April 5, 2008

NAACP Apologizes for Dunbar Village Press Conference

Adora Obi Nweze, Florida State Conference NAACP chair and Richard McIntyre, NAACP National Spokesperson took part in a podcast hosted by Gina McCauley to discuss the NAACP and Al Sharpton press conference and the resultant email accountability campaign. Both Nweze and McIntyre emphasized that the NAACP top priority is to focus on the two victims of the Dunbar Village torture.

Nweze apolozied on behalf of the NAACP for any miscommunication or misunderstanding caused by the NAACP West Palm Beach branch press conference.

Nweze indicates that the parents of the Dunbar Village rapists approached the NAACP about unequal justice being applied against their children. She acknowledged that this was the wrong case to use for making a point on unequal criminal justice. McIntyre was rather useless. He did note that the West Palm Beach branch broke some internal policies and that the branch president has been counseled accordingly.

On the other hand, Nweze was clear and straightforward in her responses. She apologized on a number of ocassions for the flyers and press conference held by NAACP West Palm Beach branch. Personally, I feel like NAACP and National Action Network both recognize that they phuqued up big time by passing out flyers and creating a press conference to support the Dunbar Village rapists.

Al Sharpton admitted his mistake in a public venue ... on his radio show. NAACP admitted their mistake in a private BlogRadioTalkshow.

The NAACP needs to do publicly what it did privately last night -- state they were wrong and apologize. Particularly since they stated bloggers were wrong. They can't have it both ways - we were not both wrong.

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

I will be on NPR Blogger's Roundtable next Wednesday, April 9. I anticipate that one of our segments will cover this particular issue. I hope you will tune in to NPR on that day at 1:00 pm ET to hear what we have to say.

8 comments:

tasha212 said...

Adora Obi Nweze did apologize on the podcast but they still haven't issued a public apology. As in call a press conference and issue a statement acknowledging their error in advocating on behalf of the dunbar village rapists.

LISA VAZQUEZ said...

Greetings to you, my sister and comrade,

I am happy that Adora Obi Nweze apologized on the podcast. If she does not issue a press release on her local branch website within two days, we need to flood her box to help her understand WHY it must be done. Once the press release is on her site, we need to send email to the paper in West Palm Beach to alert them.

Let us not spend more time fighting for the issue about NAACP and NAN and not spend the time needed to highlight the dynamics that are apparent at Dunbar (black women did not come to help their own black sister, black women organizations did not send aid to this black women, black women did not launch email campaigns against the black police chief - who is a sista - to protest the fact that no manhunt was underway for the remaining rapists.

Getting an apology out of Ms. Nweze is good but we have so much more to focus on.

In solidarity,
Lisa

Unknown said...

Tasha and Lisa - Asante sana for sharing your insights and thoughts on next steps in this matter...

g-e-m2001 said...

Well I don't know how many of you read the latest article, but the woman followed up by scheduling a meeting with the DA in this case to basically undo whatever damage Maude Ford Lee created.

You won THIS battle. Take your victory lap and try not to stand over the body of your defeated opponent and demand blood.

I think she is working within the confines set out by the National Office because it was clear to me in my dealing with both Ms Nweze and the Director of the Florida State conference that they were horrified by what the WPB branch had done and truly remorseful.

So if you are going to direct your ire at anyone, direct it at McIntire who intervened to cut the interview down from an hour to twenty minutes and then he gave us a whopping 10 minutes back. I am just glad everyone got to experience the man in all of his glory.

Next Steps! Next Steps is a good focus. I don't think y'all fully have appreciated what happened over the past two weeks. Sit back and pause and think about what a bunch of strangers scattered all over the world managed to do. They have NEVER faced anything like this before.

The person you need to contact is the National Chair and the National President and say "Hey that press release McIntire crafted is pure fiction and makes your organization look foolish and out of touch."

Mrs. Nweze is probably the best thing they have going for them on this issue pick your battles and pick your targets. You fight with the NAACP is in Baltimore and DC NOT in Florida.

Unknown said...

Gina - I agree with your analysis. It is a good feeling to know that we were able to get national attention on the foolishness, as you call it, taking place on the courthouse steps in WPB during that press conference by NAN and NAACP. They both backtracked ... and I'm glad to learn the backstory of NAACP seeking justice for the victims and a renewed emphasis on the apprehension of the other six thugs/rapists that have yet to be arrested. I appreciate all you do. Let me know if I can be of assistance in the future...

peace, Villager

Old School Fridays said...

I'm glad, I couldn't understand why they wanted to make this a case about judicial rights, and overlook the horrific crime that was committed. The victims should have taken precedent; first and far most. Thanks to whataboutourdaughters for keeping this story alive.

SjP said...

Thanks to all who kept this issue on the radar. There's power in numbers and obviously power in the blog! SjP

Unknown said...

Sojourner - Together we are strong as a fist; apart we can be broken like a finger. The power of umoja (unity) can never be underestimated. Hopefully, Black bloggers are beginning to realize our potential and possibilities in the new media world...