Roanoke Tea Party responds to NAACP charge of racism
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.”
Can You Hear Me Now?
Please mark Friday, April 30, on your calendar and plan to attend the premier screening of Can You Hear Me Now?, the senior project of Rachel Bandy, a student in the Hollins University film program. Rachel’s film is about the Tea Party movement and is an answer to the charge that we are some sort of radical, racist cabal.
Several members of the Roanoke Tea Party were interviewed and will appear in this documentary. It runs 20 minutes, and there is no charge for the April 30 screening.
Here are a few images that she sent that were taken from Can You Hear Me Now?
Let’s show our support for Rachel in this project by attending the screening at 7:00 p.m. at the Hollins Visual Arts Center.
You can find a map of the Hollins campus here, and directions to Hollins on Google Maps.
Sonnie Johnson – Star of the Show
Everyone who attended the April 15th rally at Elmwood Park recognized Sonnie Johnson from The Frederick Douglas Foundation as the highlight of the evening.
Mike Powell, Ben Ward, Morgan Griffith and Rachel Bandy all gave passionate addresses, but Sonnie clearly stole the show. After she was finished, she spent another hour a few feet from the stage, signing autographs and talking with the many Tea Partiers who wanted to speak with her.
Here is video of her stirring speech, in two parts.
If you enjoyed her speech, a donation to theThe Frederick Douglas Foundation would be a fine way to show your appreciation. She is hopeful of getting a Roanoke branch started, so if you are interested in becoming involved with this fine new organization, please contact us and we can get you in touch with Sonnie.
Sonnie also operates her own blog, Did She Say That, and can be heard on WHWD Blog Talk Radio.
Tax Day Tea Party rally
All the details about Thursday’s rally at ElmwoodPark are posted here, including information on several of our speakers.
We also have this updated video…
Tax Day Tea Party rally video
Protest at Senator Webb’s Office. March 16th at Noon. Tea Party Co-Sponsors Debate March 17th
We will be joining several other groups for a protest rally on Tuesday March 16 at noon. We will be protesting the Federal Government’s continued attempts to jam an unconstitutional Health Care bill down our thoats.
The rally will take place at Senator Webb’s office which is off of Electric Road in Roanoke. Here is a map.
Senator Jim Webb
3140 Chaparral Drive
Roanoke, VA 24018-4370
(540) 772-4236
Senator Warner, we’d go to your office too if it were more conducive for a rally. You are just as guilty as Webb for getting us here and have just as much power to help get us out of this mess.
Bring signs and make sure we are seen and heard. We will also send a delegation into the Webb’s office and ask for his support in killing the bill.
The will of the people is clear. No matter how much tax money our President wastes at contrived rallies….a significant majority of Roanoke Valley residents are opposed to either of the current bills.
Our Senator’s, while expressing “reservations” with the bills, voted for it when they had a chance to kill it. If a bill passes, in any way shape or manner, our VA. Senator’s are complicit in this crime against the nation. We need to let them know we will not forget. They also still have a chance to work to kill this unconstitutional bill that will steal your freedoms, wreck the economy and destroy the good parts of our health care system.
The House and Senate bills (both unconstitutional bills that are a tribute to the muddled illogcal thinking that charecterizes progressive ideals) cannot be reconciled through the normal legislative process. The differences are too great and the trust level is too low. The House Democrats don’t trust the Senate Democrats. Neither side trusts the White House. And the GOP is irrellevant and completely outside the process since the people decided that 6 years of ineffective Republican leadership was enough starting in 2006, and culminating in the election of Obama in 2008. It will require manipulation of rules and shady back room deals to get a bill to Obama’s desk.
This begs a simple question:
If our elected officials don’t trust each other, why should the people trust that whatever they pass will work or be Constitutionally sound? The simple answer is that you should not.
Come out and make your voice heard so that our local representatives know how you feel. They need to know that YOU WILL NOT GO AWAY!
The Next night: GOP Debate
Wed, March 17, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Holiday Inn Tanglewood
Candidates for Republican party committees in our area will be there to debate and address concerns. Running for 6th district, Danny Goad and Trixie Averill. Botetourt County will be represented by Doug Gimbert and Christine Broughton,. Roanoke City chair Jim Delong is scheduled to attend as well as Roanoke County chair Mike Bailey. Everyone is welcome
Next Tea Party Meeting and GREAT Letters to the RT and the Governor
Do you want to start really getting involved in making a difference? During this next meeting, we will be asking everyone that attends to start helping us build an organization that can start reshaping politics in the Roanoke Valley.
Join us at Parker’s Seafood on Monday, March 8th.
The meeting will start promptly at 6:30 PM. We look forward to seeing you there.
Here are two great letters. This letter is from Tea Party Member Sandy Smith and is a response to a ridiculous article printed in the Roanoke Times comparing Tea Party members to hippies…Her response is perfect.
“Hi Chip,
If you take the Roanoke Times, (I haven’t subscribed in years…because of stuff like this…Chip) I hope you noticed the article this morning, on the Opinion Page ~ “THE TEA PARTIERS ARE AGING HIPPIES”. It was a nasty article, by two Democratic political consultants, Jim Spencer and Curtis Ellis of the McClatchy Tribune. The Roanoke Times will go anywhere to find liberal bias materials. I sent the following letter to the editor. I hope more Tea Party Patriots respond to it as well.
Sandy Smith
Editor,
As Tea Party Patriots, I am a wife, mother and grandmother and my husband is a Korean War Veteran. We are proud “average Americans”.
After years sitting on the couch, listening to the news, we awakened to the realization that our country was going down the tubes at the hands of a bunch of crooked politicians. We have a bunch of Congressional Dukes and Duchesses who think they know better than the citizens they are supposed to represent. The politicians treat we American citizens like morons.
Tea Party folks would NEVER don a Che t-shirt. Idolizing a mass-murderer is something we would never do! Also their comparing us to the likes of Bill Ayers, a confessed militant terrorist, was the last straw!
So to our arrogant political consultants from Boston and New York…we Tea Party folks are about saving our country, for our children, grandchildren and future generations, so they may enjoy the freedoms that so many have fought and died for. We love our country and are patriotic Americans…not aging armed militiant hippies. We do not protest in violence, but we are angry. We are the formerly silent majority bringing our concerns to Washington.
I picked up this letter from our one our partners in the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation. It is a response to the Governor’s jobs bill, which is very Obamaesque. The author takes apart this bill piece by piece. I’ve also attached the original email from Lt. Governor Bolling. Progressive garbage is progressive garbage, no matter what party it comes from…
Dear Lt. Gov. Bolling:
I appreciate the effort that you and the Governor have expended in attempting to create “jobs and economic opportunity,” but I believe you both are making a costly mistake. Read more
Take that, Keith Olbermann!
By now, you may have seen or heard MSNBC commentator Keith Olberman casting aspersions on the Tea Party movement. His comments on the 2/15 edition of the barely-watched Countdown with Keith Olbermann painted us as either flagrantly or incipiently racist because of the lack of black faces at Tea Party events.
From the transcript:
I’m now taking a lot of heat for emphasizing a particular phrase which originated at a freerepublic.com rally a year ago this month, originated with a Tea Partier. And I know phrases like “Tea Klux Klan” are incendiary, and I know I use them in part because I am angry that at so late a date, we still have to back back that racial uneasiness which has to envelop us all. And I know if I could only listen to Lincoln on this of all days about the better angels of our nature, I’d know that what we’re seeing at the Tea Parties is, at its base, people who are afraid – terribly, painfully, cripplingly, blindingly afraid.
Do you suppose they agree with you that they’ve just chosen to attend their own separate meetings, that they’re not at your Tea Party because they have a Tea Party of their own to go to? Are you thinking like my father did about Satchell Paige and the Black Yankees tht they want this? My father had an excuse for that: He was 12 years old; it was 1941. Are you of the Tea Party 12 years old? For you, is it 1941?
But let me ask all of you who attend these things: How many black faces do you see at these events? How many Hispanics, Asians, gays? Where are these people? Surely, there must be blacks who think they’re being bled by taxation. Surely there must be Hispanics who think the government should have let the auto industry fail. Surely there must be people of all colors and creeds who believe in cultural literacy tests and speaking English. Where are they? Where are they?
These remarks led Randy Haddock, a blogger living in Brooklyn, to create and post this video response.
Olbermann insults not only the hundreds of thousands of good American citizens who attend Tea Party events, but also black Americans in general by presuming that they couldn’t – or wouldn’t – be willing to stand with their fellow citizens against a too large and growing government that endangers our liberty.
To all Roanoke-area citizens without regard to race, color or national origin: You are all invited to be a part of The Roanoke Tea Party! Please attend one of our meetings to see if you would like to stand with us as well.
Health Care Freedom is shaping the Health Care Debate Countrywide
As we look at what we have accomplished so far in 2009/2010, the Health Care Freedom Act may be the biggest thing we got done.
In the letter sent to President Obama from the GOP in response to the sham of a health care summit Obama is now suggesting, was the following passage.
As you may know, legislation has been introduced in at least 36 state legislatures, similar to the proposal just passed by the Democratic-controlled Virginia State Senate, providing that no individual may be compelled to purchase health insurance.
Not only does this protect our rights as Virginians, but it has emboldened politicians from both parties to stand up and say no to oppressive government intervention.
And this bill would not have passed in Virginia without the coordinated efforts of Tea Party groups across the state that convinced the Democratically controlled State Senate to pass this legislation.
As we continue to evolve as a group, we should be able to shape and mold the debate on other key issues. More to come as we work together to save our nation.
February 4th update…plus news on the Health Care Freedom Act and the sham National Tea Party Convention
We are still planning our first monthly business meeting on February 4th at the main Roanoke Library on Electric Road. The meeting will begin at 6:30 PM. More information here…all are welcome. We may have an interesting guest or two.
The Health Care Freedom Bill was re-scheduled for it’s HUGE State Senate showdown on Monday. With the snow, this may get delayed. The bill breezed through the House sub-committee Friday and hit’s the House for a vote sometime next week. The vote was 8-2 and there was some Democratic support for this great bill.
One local legislator stated in December that this bill had a “snowball’s chance in hell” of passing. With Tea Partiers from across Virgina decending on Richmond on January 18th; with concerned citizens hounding their representatives to pass this bill…we have tipped the balance. For more on the bill click here.
You may have heard about the so called National Tea Party Convention in Nashville. This group is not affiliated with any group we know. They are charging over $500 for a ticket and paying Sarah Palin $100K to speak. Several other key speakers, like Rep. Michelle Bachman have already backed out. Nothing flies in the face of the grassroots spirit of the Tea Party movement then this sham of a convention. The Roanoke Tea Party will obviously not be participating in this convention. We encourage those that want to get involved, to get involved locally. $500 can make a huge difference in our local efforts…spending that kind of money for a convention that will end up lining the pockets of the organizers is a travesty.
There really isn’t a national organization that we are affiliated with, although we are on friendly terms with the Tea Party Patriots. Since there are other national organizations, we don’t really know how this will sort itself out.
We are an active and proud member of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots.
This is a loose federation of Tea Party and Patriot groups from across Virginia. This has been very effective and we will continue to work with this federation, which I beleive is the only one like it in the United States. This is the model that others need to emulate to create an effective Tea Party movement.
Find out more on February 4th.
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