NAACP Disagrees with Rep. George Cleveland on Poverty in North Carolina

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 1, 2012

For More Information:       Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, 919-394-8137

                                         Atty. Jennifer Marsh, Acting Director, 919-682-4700

For Media Assistance:       Rob Stephens, Office Manager, 336-577-9335 

The NAACP Disagrees with Rep. George Cleveland on Poverty in North Carolina

DURHAM - The NC NAACP deeply disagrees with Rep. George Cleveland who was quoted as saying, "We have no one in the state of North Carolina living in extreme poverty." "The facts on poverty and the faces of poverty in North Carolina and the nation not only disprove his erroneous contention but remind us why we must address the issue of structural and systemic poverty in our state rather than engage in attention-violence and disdain for the poor. Rep. Cleveland, and anyone else who proclaims poverty is not a real and serious issue, should join us in telling the truth and developing hopeful and progressive policies that will uplift and transform the lives of those who are yet burdened with the despair of poverty," said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, NC NAACP President. 

On Friday, March 2nd, the North Carolina NAACP, NC Justice Center, UNC Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity, the Institute for Civic Engagement and Social Change at North Carolina Central University and AARP of NC will kick off the second leg of the "Truth and Hope Tour of Poverty in North Carolina," a state-wide tour of rural counties and inner city neighborhoods where North Carolinians struggle to find work, decent housing, transportation, and sufficient food for their families.

"Our second leg of the Tour of Truth and Hope will take activists, academics, media and economists to places of poverty in Southeast North Carolina. This problem of structural and systemic poverty is complex," said Rev. Barber. "It has many faces that we must dare to see if we're going to dream and have a hopeful vision to do better.  Maybe then we can develop a Marshall-type plan for North Carolina and model a progressive agenda for the nation. Individual charity alone will not address this problem.  The moral requirement of our Constitution and the moral underpinnings of the Biblical truths require more than a call to private charity.  They require a call to structural change and systemic reorientation." 

Departing from Raleigh on March 2nd, a bus full of activists, reporters, foundation leaders, students and scholars will travel through the southeast quadrant of the state, engaging in town hall meetings, sessions with local leaders, and tours of neighborhoods directly affected by poverty.

WHAT: Truth & Hope Tour, Putting a Face on Poverty in North Carolina
WHEN: Friday, March 2 and Saturday March 3, 2012

WHO: North Carolina NAACP, UNC Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity, NC Justice Center, Institute for Civic Engagement and Social Change at North Carolina Central University, and AARP of NC
WHERE: Greenville, Goldsboro, Sampson/Duplin Counties, Wilmington, Brunswick County, Robeson County and Fayetteville

*UPDATED SCHEDULE*

Second Leg of Truth and Hope Tour, Putting a Face on Poverty in Southeastern NC

Friday, March 2

7:00 am                    BUS DEPARTURE - Media Welcome for Kick Off

First Baptist Church

101 S Wilmington Street

Raleigh, NC

9:00-10:30 am          PITT COUNTY 

                                                Lucille W. Gorham Intergenerational Community Center

                                                1100 Ward Street

                                                Greenville, NC 27834

11:45 am -1:30 pm   WAYNE COUNTY

                                                Community Crisis Center

                                                607 S Slocumb Street 

                                                Goldsboro, NC 27530-5815

4:00 - 6:00 pm            DUPLIN/SAMPSON COUNTY   

                                                Juniper Community Center

                                                226 Juniper Road

                                                Faison, NC 28341  

Saturday March 3

9:00- 10:30 am            NEW HANOVER COUNTY 

                                                Macedonia Missionary Baptist church 

                                                3701 Princess Place

Wilmington, NC  

10:50 - 11:20 am        BRUNSWICK COUNTY 

                                                Navassa, NC

                                                Site of 600 acres of intentionally contaminated land

   Call Jerry Jackson (631-806-9677) for on-site directions  

11:45 - 12:15 am                    Supply, NC

   Royal Oak Community Site Visit

   Call Jerry Jackson (631-806-9677) for on-site directions

1:30 - 3:00 pm            ROBESON COUNTY

                                                Red Springs Community Building
                                                122 Cross Street  

Red Springs, NC

5:00 - 6:30 pm            CUMBERLAND COUNTY

   Walker-Spivey School, Recreation Center

   500 Fisher Street  

   Fayetteville, NC  

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Founded  in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights  organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are  the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting  voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and  private sectors.