On Thursday, March 1, the House of Representatives passed, by a margin of 241 yeas to 185 nays, H.R. 800, the "Employee Free Choice Act." This legislation will make sure workers have a fair chance to exercise their democratic right to choose a union by making it easier for a union to act as a mediator for workers if the majority of workers have provided authorized signatures indicating that they want the union to act as their representative, and increasing penalties for violations against employees who are trying to organize a union.

Currently, union workers earn 26% more in median weekly wages than non-union workers; unionized women earn 31% more than their non-union counterparts, and black union workers earn 29% more than non-union African Americans. Furthermore, 75% of union workers have health benefits, compared to 49% of non-union workers. 69% of union workers have short-term disability coverage, compared to 30% of their non-union counterparts. Finally, 82% of union workers get life insurance, compared with 51% of non-union workers.

The impact of unions � ensuring that all working Americans are treated well and share in the prosperity � cannot be overstated. Despite the continuing strength and advocacy power of unions, however, some employers continue to treat workers poorly, not paying them a fair wage or providing them with necessary benefits: the purchasing power of workers' wages is 5% below where it stood 30 years ago. CEO pay has continued to rise and is currently more than 1,000 times the earnings of the average worker. The richest 13,000 US families have nearly as much income as the poorest 200 million combined. And some employers continue to fight the legitimate organization of unions. 70% of American employers in manufacturing threaten to close the plant if workers choose a union. Furthermore, in the 1950's, when 30% of workers belonged to unions, only a few hundred workers suffered retaliation for trying to organize a union; in 1969, the number or workers suffering retaliation was just over 6,000 and by the 1990's more than 20,000 workers each year were victims of discrimination when they tried to organize a union.

Report provides candidates’ positions on key issues important to racial and ethnic minority Americans not covered in televised debates

As Super Tuesday approaches, the NAACP today released its 2008 Presidential Candidates Civil Rights Questionnaire highlighting the presidential candidates’ positions on essential civil rights priorities facing our nation. The questionnaire is intended to educate NAACP members and the communities they serve on the presidential candidates’ positions on an array of civil rights, civil liberties and basic human needs priorities.

“We trust that users will find this document to be an effective and thoughtful tool to assist them in making informed decisions before they head to the polls to cast their valuable vote,” said NAACP Interim President & CEO Dennis Courtland Hayes.

Hilary O. Shelton, director of the NAACP Washington Bureau stated,” The NAACP’s Questionnaire topics include the candidates positions on: election and immigration reform, universal health care, criminal justice issues, predatory lending, public education, equal opportunity, gun violence prevention, affordable housing, fighting global poverty and disease, a living wage, African and Caribbean trade aid and development, ex-offender re-entry into society, DC Voting Rights and a host of crucial issues important to the African American community and others that value civil rights.”

Beginning in late August, 2007, the NAACP Washington Bureau sent questionnaires to candidates for President of the United States from both parties. It was made clear that responses received would be reproduced and distributed to NAACP members and their communities. Candidates’ responses were limited to 200 words or less per question.

Completed candidate questionnaires can be found on the NAACP website at www.naacp.org on the home page or under the Washington Bureau header

A series of viral e-mails circulating the Internet the past several days distort and misrepresent the NAACP’s stance on the Dunbar Village gang rape case that began last June in south Florida.
The NAACP does not condone violence against anyone. Any suggestion to the contrary is not credible in light of the Association’s long history of opposing violence against all persons.
In fact, it was the West Palm Beach Branch NAACP and area churches, among others, that provided assistance in the relocation of the victims in this horrific and inexplicable criminal matter.

“The NAACP cares deeply that justice be applied equally, without regards to race, but cares just as deeply that guilty parties be held accountable for their actions,” said Adora Obi Nweze, president of the Florida State Conference, NAACP.

The NAACP National Office nor the Florida NAACP have taken any formal position on the case and both believe this situation will benefit from well meaning, interested parties allowing the facts to become further known and letting defense lawyers do their work.

“The lives of the victims in this case are irrevocably altered in the worst way,” said NAACP Interim President & CEO Dennis Courtland Hayes. “While we respect the judicial process and implore that equal justice be rendered for all involved, we must also focus on ending the continuing plague of violence in our communities.”

The NAACP National Office joins with the South Carolina State Conference NAACP and the Charleston Branch NAACP in denouncing the comments of county council candidate Nancy Cook, who also sits on the Charleston County School Board.

While being interviewed on WTMA-AM's morning show April 3, Cook suggested that teen mothers and unmarried women who have more than one child should either be sterilized or have subsequent children removed from their custody.

“Such comments are strikingly incendiary and offensive,” said NAACP Field Operations Chief Rev. Nelson B. Rivers, III. “Her words are especially insulting coming from a female in the American South, where poor women were once involuntarily sterilized and often labeled as ‘unfit mothers’ because of their color or economic class.”

In response to criticism of her words, Cook has been defensive and lacking in sincere regret. She has stated that her remarks were not intended to be racist and were made as a private citizen and from her perspective as a professional counselor, not as school board vice chairwoman.

“An experienced politician and servant of the people should know better than to use such divisive words,” said South Carolina State Conference, NAACP President Lonnie Randolph, Jr. “It is regrettable that a public official who derives her livelihood from families in transition, and is sworn to serve the highest interests of children and families should appear to hold such contempt for them. They deserve better. Every decent caring citizen must expect better.”

The NAACP stresses the need for Cook to recant her remarks and seek sensitivity training where she can fully understand why they were egregious and hurtful. The NAACP also urges others on the school board to denounce such despicable speech and issue a reprimand of Cook for her hateful words.

Unfortunately, some people are so desperate to win elections that they resort to deceptive practices – lies – to try to keep legitimate voters away from the polls or to support candidates whom they might not otherwise vote for. It is even more unfortunate that these practices often target and exploit vulnerable populations, such as racial or ethnic minorities, the disabled or the poor.

To address these undemocratic, disenfranchising and immoral activities, Senators Obama (IL), Schumer (NY) and others have introduced S. 453, the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act. This bill makes voter intimidation and deception punishable by law, and it contains strong penalties so that people who commit these crimes suffer more than just a slap on the wrist. The bill also seeks to address the real harm of these crimes – people who are prevented from voting by misinformation – by establishing a process for reaching out to misinformed voters with accurate information so they can cast their votes in time.

Examples of malicious deceptive practices were rampant as recently as the general election in 2006. In Orange County, California, 14,000 Latino voters got letters in Spanish saying it was a crime for immigrants to vote in a federal election. It didn’t say that immigrants who are citizens have the right to vote. In Maryland, misleading fliers were handed out in predominantly African American neighborhoods with the heading “Democratic Sample Ballot” and photos of black Democratic leaders – and boxes checked off beside the names of the Republican candidates for Senator and Governor. In Virginia, registered voters received recorded calls that falsely stated that the recipient of the call was registered in another State and would face criminal charges if they came to the polls.

It is unfortunate but true that S. 453, the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Act needs to be passed now, before another election comes, more lies are told and more voters are locked out of the democratic process.

THE MESSAGE

• Even as recently as the 2006 election, various groups were targeted with deceptive mailings, fliers and phone calls, intended to mislead then into not voting or voting for a candidate based on blatantly false information.
• All too often, these lies or “deceptive practices” target and exploit vulnerable populations, such as racial or ethnic minorities, the disabled and the poor.
• We need strong federal legislation to ensure that voters are given corrected information in time to cast an unfettered vote, and that individuals and groups found guilty of knowingly attempting to discourage legitimate voters from going to the polls or of providing misinformation are punished for their undemocratic and immoral deeds.

THE ACTION WE NEED YOU TO TAKE

NAACP President & CEO Bruce S. Gordon applauds today’s announcement by AT&T that two African American-owned firms recently participated in the closure of a major financing deal for the telecommunications company.

African American-owned financial services companies Utendahl Capital Group and The Williams Capital Group, along with Bank of America, served as lead managers for a transaction that added $500 million to an existing AT&T bond. AT&T issued the bond, initially sized at $750 million, in 2004.

“This is the kind of leadership that we are in search of from corporate America,” said Gordon. “AT&T is demonstrating the kind of commitment it takes to see minority businesses thrive while underscoring the point that black businesses do have the capability to land and endorse significant moves in the business world. Other major corporations should take notice of this act and we expect them to follow suit.”

Utendahl Capital Group and The Williams Capital Group have provided a variety of financial services to AT&T for several years. In addition to reflecting AT&T’s commitment to supporting minority-owned businesses, AT&T’s choice of the Utendahl and Williams firms to lead the current bond issue demonstrates the value both companies bring to AT&T.

"Historically, the AT&T organization has been one of the leaders at the forefront of empowering minority financial service companies by having them lead transactions like this in the marketplace,” said John Utendahl, Chairman & CEO of Utendahl Capital Group. “AT&T recognizes that institutions like ours bring much needed incremental value with institutional client diversification. By allowing us to display our proficiency in these types of securities transactions, AT&T is helping to affirm that these types of deals are not only viable but essential to corporate America's financial engineering. Clearly, this is something that everybody should do often."

“Williams Capital has had a longstanding relationship with AT&T and appreciates this significant opportunity to expand the scope of services that we provide to the company,” said Chris Williams, Chairman & CEO of The Williams Capital Group. “Our ability to receive a mandate of this magnitude from AT&T is possible only because of the company's interest in working to develop strategies that reach a broad range of investors. We believe the quality of transaction execution and favorable aftermarket trading demonstrates the competitive quality of service that non-traditional firms can provide to even the largest corporations."

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization

NAACP President Bruce S. Gordon will conduct 9th Ward tour to assess damaged areas

New Orleans –The NAACP will hold a town hall meeting and walking tour of Ward 9 Sunday to hear the concerns of residents trying to rebuild their lives after Hurricane Katrina struck the city nearly a year ago. The town hall meeting will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. (CDT) Sunday, August 27, in the grand ballroom of the student center at Xavier University, 1 Drexel Drive.

Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, author of "Come Hell or High Water" and host of the Michael Eric Dyson syndicated radio show will moderate the town hall meeting. Panelists at the forum include Gordon, U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La); Oliver Thomas, New Orleans City Council President; State Sen. Diana Bajoie; Dr. Norman Francis, president, Xavier University and Chairman of Louisiana Recovery Authority; Professor Bill Quigley, Loyola University; and Henry "Junior" Rodriquez,

Bruce S. Gordon, NAACP President & CEO, said: "The housing crisis and employment opportunities are among the top priorities for New Orleans. We are inviting the entire New Orleans community to attend and participate during a candid discussion about what is working and what is not working in the recovery effort."

Tracie Washington, Director of the NAACP Gulf Coast Advocacy Center, said she gets calls every day from residents who long to return to the New Orleans area. "There is frustration, confusion, anger and a sense that they are being ignored by our policy makers," she said. "This town hall meeting is another opportunity for residents to be heard."

Founded in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors

President John Jordan and the Freedom Fund Committee would like to thank everyone for there support with the 55th Freedom Fund Gala. We hope that everyone had a wonderful time and we anticipate on seeing you at future NAACP Bucks County events.

Urges Congress to pass the Fair Minimum Wage Act as Soon as they return to DC from their August District Work Period

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Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Good morning. Chairman Bond, I thank you for that introduction. You were very slick when you extracted that information from me about my Ipod. Vice-Chairman Brock, presiding officer and national board member, to President Miller and to the host branch, who has done the work, to the Special Contribution Fund of the board of trustees, to civil rights power attorney, Fred Gray, I am honored to be here with you today. To Representative Watt, who has become a colleague and a friend, to the national staff who stands behind me everyday, to delegates, to members, to friends and observers, it is clearly a privilege, the privilege is mine, to be here this morning. To Dr. Lewis Anthony, I appreciate your prayers this morning. You don't know how much they resonated with me. As I talk this morning, you might see some connections in our principles and our thoughts, so thanks so much.

NAACP President, Chairman & Noted African American Leaders Witness Reauthorization of Voting Rights Act

Congratulations to all of the scholarship recipitants.

Shonda Shedrick- Bucks County Technical High School

Amir Fralin- Harry S. Truman High School

Ahman Fralin- Harry S. Truman High School

Kyra Williams- Pennsbury High School

Daniel Howard-Pennsbury High School

Youth Council

July 11, 2006

Bensalem Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo and members of the youth council will be discussing the NAACP National Convention held in Washington, DC on July 16 through July 20,2006.