March 27, 2008

Stop NAACP Support of Rapists

In the past week, a rapidly-moving viral email campaign was launched, and thousands of concerned Black citizens spread the word about crimes against nature committed in the Dunbar Village complex against a Black woman and her 12 year old son.

This email, entitled “Stop Al Sharpton and the NAACP from endangering Black Women,” described a stunning betrayal in which the NAACP and Al Sharpton held a press conference and demanded bail consideration for three suspects in custody for the crime.

Concerned Black citizens all around the country were outraged by the actions of the NAACP and Al Sharpton, and many vowed to withdraw volunteering and financial support from these agencies “until they make the safety of Black women and children a priority.”

On March 24, 2008 an NAACP memo that attempted to defend this betrayal was sent to Beverly Neal, who is the Director of the NAACP’s Florida State Conference. The memo claims that the NAACP was brought into this fray by Rev. Al Sharpton. Moreover, the memo was written by Maude Ford Lee, who is President of the West Palm Beach Branch of the NAACP.

On March 27, 2008, activist Al Sharpton went on the air to clarify his position on the treatment of the Dunbar Village Suspects. He invited writer Tonyaa Weathersbee and blogger Arlene Fenton to his show, to discuss the matter. Rev. Sharpton claimed that he never said that the Dunbar Village suspects were being treated unfairly, and that he did not want bail for the suspects in question.

Ms Weathersbee and Ms Fenton said that their research indicated otherwise, as indicated by video footage, eyewitness accounts, and the reporting from the Florida Sun Sentinel and the Palm Beach Post.

At the end of the radio show, Al Sharpton strongly condemned any activity that would promote bail consideration for the suspects in question. Rev. Sharpton admitted that “if the suspects were white, he would have been there sooner.” He stated that this is a problem with many Black civil rights organizations. He apologized and vowed to uphold his prior promise to advocate for the residents of Dunbar Village. He also challenged all activists, bloggers, and writers to be accountable to each other.

To date, the NAACP has not made an official statement denouncing the Dunbar Village Atrocity, nor have they officially expressed regret to the victim. The NAACP also has not officially retracted their statement requesting bail consideration for the alleged rapists/torturers. To our understanding, neither agency has contributed to the Victim’s Assistance Fund or created a reward program geared toward the apprehension of the remaining rapists/torturers.

Villagers, WE ARE SATISFIED with Al Sharpton’s qualifying statements that he made on his March 27th radio show. We will watch to see if he fulfills his promise to advocate for the residents of Dunbar Village, and we are willing to assist any effort that promotes safer Black neighborhoods in West Palm Beach, FL.

WE ARE NOT SATISFIED with the reckless, irresponsible actions of the NAACP (West Palm Beach chapter). We continue to urge all Black people, women especially, to refrain from volunteering or giving financially to this organization until they take our safety seriously.

WHAT WE WANT

  1. We want law enforcement to make a concerted, sustained effort to apprehend the remaining suspects. We want to see a genuine reward system in place to encourage members of the community to come forward with the knowledge of the whereabouts of the remaining suspects.

  2. We want the NAACP (West Palm Beach chapter) to reverse their position that the alleged rapists/torturers of this case should be considered for bail.
  3. We want both the NAACP and the National Action Network to cease downgrading the gang rape/torture/atrocity of the Dunbar Village by comparing it to an unrelated gang rape, in which guns, maiming, and forced incest were not involved.

  4. We want to see genuine victim advocacy in the form of financial support for the relocation, medical expenses, and mental therapy for the true victims in this case.
The Dunbar Village Victim Assistance Fund

Individuals who would like to donate money to the victims can go to any Wachovia Bank and donate to the St. Ann’s Victim’s Assistance Fund. Donations will go directly to the mother and her son.

St. Ann’s Catholic Church will also accept donations. Checks can be made payable to the "Dunbar Village Victim Assistance Fund - St. Ann’s". Mail your donation to: St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 310 N. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

For more information about this Dunbar Village Campaign, you can visit any of the following 24 blogs:

  1. Dunbar Village Blog
  2. A Different Story
  3. Anonymiss Blog
  4. A Political Season
  5. Aunt Jemima's Revenge
  6. Black Fire, White Fire
  7. Black Sapience
  8. Black Women Vote
  9. Character Corner
  10. Electronic Village
  11. Episcopalienne
  12. Essential Presence
  13. Focused Purpose
  14. H-Essays
  15. Never Say Never to Your Traveling Self
  16. Privy Concepts
  17. Ravenelven Lady
  18. Roslyn Holcomb's Blog
  19. The Sowing Circle
  20. Tribute to Black Women
  21. What About Our Daughters
  22. What Tami Said
  23. Yanmommasaid
  24. Something Within

Next step is yours! Do you support this growing effort to Stop NAACP West Palm Beach Chapter's Support of the Dunbar Village rapists? What say u?

5 comments:

Mo said...

"If the suspects were white he would've been there sooner"?
I mean, I've always had an issue with Al Sharpton but I never realized how completely clueless he was.

I don't see anything in this incident that would call for any sort of hesitation. I do support this effort because the people that are supposedly looking out for our best interests have clearly fallen short & they've been doing so for some time.

Unknown said...

Kieya - Al Sharpton often appears to have lost his way. However, he was open to having his mind changed about his earlier support of the Dunbar Village rapists. Hopefully, we can get similiar open-minded discussion with NAACP West Palm Beach chapter. Please call or email Maud Lee (NAACP WPB branch president) to let her know your thoughts on this matter...

Anonymous said...

Gibbler says; BLACKS AREN'T A RACE THEY ARE A SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP; By jove I understand now how to deal with you people and maybe just maybe get you out of your communist caves. The NAACP is supporting rapists(black rapists of course)? Seems like a rift within the special interest group. According to VILLAGER Al Sharpton has "lost his way." What "way" is that old boy? Al not serving the interest? Never fear comrade KIEYA. VILLAGER will get a discusssion with our local group chapter in West Palm Beach. Then KIEYA,daughter of KIEth and tonYA, we can kick at the freaknic with Al and the rapists in perfect harmony.

Gibbler

Mo said...

1st, kieya's actually a nickname...& my parents' names aren't keith or tonya

2nd, I'm not even gonna address all that foolishness u just said

Anonymous said...

Gibbler says; Of course there is nothing foolish about a special interest group masquerading as a race is there?

Gibbler