M. Rick Turner

President’s End of Year Report – 2015
NAACP Albemarle-Charlottesville Branch (#7057)

The callous and apparently racially motivated violation of black lives –particularly those of black men– sparked new energy in the planning of our monthly meetings. During the year we focused much of our attention on this critical issue as well as on community/police relations, affordable housing, and on educational and health disparities in the African-American community. Guest speakers were invited to address these topics at our branch meetings and our membership was encouraged to participate in community forums and programs on related issues. As the premier civil rights organization in our community, we continue to take our responsibility seriously. The community counts on us to remain consistently vigilant, to speak up on issues of injustice and discrimination, and to challenge and defend those who, for whatever reason, cannot defend themselves.  
Throughout the year, I have fulfilled the duties of president of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Branch NAACP to the best of my ability. The following are some of the activities I have undertaken on behalf of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Branch of the NAACP:
  • Met with or called citizens who contacted us for questions, advice and legal redress
  • Served on the University of Virginia Slavery Commission
  • Attended the NAACP's 106th National Convention in Philadelphia
  • Assisted in planning our annual Founders' Day Commemoration
  • Assisted in planning our annual Freedom Fund Banquet
  • Participated in planning our monthly agenda for branch meetings
  • Attended City Council meetings and spoke on behalf of the branch
  • Attended the Virginia State Conference in Richmond, VA
  • Met with Delegate David Toscano regarding DNA Bill and  issues of concern to the NAACP
  • Spoke on local radio station (WINA) regarding issues of concern to the NAACP
  • Attended the celebration honoring community activists and lifetime NAACP members, Eugene & Jane Foster  
  • Attended the Miller Center Presentations on Diversity, School Expulsion and other civil rights topics
  • Met with Brad Sheffield, Albemarle County Supervisor, regarding issues of concern to the NAACP
  • Collaborated with Piedmont Housing Alliance (PHAR) and Civil Rights Attorney, Jeff Fogel to file a lawsuit against the City Police Department for withholding data requested on racial profiling
  • Participated in Commemorating the  African American Military Experience.
  • Represented the NAACP at the Chamber of Commerce Dinner
  • Met with UVA College Chapter NAACP Members
  • Participated in  the March For Justice in South Boston, VA, organized by local NAACP branch
  • Served on Committee to honor Gregory Swanson (first black student who attended UVA)
  • Spoke to 5th grade class at Walker Middle School on school integration and Massive Resistance in Charlottesville
  • Met with Albemarle County Police Chief Sellers regarding issues of concern to the NAACP
  • Met with Charlottesville City Manager Maurice Jones regarding issues of concern tothe NAACP
  • Attended Human Relations Commission meetings
  • Spoke at Albemarle County Police forum on community relations
  • Met with Friendship Court (public housing development) planning committee
  • Met with City and County Commonwealth Attorneys regarding issues of concern to the NAACP
  • Wrote and delivered tribute to Julian Bond. "There will never be another Julian Bond. People of that status in the civil rights movement have made untold contributions, sacrifice and invested in us. Now, it is up to us, It is our turn to step up to the plate."
  • Attended the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March- “Justice or Else” in Washington D.C.
  • Attended Martese's Johnson rally and his court appearance

M. Rick Turner

Click here for PDF document of this report.                   

 

Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP (#7057)
End of the Year Report -2014

It’s not unusual for the NAACP to concentrate so much on issues of race. It is because we know and understand and want others to understand that RACE MATTERS.

I am inspired by a recent quote by Supreme Court Justice – Sonia Sotomayor:

The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to speak openly and candidly on the subject of race, and to apply the constitution with eyes open to the unfortunate effect of centuries of racial discrimination. We ought notto sit back and wish away, rather than confront, the racial inequality thatexists in our society.

Whenever an issue comes to our attention that involves racial injustice or the violation of civil and human right of the African American community–the NAACP has a presence.  We are present and involved in the struggle for civil rights and equality in the Albemarle-Charlottesville community. The community counts on us to be involved.  We embrace our mission–speaking truth to power in the Charlottesville-Albemarle community. It shows that we value and respect Black lives. We care enough to challenge authority and to stand up.

In African-American communities across the country, it has become commonplace that literally every week, the national media reports on some incident that ignites debate and discussion over civil rights. At the center of many of these discussions is the increasing and alarming violation of the civil rights of Black and Brown people by the police.

As we are aware, the callous murders of young black men and boys –even as young as 12 years old–at the hands of White police officers are again the top story. I can’t help but believe that much of the violence and disruption in Black communities across the country is due to the angry political backlash caused by the election of a Black President.

The NAACP, other civil rights organizations, and the Black church continue to speak out strongly in response to these incidents. Yet, as we continue to grieve, we find no solutions to these injustices, and we fear that in the coming days they might very likely go unabated.

The questions remain: What do we do? What does America do? What do Black people and other caring people do after we speak, write, cry and pray about this senseless brutality?  Pastors of the local churches in our areas have cautioned the Police Chiefs in the City and in the County that unless they develop a viable workable plan that will avoid an incident in which an egregious act will be committed by a police officer, we may be sitting on a time bomb.

Some suggest more dialogue on race –though a recent Pew Survey reported that a plurality of Whites say “the issue of race is getting more attention than it deserves.” Other suggestions include: more training of police; more discussion with our young men about their inappropriate behavior and their saggy pants, better instruction on how to act when stopped by the police.

It seems to me that further discussion and training regarding accountability and strong leadership along with annual training in areas designed to improve community relations and to save Black lives would go a long way toward closing the divide that exists between police and the communities they serve.  We know that violence is not the answer.

The latest alarming statistics regarding injustice by the police and the courts are drawing attention that hopefully will not be met with the silence we have witnessed in the past. We must remain hopeful that somehow we will come to our collective senses and recognize that a national conversation, a national movement on race and viable solutions to this injustice are attainable goals and that the primary solutions to all of these human tragedies lie in our hearts.  Reaffirming for ourselves and our children that the “dignity and worth of our fellow human beings and all of life” is worthy of our utmost effort, –we can do this.

This year we made great strides in advancing our mission of ensuring the political, educational, social and economic equality of all persons. Our recorded minutes and agenda of attendance, involvement and participation in community activities in 2014 of the Branch will be available on our website.

Highlights of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Branch of the NAACP 2014 activities and participation include:

1. Our response rate to complainants: Over 100 complaints have come to our attention via phone calls, walks into our office, stops on the street or in stores. Many people appreciate our presence, but abhor the incidents of racial profiling and incidents of disrespect they experience every day.

2 Honoring Reverend Benjamin Bunn, the former pastor of First Baptist Church, during our Founder’s Day Celebration

3. Publication of editorials regarding civil rights issues in the Daily Progress.

4. Our successful 2014 Freedom Fund Banquet and Program.

5. Our participation in the annual Juneteenth Celebration at PVCC.

6. Our participation in UVA’s Freedom Summer class.

7. Our awarding of the annual scholarship (NAACP AND FEI) to a local high school graduate.

8. Our participation in the community meeting on issues of race and racial disparities in the Juvenile Justice System.

9. Our participation in the Jefferson Schools AAHC’s annual Nelson Mandela Read-In.

10 Our participation in the Community Day at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

11. Our participation in NAACP Conference calls on Voting Rights.

12. Conducting voter registration drives at various African American Community Days.

13. Our participation in the PHAR activities at Legal Aid.

14. Our participation in the Black Church and HIV-AID discussion/promotion.

15. The relocation of our monthly branch meeting site to the Mary Williams Community Center in Jefferson School.

16. Our meetings with the Police Chiefs in Charlottesville AND Albemarle County.

17. Our WTJU/WINA talks on Social Justice and civil rights issues.

18. Our Legal Redress meeting with local lawyers.

19. Members in Good Standing of our Branch – 200.

20. New membership in 2014 -20.

21. Life members in 2014 -57.

22.  Membership renewals in 2014 – 23.

23. Our participation in the Piedmont Fair Housing Advisory Group.

24.  Our participation in the Dialogue on Race.

25. Our member and office/Executive Committee participation on the Slavery Commissions at UVA.

26. Our participation in the NAACP Webinar Training for Voter Registration.

27. Participation in the panel discussion at the African American Heritage Center with other former Presidents of the NAACP from Charlottesville.

28. Our participation in the active community discussion on the Atlantic Magazine article “The Case For Reparations”

29. Our preparations for Direct action:

Methods- “The methods used to obtain the Association’s objective shall be direct action, litigation, legislation and political action. Units are encouraged to follow an independent course of action set out by the Unit’s membership as long as it is consistent with the Association’s policies and objectives.”

30. Our publication of all events of our chapter to the community via email, website, newspaper, church announcements and word of mouth.

31. Our participation in Black History Month events in the Charlottesville public schools.

Under the direction of the new National President of the NAACP, Cornell William Brooks (a former Civil Rights attorney), leadership has focused on Criminal Justice and on fighting the rollback of the Voting Rights Act. He envisions the diversity of the NAACP’s membership enhancing our overall efforts to find and work on sustainable solutions. His recent leadership and participation in Ferguson, Missouri’s March (Journey for Freedom) from Ferguson to St. Louis was inspirational. Let’s join with him in working toward solving the problems that beset our communities and our nation.

M. Rick Turner, Ph.D.
President, Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP

 

On July 17, Eric Garner was killed by a police officer who put him in an illegal chokehold. A Staten Island grand jury has decided NOT to indict the officer who killed him.

These appalling lapses in justice must stop. Click here to add your name to those demanding an end to police brutality and to racial profiling. Join our cause.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Greetings All,

We hope all is well. For those who attended the NAACP 105th National Convention, we hope you had a wonderful time in Las Vegas, NV. We hope you enjoyed the exhibit hall, plenary sessions, speakers and all that Las Vegas had to offer. Next year, the NAACP Convention will be in Philadelphia, PA. We hope to see you there.

This year, the NAACP Health Department is working in partnership with the American Heart Association and The Safe Routes to School National Partnership. At the 105th Annual Convention, the Health Department hosted a meet and greet that featured each of these partners and opportunities work surrounding childhood obesity advocacy through Voices for Healthy Kids. The NAACP Health Department’s childhood obesity advocacy efforts are taking place in: Mississippi, New York, and Tennessee. We encourage each of you to either develop or join an existing coalition to increase access to healthier foods, address school-based policies, and find creative ways to increase physical activity in your local communities. At the NAACP 105th Annual Convention, the NAACP passed a resolution that address the built environment and for NAACP units to increase safe spaces for children and adults to engage in physical activity. Continue reading →

A recent walk through the halls of the historic Jefferson School — now the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center— left me sorely disappointed. One would think that in February, the one time when many communities’ schools, organizations and institutions celebrate and honor Black History Month — the tenants of this historic building would make a point of showing the community that they care about the past and present contributions of African-Americans to our country’s greatness. Continue reading →

Dear Region VII Family,

 On Februday12, 2014 the NAACP celebrates its 105th Birthday. Since 1909 our mission of fighting for justice and equality has remained the same, but the tactics we use to achieve victory continue to evolve. In 2014, we know many of our battles and victories will take place in state houses, city halls and school board chambers across Region VII and the nation. As we fight these local and state battles, communication is key to ensuring wins in 2014 and beyond. Continue reading →