The NC NAACP Joins Latino and Immigrant Advocacy Groups in Condemning Governor's Media Misinformation Campaign about Central American Children Fleeing to the US

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 7, 2014

Contact: Sarah Bufkin, NC NAACP - smbufkin@gmail.com or 404.285.3413

The North Carolina NAACP Joins Latino and Immigrant Advocacy Groups in Condemning Governor's Media Misinformation Campaign about Central American Children Fleeing to the US

News Conference

Friday Aug. 8

1 pm

Pullen Memorial Baptist Church

1801 Hillsborough St.

Raleigh, NC 27605

DURHAM, NC - The North Carolina NAACP, the Forward Together Moral Movement and Latino rights organizations in North Carolina will stand together to challenge North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory for pandering to racial fears in statements about Central American children fleeing violence at home and coming to the United States.

McCrory claims his recent remarks are motivated by his concern for the children's welfare. But he cleverly manipulates false stereotypes about immigrants of color invading "our" country and state, to steal "our" resources and participate in criminal acts like drug trafficking and prostitution.

Latino advocacy and immigrants' rights groups, including El Pueblo, El Centro Hispano, and others, will join Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, President of the NC NAACP, at a news conference tomorrow at 1 pm in Raleigh to hold Gov. McCrory accountable for his political grandstanding on a situation that should be addressed with compassion, love, and a thoughtful commitment of resources and energy. The Forward Together Moral Movement also calls upon the NC state legislative leadership to state publicly whether they agree with the governor's stance.

"These children have fled from trauma in search of the better life that America promises, and they should be welcomed in North Carolina, not turned into the targets of a manhunt to deport them," said Rev. Barber. "As his approval ratings slip even further, Gov. McCrory has resorted to a shameless attempt to play off fears in the state and to encourage people to vote their fears, not their dreams this November."

WHO:             The NC NAACP, the Forward Together Moral Movement, El Pueblo, El Centro Hispano, and other immigrants' rights groups

WHAT:          News conference

WHEN:          Friday, Aug. 8 at 1 pm

WHERE:       Pullen Memorial Baptist Church

                        1801 Hillsborough St.

                        Raleigh, NC 27605

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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. The NC Conference of NAACP Branches is 70 years old this year and is made up of over 100 Adult, Youth and College NAACP units across the state, convenes more than 160 members of the Historic Thousands on Jones Street (HKonJ) People's Assembly Coalition, and is the architect of the Moral Monday & Forward Together Movement.