Chapter News
NAN Across America (8/14/11)
—National Field Office
The National Action Network welcomes our newest chapter, The “Tulsa, OK Chapter,” The Tulsa Chapter has been founded under the leadership of Bishop Harold W. Jones Sr. This chapter has started off 300 members strong. Their meetings are held every first and third Monday at 7PM at Full Gospel Outreach, 1609 N. Evanston Place, Tulsa, OK 74110. The chapter is putting together a protest against the city of Tulsa to help keep Greenwood Cultural Center opened. This is the only facility the community has left since the 1921 Race riot (Black Wall Street); 5000 citizens will be marching.
Be on the look out for upcoming chapters in various cities across the country. Please feel free to call our national office @ (212)690-3070 or the national field office @ (646)981-5972 for information on how you can join one of the following upcoming chapters:
Buffalo, NY; Cincinnati, OH; Daytona Beach, FL; and Charlotte, NC
Atlanta, GA Chapter
The Atlanta chapter is working in conjunction with NAN Macon to assist Pastor Ross in getting a new trial. The chapter is organizing a bus trip to lend our support to Pastor Ross and the Macon chapter at the press conference scheduled for Monday, August 8, 2011.
Chicago, IL Chapter
Chapter president Forte is proud to report the Chicago chapter can now register people to VOTE in the entire State of Illinois. At one time we could only have voter registration in Cook County. On Saturday, August 20, 2011 we are hosting a strategy meeting for, “Measuring the Movement,” at the Woodson Library, 9500 SO. Haltsted, Chicago, IL from 1 to 3pm. On the weekend of September 16th and 17th the Chicago chapter will also host, “Measuring the Movement Conference,” at Mount Pilgram Baptist Church, Rev. Marshall Hatch, Pastor. 4301 W. Washington in Chicago.
Columbus, MS Chapter
The Columbus MS chapter attended the city councilman meeting in July to support Columbus Police Chief Joseph St. John’s in his recent employment matters. Chapter president Sharon spoke on behalf of the local chapter’s appreciation of Chief St. John’s supportive actions with the National Action Networks Crime Prevention. He was terminated at this council meeting from his job as Chief. There were many supporters of all races and nationalities.
Greater Baltimore, MD Chapter
President Marvin Cheatham and the Greater Baltimore chapter are the lead organization for the Million Fathers March, which where we will be walking and welcoming children back to school on Monday, August 29, 2011. The chapter is also, the lead organization of 30 to host a Mayoral Primary Candidates Debate on Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at New Shiloh Baptist Church which will include a major voter training and registration drive. The chapter is supporting local unions in speaking out against cuts to social security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Las Vegas, NV
On August 3rd chapter member Sheila Collins helped organize house parties for volunteers in Las Vegas which has been established to start planning meetings about voter registration for the fall. At the house meetings the members will talk about ways to increase awareness about voter participation. The house meetings will be posted on facebook and other social media outlets. The Las Vegas chapter would also like to report that they won 20 tickets for the MLK Dedication ceremony and will give them out to the community.
The Las Vegas chapter will host a community birthday celebration for President Barack Obama’s birthday on August 4th in the community at Jimmy’s Meat Market and at Mario’s Westside Market. The chapter will continue to push membership drives and voter registration.
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Brooklyn, NY Chapter
The chapter is working on an ongoing voter registration drive to begin in August.
Greater Baltimore Chapter
(1) Supported the Ministerial Rally in Support of MD Dream Act
(2) Submitted paper in support of Inclusionary Housing to City Council of Baltimore;
(3) Co-Sponsored Town Hall Meeting with WOLB 1010 on HBCU having white institutions duplicate their courses;
(4) Made Presentation to City Bureau of Recreation and Parks to have park include name of recently decease Member of House of Delegates
(5) Two rallies in support of political prisoner Marshall Eddie Conway;
(6) Supported two (2) rallies in support of City School Principal who had been removed by School System and Private Charter School
(7) Helped coordinate Press Conference & Rally for lost 7 month old child that was found;
(8) Addressed Bureau of Recreation and Parks regarding Mayor closing of Recreation Centers.
(9) Lead Organization for Million Fathers March walking and welcoming children back to school on Monday, August 29, 2011
(10) Supporting Local Unions in speaking out against Cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid
Milwaukee, WI Chapter
The Milwaukee Chapter held a meeting on July 23rd at The African World Festival. The main focus for Milwaukee right now is getting the buses organized for the Washington, DC trip. We also talked about redistricting in our city and will have a brain storming meeting this Thursday, July 28th.
Queens, NY Chapter
The Queens chapter will hold their next general meeting, Monday, August 22, 2011, 6 PM @ Calvary Baptist Church, 111-10 Guy R Brewer Blvd, Jamaica, NY. Contact number for information 877-270-5380. If you are interested joining the chapter or boarding a bus in Queens please attend the membership meeting.
Syracuse, NY Chapter
On Sunday, July 24, 2011 Chapter President Walt Dixie was at City Hall for the first day of The Equality Marriage Act showing support for this event and representing The National Action Network. We were also glad to have Rev. Toon the National Field Director call city hall and speak to the clerk. The chapter has updated our web site Zerotolerance 4 Racism which is located on Face book. It has a good following throughout the world as far as Europe.
Mr. Walter Dixie met with Syracuse City School District Sharon Contreras and would like to invite Rev. Sharpton to come back to Syracuse and speak with about 2,000 students about the importance of staying in school & graduating, along with their parent about giving total support to their children educational needs at one of the local high schools.
The chapter still holds meetings once a week at The Fountain of Life Church, located at 700 South Avenue, Syracuse, NY. Our contact information is P.O. Box 1678 Syracuse, NY, 13201: phone # is 315-474-0922 or we can be reached at [email protected]. We do accept walk-ins at our meetings. Please call if you would like attend.
Akron, OH Chapter
The chapter is working on a case involving the juvenile detention center and misconduct of one of the guards handling a developmentally disabled boy. The guard was excessive in his restraint resulting in the breaking of 8 of the young man’s teeth. We have a report that states the boy caused the damage to his mouth by striking his head against a wall. The video tape we received contradicts the statement in the report. We are still investigating the situation and the family to make certain that this is indeed a case that we will take on. As a result we are working on legislation to introduce relating to Police accountability, the language will mirror similar bills out of Houston, Texas Borris Miles HB 1470, 1471 and 1472.
Atlanta, GA Chapter
The Atlanta Chapter joined the civil rights community, labor and immigrant advocacy organizations in a demonstration for human dignity and immigrant rights on Saturday, July 9 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. on the Washington Street stairs of the Georgia State Capitol.
The rally demonstrated the community’s outrage at the inhumane, anti-immigrant law, HB 87. The peaceful demonstration will demand that lawmakers focus on finding real solutions to the problems that face Georgia and bringing the people of the state together, rather than pitting us against each other and attacking immigrant working families. Rev. Sharpton the founder and president of the National Action Network was one of the keynote speakers.
Atlantic City, NJ Chapter
Chapter President Steven Young and the South Jersey chapter are rallying every Thursday in Atlantic City, NJ with a fellowship of churches in a sign of solidarity to oppose the numerous gun-related crimes that have occurred in the resort town over the past decade. The code of silence that seems to prevail in most cases seems to be at the root of the problem. (How consistent is that?) “We want to continue to be out there to support the families of victims of gun-violence and the people have to know that they have to stop supporting the code of silence,” said President Steve Young. {The group marched from Browns Park to the corner of Baltic and South Carolina Avenues with hopes of stopping the silence once and for all. Yes, Speak Out-Stand Up and Walk Through to Save Our Community}. Being Silent is Worst than the Act.
Chapter President Steve Young and members are still pursuing justice in the Moshawn Leach case in Pensgrove, NJ and supporting Walter Hudson who has been harassed by police officers because he spoke out against the killing of the unarmed black male.
President Young has begun coordinating a town hall meeting to discuss the takeover of Atlantic City by the State of New Jersey to include Governor Chris Christie.
Baltimore, MD Chapter
Chairperson Larry Young and the newly elected Chapter President Marvin Cheatham and members are currently working to have their Governor restore $15 million cuts in education for the Baltimore City area. They are also working to secure minority contractors for a local African American Family Fun Center.
The chapter is also addressing a number of police shooting cases in their area, some have received nationwide coverage. Mr. Young will be conducting a course on citizenship participation in his community and members will also be working on getting more African American elected officials in their community.
The chapter is working to help quell racial tensions between Blacks and Jews in the Park Heights section of Maryland. The tensions are related to the recent beating of a black teenager by a person of Jewish descent. They will also be working in conjunction with a local radio station for their “10th Annual Caring for Kids Campaign” to help 500 kids in need. The chapter is actively pursuing their membership drives and has scheduled a June deadline to rapidly increase their membership.
Boston, MA Chapter
The chapter is moving forward with membership, crisis resolution as well as preparing to attend the rally and march in Washington, DC on August 27. The chapter has partnered with Ms. Ruby Howard, who is a NAN member and community activist. Ms Howard and the chapter president are having weekly bible study with local youth in hope of quelling youth violence. Youth participation has been phenomenal. The youth from our weekly bible study will be joining NAN at the rally and march.
Chicago, IL Chapter
The Chicago chapter met with Charles Dockery of the Memorial Park District of Calumet city about the use of the children’s park. We are dealing with retaliation because Courtland Wilson ran for Park Commissioner. At the meeting we did come to a conclusion that the students would not be arrested for using the park, they have not as of yet been given permission to utilize the park for serious practice and for games. The children are ages 6 to 14 and there are 11 parks in Calumet City, Illinois.
The chapter is supporting a petition appealing to the Governor to sign the bill that repeals the death penalty. They feel due to many errors that have occurred within the prison system and tax payer dollars are being wasted as a result of it.
Chapter President Maureen Forte and members will be networking closely with WGN-TV to provide employment data and related job postings to the community to assist in their efforts with people who are unemployed. They have launched a new magazine called the, “Challenge News,” which covers a variety of youth issues, education and trainings. They are working with the Probation Challenge Program to reach the minds and hearts of young men and women who are filtering through the criminal justice system.
Members who have vowed to continuously register people to vote, still do weekly at the Regal Theatre during scheduled concert performances. Ms. Forte and members are also collaborating efforts with members of the clergy and others to develop community patrols to assist them in decreasing some of the violence in their immediate surroundings. Chapter President Forte said, “Members and other concerned community residents are currently coordinating their own anti-violence forums to deal with the alarming rate of people being killed daily, particularly on the South Side of Chicago, IL.”
Cleveland, OH Chapter
Chapter President Marcia McCoy and Rev. Dr. E. T. Caviness, Board Chair have been working on educational issues that include “Closing the Achievement Gap.”
Recidivism: Many of the 9th grade male students we service are populated with fathers in prison/getting out of prison: We are simply trying to drop the “What You See is what you’ll Be” syndrome. It is a known fact that 72-78% of households are spearheaded by females. (The Re-Entry component is hosted by our program chair of the Community Covenant Oversight Team).
Job Creation: We worked with Dave’s supermarkets and other area places to employ our youth, young adults and the least, the lost and the left out. Dave’s supermarkets received a Civil Rights Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and The Community Covenant Oversight Team for opening up its stores in urban districts, hiring many of our participants and paying living wages.
Harlem, NY Chapter
The New York chapter along with our HIV/Health and Wellness had a Town Hall meeting and Aids Awareness forum at Mother AME Zion Church, located 137th Street between 7th Avenue (ACPJ Blvd) and Lenox Avenue (Malcolm X Blvd) from 1pm to 3pm on June 25th, 2011.
The New York chapter also partnered with Brain Benjamin, Young Professional, our HIV/Health and Wellness, Harlem United and other HIV AIDS awareness groups for HIV(AIDS) Testing at the ACPJ Harlem State Office Building located 163 West 125th on June 27th, 2011 from 10:30am to 4pm.
The Cabinet is still doing the Annual Picnic July 30th and is gearing up for the annual bus ride to Washington, DC. The Education Committee would like to thank everyone who came out to the Educational forum. The Meeting was very informative discussing what is happening with our children’s educational process and what is happening with the teachers that speak out against the school system when unjustly things are being done. The follow up will be a forum on the “RUBBER ROOM” process. At this forum, former teachers will speak out about the unjust process. We also would like to thank all of you who participated in the Education Rally (the walk from City Hall to Wall Street).
The Women Auxiliary is having their first annual Bus ride to Atlantic City in honor of Mr. Faison who was our membership chair.
Bill Griffin the men’s auxiliary head and his committee members are doing a mentoring program for kids from 6th to the 9th grade called the “Big Brother Concept.” Their first meeting was April 16th at the New York City headquarters.
The Disability Committee headed by Pam Bates is discussing having a forum on Medicaid & Medicare. The guardians committee continues to meet and recruit new members. Stan Mallory’s Sport Club has won several Karate tournaments and continues to seek new members.
Ezekiel Adepoju headed up the Young Entrepreneurs Group, is working on a forum concerning how to start a business. If you are interested in participating please contact Ezekiel Adepoju at 877-626-4651. Chris Dudley the division chair of the sign language committee continues to meet and hold their cases each week. Arnold Pinnix’s, drama club presented “Obama-Nation” in May.
Lady Peachena will host an educational forum and has reached out to Chancellor Walcot to be the keynote speaker.
The president of the New York Chapter will is working on the New York Chapters annual picnic and the march to the “Martin Luther King Memorial” in Washington, D.C. scheduled for Saturday, August 27, 2011, 12:00pm.
New York City has been selected as one of five cities to host a Town Hall Meeting to discuss the AIDs pandemic as part of the National HIV Testing Day.
Horry County, SC Chapter
The chapter has been supporting the parents of a 16 year old high school student allegedly shot to death by a resource officer who accused him of assault. This resource officer has had numerous complaints by parents. The area superintendent has been alerted of the allegations. The chapter is awaiting a response.
The chapter has been challenging their school board regarding the disparity in the number of African American teachers versus white, large percentage of African American students in alternative school, disciplinary treatment toward African American students from elementary to high school, suspension and alternative school to the juvenile system.
The chapter has demanded an investigation into alleged numerous violations against the Conway Housing Authority regarding alleged illegal evictions. They are also in the process of scheduling a meeting with black contractors to make sure they receive a fair share of the various public projects taking place in the area. The chapter is organizing a packet to send to the Department of Justice regarding alleged corrupt Magistrate Judges.
Jersey City, NJ Chapter
President Oliver-Fair has been handling a wide variety of cases in her surrounding areas. She has been addressing cases regarding education as it relates to bullying and discrimination, prisoner’s abuse and police shootings in the Jersey City and Essex County areas.
Members have been participating in Newark’s anti-violence efforts and town hall meetings in collaboration with other community organizations around the issue of gun violence in particular. Members have also taught and assisted students at the Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry Learning Center in Jersey City, NJ.
President Fair is always increasing the chapter’s membership with new enrollees. If you are interested in joining this chapter please contact the president through our website.
Memphis, TN Chapter
The Chapter is organizing a voter registration drive.
Morehouse Parish, LA Chapter
The Morehouse Parish chapter and president Linda Mays-Logan participated in the Protesters Eunice, Louisiana march against Police Brutality on July 4, 2011 with other NAN chapters and organizations across Louisiana. Presently, the chapter is working on a case where a 14 year old black male drowned in Jackson Parish at a pond in the deep end of the woods with four other Caucasian boys.
Philadelphia, PA Chapter
The Philadelphia Chapter of the National Action Network is still receiving a lot of press in conjunction with their protest in the police shooting of Albert Purnell. They are truly raising the Bar on this issue. The Police have declared war on young black males/females and Philly NAN is in the thick of it — determined to be successful in stopping these atrocities. Reverend Sharpton is extremely concerned about what is happening around this issue and our Executive Director Tamika Mallory came to Philly on the 15th of June to support the March and Rally for Justice at the office to D.A. Seth Williams.
The Philadelphia chapter has been collaborating with various groups including the NAACP to facilitate a PA legislative initiative originated by “The Lifers Inc.” group situated in the PA Prison system. This initiative attempts to address a PA law which currently disallows any new evidence that proves a prisoner’s innocence if it wasn’t presented in a time sensitive manner. Meetings are usually held on a monthly basis, but they are currently being held weekly to facilitate and organize the training sessions for the various participants scheduled for June 4th, 2011.
The chapter is currently addressing a police shooting of an unarmed 19 year old black male who was shot at least 4 to 6 times in light of eyewitnesses who stated the man was unarmed. In addition, this police shooting took place in front of children as young as four years old. There is expanded electronic media coverage forth coming as NAN has alerted the press that the initial reports as shared by police was deliberately altered by police which omitted the shooting of the man in the home of a family whose children were in the room.
The chapter participated in a one year demonstration highlighting the failure of the current District Attorney Seth Williams to prosecute or explain his reason for failing to address a public open letter addressed to his attention by several noted and highly regarded African-American Attorneys. This was regarding a white Philadelphia police sergeant who shot himself one year ago to the date and then claimed a black man did it. This police official was offered immunity from prosecution in exchange for his admittance that he shot himself on the condition that he resigns from the police force. Please note: Philly NAN has been very instrumental in raising this very disturbing issue publicly!
The chapter is in the early stages of working on a youth job initiative, hopefully in conjunction with a major sports team to employ at least a thousand youth this summer in an attempt to stop the violence in the city.
Chapter President Greg Brinkley and members are facilitating meetings between youths from two communities that have had ongoing disputes that ultimately resulted in the death of a youth. They’re making progress in their stop the violence efforts. They have had a recent victory assisting the family of an elderly woman and some difficulties that she had at a nursing home, they helped her and she is now able to remain in her home. They have also provided financial donations towards some repairs on her home.
The Chapter is currently addressing a matter involving Black police officers in the borough of Colwyn, PA, regarding an African American female tenant council president being discriminated against. She has not received assistance from neighboring police departments who are mostly Caucasian and feels that this has placed the community’s safety in jeopardy despite the mutual aid agreement that is in place.
Chapter President Greg Brinkley, chapter members, parents, students and community leaders had an emergency meeting with the Deputy Mayor on Thursday, February 17th in response to the recent killing of 18-yr old Rashawn Anderson. Rashawn was the local star basketball player at Roxborough High School in Philadelphia, PA who was in an ongoing feud with another youth who attended the same school but lived in another neighborhood. They will meet with the community to try and prevent any further violence.
Chapter President Greg Brinkley and members are collaborating with “The Children First of America” organization to assist in highlighting the concerns of father’s rights in relevance to child support because there is a seemingly unfair advantage being granted to mothers versus responsible fathers when there is a separation in the relationship. The chapter’s overall concern is for the well being of the children.
Chapter President Greg Brinkley and members were part of a major fight in a police arbitration case and decisions not being made public. Recently, a year and a half court battle by Philadelphia’s Daily News and the city was won to obtain police grievance arbitration decisions. The city solicitor will reveal 47 of the first wave of 200 decisions. The cases involved an assortment of allegations of wrongdoing by police officers, everything from theft and assault, interacting with drug dealers and drunk driving.
President Brinkley is also coordinating efforts with Rev. Joe Williams a Philadelphian resident and well known activist regarding five (5) recent lynching’s of black males in the Mississippi area. These individual deaths were ruled to be suicides, but foul play is suspected by family and community residents.
Chapter President Greg Brinkley recently testified at a City Council hearing on police abuse and misconduct involving the Philadelphia police department. This chapter was the main advocacy group that was calling for these hearings to address the brutality of victims in Black and Hispanic communities. They have also met with the Colwyn Borough Council to address their democratic members and the issues that they are facing being largely surrounded by a republican controlled committee, concerning voter intimidation, racial slurs and a variety of comments being directed at the female African American Borough President. Additional strategy meetings will be held on these matters as well as membership recruiting drives in this borough. The chapter is currently coordinating a number of community forums and fund raising events.
The chapter is also beginning a voter registration drive as the election season approaches and is still conducting its membership drives to build the chapter‘s base. If you would like to join them in their activism please contact the chapter through our website.
Portland, OR Chapter
The chapter has networked with licensed social worker, Ms. Margaret Jones and has attended a series of classes at National Institute on Mental Illness (NAMI). The purpose is to serve as staff support to each other and to accompany each other when going to churches and other organizations.
Slidell, LA Chapter
The chapter is investigating the closing of the Rayburn WCI Correctional. The question as to where the inmates will be placed has not been disclosed.
The chapter is organizing a NAN membership and voter registration drive. A team of attorneys
will be on hand to educate voters on legal and civil rights. More details forth coming.
George Fisher, Chapter President of the Eunice, Louisiana chapter and other area attorneys will join the Slidell chapter in the month of July to educate the community on civil and criminal matters. The Slidell chapter has organized a dream team of attorneys committed to working with our clients in the St. Tammany Parish regarding cases of alleged civil rights violations and criminal injustices.
Shreveport, LA Chapter
The Chapter has petitioned the court to remove the Confederate Flag and Monument located in front of the Caddo Parish Courthouse, in Shreveport, Louisiana. They argue that the flag symbolizes glorified racism and prejudice.
The flag has flown in front of the courthouse since 1951. It was raised on private property during a protest of a Civil Rights movement and flies beside a Confederate monument. The monument was put in place in 1903 to honor Caddo Parish as the final stance of the Louisiana confederacy.
The Chapter is fighting the redistricting of Caddo Parish.
Due to the budgetary crisis in Shreveport, a number of predominately black schools in Caddo Parish have closed. Chapter President, Artis Cash, has met with Superintendent Gerald Dawkins to discuss revisiting the unfavorable decision.
South Jersey Chapter
The chapter participated in a press conference on Tuesday, July 12th, 2011 at 12 noon concerning the upcoming anti-violence rally to be held in Atlantic City. The chapter participated in the Anti-Violence Walk Thru to save our community rally on Thursday, July 14th, 2011 at 6:00 pm. The walk began at “Brown Park,” Bacharach Blvd. between Kentucky Avenue and Dr. M.L. King Blvd. in Atlantic City, NJ. The chapter requested positive role models, civic leaders, elected officials, religious leaders, ministers, pastors, teachers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, judges, police, fire, business leaders, mothers, fathers and the working poor to come out and walk with us.
Tri-State (NJ/DE/PA) Burlington, Camden & Gloucester, NJ Chapter
Chapter President Grafton Hunley and members are currently coordinating efforts in the student selection process for their upcoming scholarship fund event. Students will be awarded from the Delaware County, PA, Philadelphia, PA and New Jersey surrounding areas. The main requirement to receive a scholarship is to have participated in a community service in their communities.
The Chapter’s Crisis Director Mr. Kim Brantley has been dealing with a number of employment discrimination cases against the United States Postal Service in Philadelphia, PA. Chapter President Grafton Hunley and members partnered with the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority to “Adopt A Highway” in the South Jersey area. They have decided to help clean up and maintain this area so the community residents can further take pride in their surroundings. The chapter continuously conducts membership drives throughout the Delaware valley vicinity. If you are interested in joining this chapter in their efforts, please contact Mr. Hunley through our website.
Waukegan, IL Chapter
Chapter President Christopher Blanks has extended his efforts to work with the Kwanzaa Village Men of Action’s youth program held at Malcolm X College in Chicago, IL dealing with youth related issues. He is committed to assisting youths above and beyond the required length of the programs recommendations.