West Virginia Blue
The Best Blogging Community in West Virginia Democratic politics, progressive policies, the good life and free living in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.
For those of you who read what this blog frequently, you know I criticize Democrats more than Republicans because Democrats are the ones in power. When Republicans were running government in Washington, I spent more time pointing out how misguided their ideas and political philosophy are. Now, what the GOP says or does is largely irrelevant.
As we enter Election Season 2010, it's good to remember all the ways that Democrats who represent West Virginia do a good job. For example, the majority (though not quite all) of my disagreements with Reps. Mollohan and Rahall are around the single issue of coal. I feel they over-emphasize the importance of coal to West Virginia and under-represent the interests of the other 90% of the state's economy.
But, putting that aside, there are many ways that Reps. Mollohan and Rahall do a great job of looking out for the interests of the average West Virginian. This is something that all liberals and progressives in the state should be proud of. I was reminded of that this week when the NAACP released their score card for 2009 votes on a broad range of civil rights issues.
The NAACP score card covers votes on issues related to economic justice--things that directly and indirectly make a positive impact on the lives of West Virginians.
Thank you Rep. Alan Mollohan and Rep. Nick Rahall for a job well done in 2009.
The NAACP is the latest group to say it won't support the Saturday march urging prosecutors to pursue hate crime charges in the Megan Williams case, according to spokesmen on the state and national level.
"I want to make it perfectly clear to all those concerned, that the NAACP has not endorsed, sponsored or will be participating in this march," wrote Coston Davis Jr., president of the Charleston chapter, in an e-mail sent to the Gazette Tuesday.
"The NAACP has been monitoring the Megan Williams case from the very beginning and will continue to do so as the case works its way through the justice system."
snip
A national group, Black Lawyers for Justice, is organizing the Charleston march. A local group, the Charleston Black Ministerial Alliance, said last week they would not participate in the march because they feared controversy would draw attention away from the well-being of Megan Williams and her family.
Some of the march's participants held a news conference on the steps of the state Capitol Monday. Kenneth Glasgow, pastor and founder of The Ordinary People Society of Dothan, Ala., wanted to assure the public that the noontime march would be peaceful.
Glasgow, the brother of national activist the Rev. Al Sharpton, said he believed the Charleston Black Ministerial Alliance was pressured by Charleston Mayor Danny Jones not to get involved. Jones and alliance president the Rev. Lloyd Hill denied that Monday afternoon.
"Let there be no doubt, we stand as one on this issue," Kenneth Hale, president of the West Virginia branch of the NAACP, wrote in an e-mail to the Gazette Tuesday. "The recent attacks on the Charleston Black Ministerial Alliance as pawns of Mayor Danny Jones are hideous fabrications and just goes to show how shrewd and manipulative people seeking for self can be."
Kenneth Hale of Charleston was selected as the new president of the West Virginia Chapter of the NAACP on Saturday at the organization's 63rd annual convention, held this year in Beckley.
Hale has been active in the state organization for the last five years, serving most recently as the secretary for the West Virginia State Conference of Branches of the NAACP.
Hale is a major in the West Virginia Air National Guard, where he works as an equal opportunity officer, ensuring that military personnel receive fair and equitable treatment regardless of race, gender or religion.
After the announcement of his selection as president, Hale made some brief remarks to the NAACP members present at the convention. He described his 22 years of service in the military, and said that his father had served as a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen.
"I am grounded in my roots," Hale said. "I am grounded in the belief that people should be treated fairly."
I just saw James Tolbert, the president for the past 21 years before he decided to retire, at a meeting last week. I suspect he'll remain quite active in the Eastern Panhandle despite his "retirement."
"I've enjoyed working with the civil rights community all these years, and I appreciate the confidence the organization has had in me," Tolbert said.
Tolbert explained that the state NAACP must now focus on membership and political action - getting its members registered to vote, and getting them to the polls.
Tolbert said the would continue to work on these goals.
"I'm not going away, just stepping down from office," he said. "I'll still be here to help with the organization."
A dinner will be held in Tolbert's honor at 6 p.m. Oct. 6 at Hilltop House Hotel in Harpers Ferry.
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