WRAP></V:SHAPE><SPAN                    style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; mso-no-proof: yes"      ><A                    href="http://action.naacp.org/page/m/474a37b4/79953649/7e25bdea/2f61568b/365328374/VEsE/"       target=_blank></A></SPAN><SPAN                  style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt"      ><BR></SPAN><SPAN                  style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt"      >I       have a dream.<BR><BR>Those are four of the most important words in our       nation's history. And on August 28th, the NAACP will commemorate the 47th       anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington with a new set       of words - your words.<BR><BR>We are launching a project to gather stories       from this momentous event - stories from people who remember hearing Dr.       King's speech and stories of young people who have inherited the legacy of       the civil rights movement.<BR><BR>This is a first-of-its-kind social media       history of the civil rights movement. You can start participating now by       completing these two steps:<BR><BR><STRONG><SPAN       style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'">1. Share your own story on the       NAACP site:</SPAN></STRONG><BR><BR>How has Dr. King's speech affected you?       Whether you were present when Martin Luther King spoke or are part of the       next generation inspired by his vision, we want to hear from       you:<BR><BR><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'"><A                    href="http://action.naacp.org/page/m/474a37b4/79953649/7e25bdea/2f615694/365328374/VEsF/"       target=_blank><FONT       color=#0000ff>http://action.naacp.org/LegacyStory</FONT></A></SPAN></STRONG><BR><BR><STRONG><SPAN       style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'">2. Encourage your family and       friends to share their stories:</SPAN></STRONG><BR><BR>It's as easy as       posting the following question to your Facebook or Twitter account: "Where       were you on August 28, 1963, when MLK gave his 'I have a dream' speech?"       Or just send an email including that question to your friends and family.       Whatever you choose, be sure to upload their responses to our       site:<BR><BR><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'"><A                    href="http://action.naacp.org/page/m/474a37b4/79953649/7e25bdea/2f61568b/365328374/VEsC/"       target=_blank><FONT       color=#0000ff>http://action.naacp.org/MoreLegacyStories</FONT></A></SPAN></STRONG><BR><BR>In       the decades that have passed since Martin Luther King's speech, we have       experienced both important strides forward and difficult setbacks. Through       it all, Dr. King's words have carried us on, and they will continue to       resonate for generations to come.<BR><BR>On Tuesday, Shirley Sherrod       commemorated Dr. King's legacy by reiterating her commitment to working       together. You can build on this moment with your own thoughts and visions       by sharing your story with the NAACP.<BR><BR>Thank you for taking a moment       to speak out.<BR><BR>Ben Jealous<BR>President and CEO<BR>NAACP</SPAN><SPAN                  style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt"      ><o:p></O:P></SPAN></P></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>]]></description>
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		<author>Shirley Sherrod</author>
		<description><![CDATA[<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><A title="Return to the Homepage" href="http://www.naacp.org/"><SPAN style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none"><IMG id=_x0000_i1025 border=0 alt=NAACP src="http://www.naacp.org/page/-/images/wrapper/print-logo.png"></SPAN></A>&nbsp;<o:p></O:P></SPAN></P><P><IMG id=_x0000_i1025 class=floatr src="http://action.naacp.org/page/-/Shirley%20Sherrod%20Quote.jpg" width=200 height=250></SPAN></P><P>Back in March, I delivered a speech to an NAACP Freedom Fund banquet in my home state of Georgia. I drew on my personal life story to urge poor people, white and black, to pull together and overcome racial divisions. We have to understand that our struggle is against poverty and against those who are blocking our path out of poverty. <BR>Unless we figure this out, I warned, our communities won't thrive and our children won't prosper.&nbsp; <BR>As you know, a Tea Party blogger named Andrew Breitbart released an intentionally deceptive, heavily edited clip from that speech to make it look as if I was delivering exactly the opposite message. Then Fox News blasted that false message across America's airwaves, creating a firestorm that led to my ouster as the USDA State Director here in Georgia. <BR>Not long ago, I sat here in my living room in Albany, Georgia for an afternoon of deep conversation with NAACP President Benjamin Jealous. As he has done in public, Ben movingly apologized for the fact that the NAACP was initially hoodwinked by Breitbart and Fox into supporting my removal. I told him what I want to tell you. <BR>That's behind us, and the last thing I want to see happen is for my situation to weaken support for the NAACP. Too many people confronted by racism and poverty count on the NAACP to be there for them, especially those in rural areas who often have nowhere else to turn. <BR>People ask me, "Shirley, how are you getting through all of this?" I tell them that, if they knew what I have lived through, they'd understand that these current challenges aren't about to throw me off course. <BR>When I was 17 years old, my father was murdered by a white man in Baker County, Georgia. There were three witnesses, but the grand jury refused to indict the person responsible. I knew I had to do something in answer to my father's death. <BR>That very night, I made a commitment that I would stay in the South and fight for change. <BR>I have lived true to that commitment for 45 years. I didn't yield when, just months after my father was killed, they came in the middle of the night to burn a cross in front of our house with my mother, four sisters, and the baby brother my father never got to see still inside. <BR>And I'm surely not going to yield because some Tea Party agitator sat at his computer and turned everything I said upside down and inside out. <BR>I learned a lot of lessons from my parents growing up, but one of the most important ones is what my mother taught her children after our father was killed. She told us we mustn't try to live with hate in our hearts. <BR>My mother led by example. Just 11 years after that cross-burning incident, she became the first black elected official in Baker County, and she's still serving, still working to bring people together. <BR>You and I have to keep working as well. Change has to start with us. I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support I have received over these last few weeks. It means so much to me and my family. <BR>But you and I have to make sure that people all across the country who wage a daily struggle against poverty and racism have support networks as well. And that's why your personal involvement in sustaining the NAACP is so critical. <BR>The NAACP confronts the virulent racism that my family and so many other families have had to endure. But it is also leading the way in breaking down the structural barriers that block so many people's paths out of poverty. <BR>In our struggle between the "haves" and the "have-nots," they want to keep the poor divided - and we have to insist, by our words and our actions, that there is no difference between us. <BR>As we move forward together, I urge you to remember this: Life is a grindstone. But whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us. <BR>Thank you for all you are doing to challenge poverty and racism. I look forward to working and struggling right by your side. <BR>Sincerely, <BR>Shirley Sherrod <BR></P>]]></description>
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		<title>Flalger County Naacp</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">The Flagler County NAACP Newsletter, </SPAN></STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p></O:P></SPAN></P><EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><BR>Vist our website at:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.flaglercntynaacp.org">www.flaglercntynaacp.org</A> </P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal> <BR>Writing to "ensure the political,educational, social and </P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>&nbsp;</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>economic equality of </P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>          <BR>rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and </P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>&nbsp;</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>          racial discrimination."<BR></P>   </SPAN></EM>]]></description>
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		<title>Blantant Racism!! An Opinion</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">You should be aware that this kind of blafant racism is aimed not only at our President, but includes all who share his ethnic designation.&nbsp; How long are we to live with these insults to us, our chilren, our very existence?&nbsp; What have we done to merit this?&nbsp; The Fear of White People that within this era of perceived Black Power, we will do them Harm is basically ludicrous.&nbsp; If after all of the insult, murder, lynchings, castration, character assassination, debasing language and actions of slavery; if we have done them no harm before, we are not about to now.&nbsp; Whites have done far more to&nbsp; harm Blacks than it ever entered a Black person's mind or heart to do to them.</SPAN></P><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><BR>In truth, we have and continue to do more harm to each other for whatever reasons.&nbsp; This sickness that plagues us and our country needs to come to an end.</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>This opinion was posted on the web.&nbsp; It does not necessarily reflect the mind or opinion of the Flagler County NAACP, and is offered here merely as information.</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>____________________________________________________________________</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Glenn Beck + The Planet of the Apes = Blatant Racism </P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Posted: 10 Aug 2010 08:18 AM PDT</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>I watch Glenn Becks show (or as much as I can stand) on a daily basis. Every day its kinda racist with Beck regularly extolling the virtues of his big hero Martin Luther King (once &amp; still accused falsely of being a communist because a few of his supporters were communist) while accusing Barack Obama of being a communist because a few of his supporters are (not) communist.</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>(sigh)</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>If time permitted, Id analyze the subtle and overt racist layers of Becks show every day. Someone really should. However, occasionally Beck says something so out of bounds that it demands a response. Heres what he said on Friday:</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Special interest! What planet have I landed on? Did I slip through a wormhole in the middle of the night and this looks like America? Its like the damn Planet of the Apes. Nothing makes sense! The guy whos helped destroy all these pensions, Andy Stern, is now on the financial oversight committee. Is this who we want to take advice from?</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>The unions who have collapsed all of the businesses, who have collapsed all of their pensions, they are bankrupting everything they touch, and we go to them and we say, yes, tell me, what should we do? Its like any marital tips from Tiger Woods.</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Ive come to see Beck as fairly intelligent if quite un-educated (by his own admission, hes educating himself and his audience). These racist associations are purposeful. He knew exactly what he was doing in evoking Tiger Woods (a black man with a preference for young white women who arent his wife) and Planet of the Apes. Beyond calling you, me and the entire Obama Administration monkeys theres another layer you need to know.</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>From Devona Walker at AlterNet:</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>You might remember the original Planet of the Apes. It came out in 1968 and was based on the French novel La planete des Singes by Pierre Boulle. It was written as a science-fictionalized account on one possible outcome if Black Nationalism did succeed in the U.S. In the film, Charlton Heston, a white astronaut, crashes his aircraft on a primitive yet futuristic society where apes run the world and humans are intellectually inferior and enslaved species. In the Planet of the Apes, humans cannot even speak. In ape society, there is a very specific class system, gorillas as police, military, and hunters; the orangutans as administrators, politicians and lawyers; and the chimpanzees as intellectuals and scientists.</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>The subtext of the Planet of the Apes, whether novel or film, has never been questioned. Its not just science fiction but social commentary and Glenn Beck knew exactly the coded comparison he was making.</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>At this point, I really dont know why Beck even bothers coding it anymore. Why doesnt he just come out and say it. I dont like this N-word running the country, and you shouldnt like it either, because hes a dirty N-world and all us hard-working white folks know that N-words cant be trusted.</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>She said it better than I did. Im not sure how Beck manages to hold back his burning desire to call Obama a nigger, but Im waiting for it to slip out any day now. Heres Boyce Watkins with whom I also agree:</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>While Becks outrageous words (it was no accident that he compared Obama to an ape, which is highly offensive to black people) may gain him attention right now, he must also realize that he loses credibility with each ridiculous statement. I find myself less and less shocked by anything he says, and I hardly consider him to be a serious political figure.</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Additionally, his ironic comparison of Obamas America to Planet of the Apes is interesting in that it seems to imply that he feels our nation has (as in the movie) shifted roles, where the apes are running the world and the humans are being subjected to their abuses.</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Beck reflects the sentiments of many white Americans, who believe that a nation being run by black people is going to turn into a zoo. </P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>This is your Tea Party in action. They feel threatened and dont know why and therefore need to project onto Obama their racist fantasies of Nazis and Afro-Leninism (whatever thats supposed to be).</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Glenn Beck I know you read this blog and so, Im going to speak to you directly now. It will take 10,000 decent shows highlighting African-American history in a positive way to wipe out one instance of calling Barack Obama an ape for us to even consider you as anything but the most virulent racist on the airwaves today. Theres a new Grand Wizard in town and its you.<BR>                                                                      <o:p></O:P></SPAN></P>]]></description>
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		<title>An Interesting Email Exchange</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<P>We want to share an email exchange received recently.&nbsp; Observe carefully.&nbsp; This demonstrates an eager willingness on the behalf of one citizen to believe the President is a liar and use the email media to share this position with many others.&nbsp; Email #2, the reply to the original shows how this spirit spreads.</P><P>This person has strongly preconceived notions about politicians that cloud his/her&nbsp; view and cause him/her to RUSH to preconceived judgment without giving adequate consideration to all of the possibilities.&nbsp; Most of ALL, it demonstrates&nbsp; how one; based on preconceptions, jumps to sometimes incorrect conclusions. </P><P>Could the "Freudian Slip" alluded to in the third email have been due to the fact that President Obama thought of his grandfather as "father" due to the fact that much of his childhood was spent with him?</P><P>Names have been withheld to protect the ASTUTE as well as the IGNORANT.</P><P>__________________________________________________________________________________</P><P>EMAIL #1(This email was sent to a long distribution list. The title demonstrates pre-judgment.)</P><P>Subject: President's Father Served in WW II?</P><P><BR>&nbsp;Does he even know the difference between truth and fabrication? <BR>Now Barack's father served in WW ll. It must be true as Barack said it in a speech!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <BR>Is he a compulsive liar?&nbsp;&nbsp; Were there no reporters who double checked these statements and called the party on this?&nbsp;&nbsp; They did for everyone else.&nbsp; Why not him?&nbsp;&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp; <BR>Barack Hussein Obama Sr. (Obama's father) <BR>Born 4/4/36 <BR>Died 11/24/82 at the age of 46 <BR>He was 5 years old when WW 2 started, and less than 9.5 years old when it ended. <BR>&nbsp;<BR>Lolo Soetoro (Obama's step father) <BR>Born 1935 <BR>Died 3/2/87 at the age of 52 <BR>He was 6 years old when WW 2 started, and 10 years old when it ended.&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp; <BR>One of these guys must have been the youngest Veteran in the war. <BR>&nbsp;<BR>Watch the video.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <A href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv4jnlkxOaw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv4jnlkxOaw</A> <BR>&nbsp;<BR>And the media doesn't say anything. <BR>______________________________________________________________________________<BR>EMAIL #2 IN REPLY TO&nbsp; #1:<BR>What an insult to the veterans of WW II. As the old saying goes..."How can you tell a polititian is lying ?.... He opens his mouth.</P><P>______________________________________________________________________________________________________</P><P>&nbsp;EMAIL # 3, IN RESPONSE TO ALL WHO JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS WITH A HEATED DESIRE TO CONDEMN, A NOBLE ATTEMPT TO GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT</P><P>Please read the book, Dreams from My Father--.&nbsp; by President Obama, written&nbsp; some 15 years ago.</P><P>The father that served in WWII was his maternal Grandfather.&nbsp; This maternal grandfather and grandmother were responsible for influencing a good portion&nbsp; of his childhood.&nbsp; </P><P>Could it have been a freudian slip and the news media simply didn't jump on it.&nbsp;&nbsp; Is there&nbsp; such a fraction of Americans that just simply cannot abide an African&nbsp; American being the President?</P><P>There are constant attempts on his life, that barely, if ever are reported.&nbsp; How do I know, well because he is a Chicagoan and resides very close to my neighborhood and I know some people who are close to him and his wife.&nbsp;&nbsp; This man has only dared to seek the highest office in the land and won.</P><P>There has never been a President who has been perfect&nbsp;&nbsp; All have flaws.&nbsp; All have with held the truth at one time or another.&nbsp; I guess President Obama is not able to blend into the accepted color frabic of this Country and like a&nbsp; fly in milk he is seen and attacked.</P><P>_______________________________________________________________________________________________</P><P>&nbsp;The Question:&nbsp; What is your thought on this exchange?</P><P>&nbsp;</P><P>&nbsp;</P>]]></description>
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		<title>Message from Pres. Benjamin Todd Jealous</title>
		<author>Benjamin Todd Jealous</author>
		<description><![CDATA[<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt" class=MsoNormal><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Dear Flagler County NAACP Friends,</SPAN></STRONG><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f4858; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN></STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f4858; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p></O:P></SPAN></P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">The events of the past month have offered signs of great hope for our beloved Association to reinvigorate the national movement for civil rights and social justice as we move towards the fall elections.&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;<BR>They also provided me with a hard-earned reminder of how we must proceed together if we are going to maximize our chances for success.<BR>&nbsp;<BR>Three weeks ago, I dedicated my address at our national convention to making the case for One Nation - a massive march on Washington for jobs, justice, and education on 10-2-10 - exactly one month before the national elections.&nbsp; This march will reunite the forces of progress (civil rights, human rights, labor, small business, faith-based, and student organizations), reinvigorate our troops at a critical moment in history, and add volume to our collective demand for massive job creation, good schools and just treatment for all.<BR>&nbsp;<BR>In that address, I chose to challenge the national Tea Party leaders to stop explicitly racist extremists from gaining increased influence over our nation's political discourse through involvement in their rapidly growing movement.&nbsp; The comments were inspired by a resolution presented by members of our Missouri State Conference. They are, as I am, concerned that silence in the face of such extremism only allows the possibilities for hate and the violence it produces to grow.&nbsp; The resolution was passed unanimously by more than 2000 delegates.<BR>&nbsp;<BR>Our challenge to Tea Party leaders provoked a series of public responses that were covered widely by the media.&nbsp; First, Tea Party leaders denied our claims were valid.&nbsp; Then they pushed out a false spin that we were calling the Tea Party itself racist.&nbsp; Then, because we were steadfast in the face of their resistance, Tea Party leaders launched an intensive internal conversation about racist elements in their ranks.&nbsp; Thanks to your overwhelming support for the call for civility and responsible stewardship of their movement, they expelled Mark Williams - a Tea Party leader who had a history of making racist remarks - and the faction he had helped lead (which is a good start). <BR>&nbsp;<BR>Our call also provoked a wave of threats against volunteer NAACP leaders and staff members across the country.&nbsp; We counted more than 100 in total.&nbsp; In the midst of this wave, <SPAN style="BACKGROUND: yellow">a young man was arrested in Florida</SPAN> for making terrorist threats against an NAACP unit, and another man was arrested after a shootout in California.&nbsp; He was dressed in body armor and reportedly on his way to shoot up our allies at the ACLU and the Tides Foundation. <BR>&nbsp;<BR>Finally, it provoked a barrage of viral video attacks on the NAACP.&nbsp; Most of them failed to get any traction.&nbsp; One now-notorious video promoted by Andrew Breitbart and Fox News gained widespread media attention on several networks. <BR>&nbsp;<BR>I made a critical mistake in assessing the content of that video excerpt, and issued a statement supporting USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack's decision to "accept the resignation of Mrs. Shirley Sherrod" for statements allegedly made at a local NAACP event and condemning the statements as portrayed.<BR>&nbsp;<BR>As President Obama has said, Mrs. Sherrod did not deserve the rush to condemnation.&nbsp;&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;<BR>The mistake is one I deeply regret at a magnitude unparalleled in the 19 years since I took my first job working in the civil and human rights movement.&nbsp; I hurt Mrs. Sherrod and hurt her deeply, and I am very sorry.&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;<BR><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">I am also thankful that she has graciously accepted my apology, and that she has stated publicly that she continues to believe in the NAACP and the urgent need for our work. </SPAN></STRONG><B><SPAN style="BACKGROUND: yellow"><BR></SPAN></B>&nbsp;<BR>We issued the original statement in the wee hours of the morning on Tuesday, July 20, attempting to head off a brewing media firestorm before the morning news shows.&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;<BR>Within hours of issuing that statement, we knew something was wrong.<BR>&nbsp;<BR><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">By 9:00 a.m.,</SPAN></STRONG> that same day, we had removed the statement from our website and announced publicly that we were withdrawing it.&nbsp; We had also assembled a multi-departmental team to investigate the facts surrounding the incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;<BR><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">By 11:00 a.m.,</SPAN></STRONG> we had contacted Mrs. Sherrod to inform her we were actively reassessing our statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;<BR><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">By 4:00 p.m.,</SPAN></STRONG> we had tracked down the full video, and assembled staff and a national commentator on CNN to listen to the entire speech.&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;<BR><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">By 5:00 p.m.,</SPAN></STRONG> I was on the phone apologizing to Mrs. Sherrod and reviewing with her the statement we would issue moments later stating our error and urging the Administration to reinstate her.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;<BR><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">By 7:00 p.m.,</SPAN></STRONG> that evening, we succeeded in uploading the full video of her remarks on our website for the world to see and to unequivocally set the record straight.<BR>&nbsp;<BR>That evening I went on CNN and MSNBC to amplify our new statement. <BR>&nbsp;<BR>I am grateful for how our national staff came together to address the error. <BR>&nbsp;<BR><SPAN style="BACKGROUND: yellow">The beautiful and inspiring speech Mrs. Sherrod gave to our Coffee County, Georgia, Branch has now been viewed more than 500,000 times since being posted at NAACP.org.&nbsp;</SPAN> Most notably, it was viewed by senior officials at the USDA and the White House as they deliberated and decided to make their apologies to Mrs. Sherrod and invite her to rejoin the senior ranks of the USDA.<BR>&nbsp;<BR>As she graciously accepted my apology, Mrs. Sherrod asked that the NAACP redouble our efforts on Capitol Hill to ensure Black farmers receive the settlement they won after filing a lawsuit documenting the USDA's entrenched patterns of racial discrimination.&nbsp; I agreed readily.&nbsp; It is an issue in which our Washington Bureau Director Hilary Shelton and I have both been personally engaged.<BR>&nbsp;<BR>A mistake of this sort will not happen again.&nbsp; In the future, no matter what the context, before making such a decision, there will be much more intensive investments in research and consultation on the front end.&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;<BR>The staff is currently in the process of debriefing and reviewing protocols to institutionalize this commitment.&nbsp; America counts on the NAACP to get it right the first time, and you should be able to count on your national office to be the standard bearer for our great Association.<BR>&nbsp;<BR>In the meantime, what will not change is our commitment to confronting racism wherever it flourishes, and building powerful alliances to combat its most urgent structural manifestations.&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;<BR><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">We applaud Mrs. Sherrod's decision to sue Mr. Breitbart and will back her up on that suit.</SPAN></STRONG>&nbsp; We will complement that effort and build upon the work we began with our nationwide protests against Fox News' parent company, NewsCorp, by advocating even more aggressively for them to reverse their pattern of exploiting and inflaming national racial and social tensions.&nbsp; (It should come as no surprise that the aforementioned gunman claims to be a loyal listener to Glenn Beck, or that the ACLU and the Tides Foundation are frequent targets of his on-air animus.)<BR>&nbsp;<BR>Breitbart's attack on Mrs. Sherrod, on us and on the movement was just malicious.&nbsp; <SPAN style="BACKGROUND: limegreen">He said he attacked Mrs. Sherrod to destroy the NAACP</SPAN>.&nbsp; Let me say again that I made a grave mistake.&nbsp; What Breitbart did was calculated and deliberate, designed to divide and destroy.&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;<BR>But if those who seek to divide us think what was done in trying to damage a mighty and heroic black woman, damage the NAACP, and damage the movement will succeed, then they do not know that we live by a higher order.&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;<BR>What was meant for evil, God will turn to good.&nbsp; We will be made stronger, not weaker.<BR>&nbsp;<BR>That's why we will stand with Shirley Sherrod, a hero to us all, in her lawsuit.&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;<BR>That's why we will continue on, release our report on racism in the Tea Party, and push all their factions to adhere to modern standards for inclusiveness and civility.&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;<BR>That's why we will mobilize and march on Washington on 10.2.10, and continue to build the movement to put schools before wars, and fighting massive joblessness for our neighbors above maintaining massive tax breaks for the nation's wealthiest 1 percent. <BR>&nbsp;<BR>We must be as aggressive as parents fighting for their children's lives, or as individuals fighting for their own lives, because we are.&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;<BR>We must be as inclusive as our long-standing vision for the 21st Century, because it is here. <BR>&nbsp;<BR><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">And we must be as vigilant in the fight against hate-based politics and racist threats and violence as our forebears, because as the NAACP we are committed to ensuring America moves ever forward, never backward.</SPAN></STRONG><B><SPAN style="BACKGROUND: yellow"><BR></SPAN></B>&nbsp;<BR>As Mrs. Sherrod said in her now famous speech, "If we are going to rebuild our communities, if we are going to get with all of the problems we have in our communities,<STRONG><I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> it will take all of us working together to solve them</SPAN></I></STRONG>."<BR>&nbsp;<BR>Thank you to everyone who has contacted me with advice, counsel, and encouragement in recent weeks.&nbsp; I have benefitted from it, and I am as committed to seizing this personal opportunity for growth as I am to maximizing our collective opportunity to lead America in a better direction. <BR>&nbsp;<BR>It is an honor to serve as your national president.&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;<BR>I look forward to seeing you on 10-2-10 as we together take the fight to our foes, make our demands on Congress clear before the elections, and remind <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; BACKGROUND: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">America that</SPAN></EM><EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Franklin Gothic Medium','sans-serif'; BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> we and our allies are the present and growing majority and will not yield the battlefield willingly</SPAN></EM>.<BR>&nbsp;<BR>Yours in the struggle,<BR>&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;<BR>Benjamin Todd Jealous<BR>President and CEO<BR>NAACP</SPAN>]]></description>
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