MS NAACP June 2018 Newsletter
The stakes for nominating a new Supreme Court Justice could not be higher at this moment in our history. The Court is meant to be an unbiased guardian of rights and liberties of all Americans. The country desperately needs a fair-minded and independent jurist on the Supreme Court. Now is not the time for a divisive and biased appointment who will further shake the public’s faith in our nation’s justice system.
The constitutional process for appointing and confirming the next justice must be thoughtful, careful, deliberative, and conducted with well-informed bipartisan support. To learn more and find out how you can take action, visit our website today.
The Senate should not consider a nominee until a new Senate is seated next year after the results of the midterm election are in place. This process will fully allow the American people, those who will be most affected by the confirmation, to have a voice in the selection of the nominee. Moreover, the new Senate should ensure that the nominee has a demonstrated commitment to equal justice and civil rights for all.
The names identified on President Trump’s shortlist do not meet those qualifications. For the good of the American people, we urge the President and the U.S. Senate to carefully exercise their respective roles under the Constitution in light of the consequential impact of this nomination on our country.
For more information, please see the attached Action Alert.
In order to earn a livable wage today, workers must be equipped with more than a high school diploma and a determination to succeed. Studies have shown that most jobs—now referred to as middle-skill jobs—are requiring that workers have some form of postsecondary training or practical education. This, however, presents a significant challenge for the southern United States, where the need for policy reform and workforce development has negatively impacted the ability of many citizens to both find work and also earn a livable wage.
On Monday, June 11, the Center for Workforce and Economic Opportunity released a report outlining very explicit measures that states could take to transform the ways we develop our workforce in the South. MS NAACP Executive Director Corey Wiggins served on a panel for its release and provided insight for the development of the report.
MS NAACP President Charles Hampton weighed in on the topic, stating that, “When we develop our workforce, everybody wins.” He added, “Across the region, there must be consistent investments in people who have a desire to work. Skilled workers lead to better businesses, which lead to stronger states, which, ultimately, means brighter futures for us all.”
MS State Conference NAACP leaders convened with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) to discuss criminal justice as it relates specifically to African-Americans in Mississippi. In the meeting, organization leaders also made a point to discuss how partnerships between citizens and law enforcement agencies could be improved and what role each organization would fulfill in the process.
MS NAACP intends to continue this conversation in the coming months, with hopes of creating safe spaces for even more provocative and productive dialogues.
The Mississippi State Conference NAACP is excited to announce the MS NAACP 73rd Annual State Convention and Policy Institute Hollywood Resort in Bay St. Louis, MS! This year’s conference is hosted by the Gulfport NAACP Branch, and will be a convening you do not want to miss!
To commemorate the 156thbirthday of one of the NAACP’s founding members, Ida B. Wells, The Ladies Car, a historical drama depicting Wells’ life, is heading to Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi on July 14, 2018.
Tiana L. Ferrell, a descendant of Wells, wrote the play to highlight the heroine’s historic victory in a lawsuit against the Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern Railroad Company in 1884. Wells was forcibly removed from a first-class ladies train in Memphis, and sought retribution as a result.
Ferrell says Wells’ experience is widely unknown, so she felt compelled to share her story. Ferrell adds, “I am confident that the audience will be entertained and enlightened by this untold, yet heartwarming story.”
For tickets and more information on The Ladies Car, visit: www.tianaferrell.com.
State Meeting Calendar
| August 11 | State Conference Executive Meeting, Tunica, MS |
| September 15 | State Conference Executive Meeting, Gulfport, MS |
| October 20 | State Conference Executive Meeting, Gulfport, MS |
