NAACP Statement on Resignation of Shirley Sherrod
by Publius
July 19, 2010
(BALTIMORE, MD) NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous issued the following statement today after learning of the resignation of Shirley Sherrod of the United States Department of Agriculture:
"Since our founding in 1909, the NAACP has been a multi-racial, multi-faith organization that—while generally rooted in African American communities—fights to end racial discrimination against all Americans.
We concur with US Agriculture Secretary Vilsack in accepting the resignation of Shirley Sherrod for her remarks at a local NAACP Freedom Fund banquet.
Racism is about the abuse of power. Sherrod had it in her position at USDA. According to her remarks, she mistreated a white farmer in need of assistance because of his race.
We are appalled by her actions, just as we are with abuses of power against farmers of color and female farmers.
Her actions were shameful. While she went on to explain in the story that she ultimately realized her mistake, as well as the common predicament of working people of all races, she gave no indication she had attempted to right the wrong she had done to this man.
The reaction from many in the audience is disturbing. We will be looking into the behavior of NAACP representatives at this local event and take any appropriate action.
We thank those who brought this to our national office's attention, as there are hundreds of local fundraising dinners each year.
Sherrod's behavior is even more intolerable in light of the US Department of Agriculture's well documented history of denying opportunities to African American, Latino, Asian American, and Native American farmers, as well as female farmers of all races. Currently, justice for many of these farmers is being held up by Congress. We would hope all who share our outrage at Sherrod's statements would join us in pushing for these cases to be remedied.
The NAACP will continue to advance the ideals of America and fight for freedom, justice and fairness for all Americans."
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 and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.
Now isn't that nice? The Obama Administration takes a look at a video of a small part of a speech that black a government employee made, and decides she is a racist and demands that she resign.
The NAACP, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, decides after watching the same segment of the woman's speech, that the Obama Administration was right, and she should resign.
So, the Executive Branch of our government, and the so called premier African American civil rights organization in America decided this woman, (Shirley Sherrod) was guilty, before they had even given the accusation a second look.
Now, after just a few short hours of investigation, they know the woman is not a racist, and what she was talking about happened 24 years ago, and that incident helped her to understand poor people, no matter of what race, could need her help.
So now, the Obama Administration is falling all over itself trying to make up for its mistake, while the NAACP is blaming Fox News and anyone else they can think of.
This whole incident started with the NAACP voting a resolution that claims the TEA Party movement in America is a racist organization. The NAACP claims they know racism when they see it.
Well, maybe they don't see as well as they thought they did.
