The Roanoke Tea Party believes that all men are created equal. It’s that simple. We abhor racial politics and look to truly fulfill Martin Luther Kings’ dream; that all men will be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. Our principles and plans will help all Americans.

In our short history, racially divisive groups have tried to push their agendas at the expense of the Roanoke Tea Party.

Back in October of 2009, we had a run in with the CCC. Here was our reaction.

Uninvited guests

After Friday’s successful rally at Cave Spring Corner, several folks found flyers on their windshields from the Council of Conservative Citizens.

This was not a group that had been invited to the rally, and while we have never sought to exclude anyone from The Roanoke Tea Party, our leadership wants to publicly disavow the Council of Conservative Citizens’ focus on racial separatism and “white rights.”

Some quick research indicated that this group has made a point to try and attach themselves to the Tea Party movement all over the country, using the crowds assembled to celebrate liberty and individual rights to look for converts to their message of racial rights.

We are not able to police who joins us in a public space – nor are we interested in doing so – but please be assured that The Roanoke Tea Party in no way supports the Council of Conservative Citizens. People of any background who are concerned about the loss of personal liberty that results from government overreach are welcome at any of our events.

Baseless charges of racism have been hurled at our group for the past year. The latest was by the NAACP.  Here was our reaction.

The Roanoke Tea Party is saddened to note that the NAACP has passd a resolution at their national convention in Kansas City condemning the Tea Party movement as racist. We exist to further the Advancement of All People, and see no reason why color is a factor in seeking to strengthen and preserve individual liberty and economic freedom.

We have no beef with the NAACP, nor do we understand any beef they might have with us. It is most telling, however, to note the reaction of our black brothers and sisters who are with us in this fight. Their outrage and sense of betrayal is palpable in the responses that have been made publicly this past two days.

One particularly strong reaction came yesterday from Tim Johnson of The Frederick Douglass Foundation, an organization which we support wholeheartedly.

NAACP Continues to Demonstrate Extremist Views by Calling Tea Party Movement “Racist”

NORTH CAROLINA – Dr. Timothy F. Johnson, Chairman and Founder of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, today responded to a new resolution being considered at the annual NAACP meeting, in which the NAACP publicly calls the members of Tea Party groups nationwide “racists.”

“How dare the NAACP call Tea Party groups and their members racist?  These groups are colorblind and are dedicated to restoring constitutional principles and smaller government,” Johnson said.

“The move by our government away from these principles have hurt families of all races, by raising taxes and enacting policies that have left millions unemployed in inner cities, suburbs, and rural areas across the country. Tea Party groups are fighting for common sense fiscal and social conservative policies, and are fighting to protect an unborn child’s right to life and the sanctity of marriage.

“The NAACP no longer speaks for the average African-American. As I travel throughout North Carolina and elsewhere across the country, I see more and more blacks joining the Tea Party movement. The overwhelming number of black Republican candidates this election year itself speaks volumes and proves the Tea Party movement has nothing to do with race.

”If the NAACP wants to continue blaming the Republicans and the emerging Tea Party movement, they will only succeed in making themselves more and more irrelevant.”

# # #

The Frederick Douglass Foundation is a public policy and educational organization 
which brings the sanctity of free market and limited government ideas to bear on the 
hardest problems facing our nation. We are a collection of pro-active individuals 
committed to developing innovative and new approaches to today’s problems with the 
assistance of elected officials, scholars from universities and colleges and community 
activists. For more information, visit www.TFDF.org.

But perhaps the very best response we can offer to the NAACP is the Keynote Address from our July 4, 2010 American Celebration at Elmwood Park. It was delivered by Sonnie Johnson, who is the Virginia President of The Frederick Douglass Foundation.

Sonnie also shared her personal reaction to the NAACP resolution in Kansas City.

“Here comes the Talented Tenth to the racial rescue! You would think they would focus on unemployment, education, or financial literacy but no, they are back to playing politics with a racial resolution against the Tea Party. I’m beginning to understand why the NAACP has been losing membership. They have spent the last forty years rewarding the children of former civil rights leaders for the courage shown by their parents, instead of focusing on the community they are supposed to represent. From the Jackson Ward Area of Richmond to the Vinger Hill area of Charlottesville, I understand the impact of NAACP politics on the black community. They do nothing but destroy productive communities by selling their souls for political favor.

My soul isn’t for sale and at the Tea Party, it’s not required. They only care I’m for a smaller government that doesn’t turn the entire country into the ghetto’s I’ve grown up in. Do they allow me to speak because I’m Black? Yes, because they represent Black, White, Brown, and all colors of Americans in between. I thought the whole point of the Civil Rights Movement was liberty and freedom and not about color.”

Sonnie Johnson, President of the Frederick Douglass Foundation of Virginia, Woodbridge VA

In conclusion, The Roanoke Tea Party welcomes any and all citizens who support our message of limited government and big liberty. If you cherish your freedom and support our championing of national sovereignty, private property rights and 10th Amendment federalism, you are our kind of people.

UPDATE 7/14/10: The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation just released an additional statement that includes Sonnie’s statement, as well as additional quotes from other black Conservative leaders in Va.

Bishop E.W. Jackson, Sr., President of STAND, Chesapeake VA “While I have great admiration for the historic contribution the NAACP once made toward equality and justice for black Americans, they have lost their way. Instead of seeking justice, they play racial politics and march lockstep with the far left. They were once independent. Now liberals say jump, and the NAACP says, ‘How high?’

“The NAACP was silent during the hateful, racist, anti-Semitic rants of Jeremiah Wright and the New Black Panther Party. Instead of defending Kenneth Gladney’s right to freely express his political views as a black American, they were silent when he was viciously attacked at a Tea Party rally and called the “N” word by SEIU thugs. It seems that the NAACP is only for the advancement of liberal “colored” people. Therefore it has lost credibility as a true civil rights organization.”

Gilbert Wilkerson, Richmond Tea Party Board of Directors, Richmond VA

“As an African American, I expect the NAACP to condemn the violent crimes in our neighborhoods, the genocide of millions of unborn black babies, and the high dropout rate among our black youth. Instead, the NAACP steps over the weightier matters to condemn the Tea Party for unproven racial slurs and a few offensive posters about the president (which the Tea Party itself has condemned). Is this how the many black supporters of the NAACP want their money used?”

Coby W. Dillard, Co-Founder of the Hampton Roads Tea Party, Norfolk VA

“With 15% of blacks unemployed and 13% in fair or poor health nationwide, one would expect the NAACP to focus on problems that truly damage the black community. Instead, they choose to sow more racial divisiveness against the Tea Party—a movement that seeks to restore those founding principles that unite Americans of all colors as one nation, indivisible.

“Sadly, this continues the NAACP’s recent history of division among the very lines they claim to work to eliminate. How unfortunate that this organization, with its proud history during the civil rights era, chooses to denigrate the Tea Party movement instead of seeking common ground.

“When the NAACP is truly ready to work towards its goal of ‘One Nation, One Dream,’ they are welcome to unite with us as we work towards that same end.”