Archive for 2010

New law affecting disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine sentencing

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Greetings,

Days like today are among my favorite as president of the Champaign County NAACP.

For years we have worked to even out the vast disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine sentencing – a gap that unfairly hurts minority communities. Finally, Congress has shown courage and leadership to reduce this disparity.

While the difference in sentencing guidelines hasn’t been fully eliminated, this marks honest progress toward our goal. A few days ago President Obama signed the bill into law.

And today, I’m asking you to join me in thanking Congress for passing this historic piece of legislation:

http://action.naacp.org/ThankYouCongress

Until today, there was a sentencing disparity of 100:1 between crack cocaine and powder cocaine. But during negotiations it became clear that Congress was in agreement: This disparity has had a hugely unfair and racially discriminatory impact on minority Americans.

As a result, the bill lessening the disparity to 18:1 passed by unanimous consent.

The NAACP supports this bill as an important first step in completely eradicating these types of legislative injustices. However, we will continue to push for complete elimination of the disparities between crack cocaine and powder cocaine sentencing.

But first, we need your help in showing our gratitude for this incredible progress. Take a moment to thank your member of Congress:

http://action.naacp.org/ThankYouCongress

Your work means more now than ever before. With your help, we will continue to win even more major victories like today’s.

I cannot thank you enough.

All the best,

Rev. Jerome Chambers
President
Champaign County NAACP

Urbana School District Civil Right Summer Institute Pictures

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Last week the local NAACP branch participated in the Urbana School District Civil Right Summer Institute.

Distinguished Speakers included Patricia Sullivan (writer of book on the history of the NAACP),  Ilyasah Shabazz (daughter of Malcolm X), Barry Bradford (former natl. teacher of the year who became famous when he & 3 students helped to bring down the KKK leader),  Ilyasah Shabazz (daughter of Malcolm X), Bobby Seale (former Black Panther Party leader) and Julian Bond (former chairman of the NAACP)

Here are some pictures from the event.

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August General Body Meeting

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Thursday, August 5, 2010

6:30-7:30 pm (Executive Board Meeting-CLOSED session)

7:30-9:00 pm (General Body)

Champaign Public Library

Foundation Conference Room 222

ACT-SO MUSICAL AND FOOD – FRIDAY, June 25, 7pm.

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Come out and support your local ACT-SO group.

Special guests include CUperstars, Grove Street Youth Choir and “Mo Beta Music” and more.

When FRIDAY, June 25,  7pm.

Where: Liberty Temple, 1218 Holiday Drive, Champaign, IL 61821

Admission is Free but donations will be accepted.  Food will also be on sale.

CBHC Health Care Fair This Saturday

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Everybody come out this Saturday to support the CBHC Health Care Fair. The NAACP Champaign County Branch is a co-sponsor.

The Health Fair will consist of community organizations and empowering individuals and families who are ready to take control of their health. The event is free so bring your friends and family! There will be a variety of on-site screenings and medical services, information booths, as well as health workshops and guest speakers at the fair. In addition there will be stations presenting updated information on the new health care bill that was recently signed by President Obama.

You can also find more information about the event by visiting our website: http://www.cbhconline.org/action/take-action-health-care-fair/

Date:
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Time:
9:00am – 12:00pm
Location:
Champaign Public Library (Robeson Pavilion Rooms A & B)
Street:
200 W. Green St
City/Town:
Champaign, IL

June General Body Meeting this Thursday

Monday, June 7th, 2010

Thursday, June 10, 2010

6:30-7:30 pm (Executive Board Meeting-CLOSED session)

7:30-9:00 pm (General Body)

Champaign Public Library

Foundation Conference Room 222

NAACP Open House June 1st, 2010

Monday, May 31st, 2010

NAACP Open House Flyer

The Champaign County NAACP is having an Open House.

Come meet and greet our board and our program chairs!

Tuesday June 1st, 2010
Robeson Room, Champaign Public Library
200 W. Green Street
5:30 PM – Meet & Greet
6:15 PM – Presentation

Sponsors

Whip Hair Design
Ministerial Alliance of Champaign-Urbana and Vicinity
City of Urbana Office of Human Relations
Civilian Police Review Board
Champaign Community Schools Unit4
Urbana School District 116
Champaign-Urbana Area Project
City of Champaign-Community Relations Office
State Senator Mike Frerichs
State Representative Naomi Jakobsson
Champaign County Black Chamber of Commerce
Don Moyers Boys and Girls Club
Campaign for Better Health Care

Download Open House Flyer (pdf)

Champaign County NAACP Open House

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

NAACP Open House Flyer

The Champaign County NAACP is having an Open House.

Come meet and greet our board and our program chairs!

Tuesday June 1st, 2010
Robeson Room, Champaign Public Library
200 W. Green Street
5:30 PM – Meet & Greet
6:15 PM – Presentation

Sponsors

Whip Hair Design
Ministerial Alliance of Champaign-Urbana and Vicinity
City of Urbana Office of Human Relations
Civilian Police Review Board
Champaign Community Schools Unit4
Urbana School District 116
Champaign-Urbana Area Project
City of Champaign-Community Relations Office
State Senator Mike Frerichs
State Representative Naomi Jakobsson
Champaign County Black Chamber of  Commerce
Don Moyers Boys and Girls Club
Campaign for Better Health Care

Download Open House Flyer (pdf)

NAACP MAY Meeting Reminder

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

This is your reminder for our May Monthly Meeting:

Thursday, May 6, 2010

6:30-7:30 pm (Executive Committee) CLOSED Session

7:30-9:00 pm (General Body) ALL members

Champaign Public Main Library

Friends Conference Room 215

All standing committee chairs, please have your reports ready. All special committees are to make progress reports or updates.

Thanks so much and we look forward to seeing ALL on Thursday.

Have a great rest of the day!

Radical Fringe Benefits

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

It’s very clear to the citizens of Champaign that no remorse has been shown by our top elected official, Mayor Schweighart.  Could it be that such inflammatory remarks will mark his political demise or will it catapult him into the Mayoral Hall of Fame, which for all purposeful intents doesn’t exist?

Whether this ridiculous posturing is another attempt to further polarize one race over another is a cheap disguise of angry behavior.  Slurs, harassment, unconscious thinking and inexcusable behavior all prove inability to serve with honor and dignity.  How much more delusion should be tolerated?

President Obama not an American?  Give me a break Mr. Mayor!

  • You didn’t get mad when the Supreme Court stopped a legal recount and appointed a President.
  • You didn’t get mad when Vice President “What’s-his-name” Cheney allowed energy Company officials to dictate energy policy.
  • You didn’t get mad when a covert CIA operative got ousted.
  • You didn’t get mad when the Patriot Act got passed.
  • You didn’t get mad when we (U.S.) invaded a country that was later found out, that posed no threat to us.
  • You didn’t get mad when we spent over 600 billion dollars (and counting) on a paid illegal war, leaving tens of thousands of young boys, hardly grown, maimed and killed.
  • You didn’t get mad when over 10 billion dollars just disappeared in Iraq.
  • You didn’t get mad when the government was illegally wire-tapping its American citizens.

As one letter to the editor recalled Sinclair Lewis’ quote: “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carry the cross.”  Say it isn’t so!!!  Why didn’t we hear your voice loud and strong then?  Where was your opinion during the eight years of these atrocities?

It didn’t take the Tea Party Movement to bring out the Mayor’s true feelings about President Obama, African Americans or any minority.  All it took was an opportunity to show-off in a fascist sort of way.

You cannot defend unethical, right-winged innuendos as your opinion publicly, especially as an elected official as has been displayed to the entire nation.  One cannot be effective as a mayor on a city council that is designed to be nonpartisan.  Let your opinion remain your opinion.  We all have opinions but we cannot air it on You Tube for the whole country to see, so neither can you.

The people of Champaign for the most part are disappointed and what has become a mark on the city for which the late Mable Thomas gave her life.  May her memory remind us all that like it or not President Obama made history as the 44th President in her life time!