Equality Federation Announces Fran Hutchins Hire

Dear Friends,
Equality Federation is extremely pleased to announce the hiring of Fran Hutchins as the Director of Member and State Services effective December 1st. Fran brings to the Federation more than ten years of experience with progressive non-profit organizations in the fields of LGBT rights, poverty, homelessness, and other social issues, as well as extensive academic research and writing experience.
Fran has worked on several state-level ballot measure campaigns in California and Maine. Most recently, she served as Regional Field Director for Mainers United for Marriage, the successful 2012 campaign to win marriage for same-sex couples in Maine.
Her involvement with state-level groups is part of what drew her to the position at the Federation. “In my work with Equality Maine,” says Fran, “I’ve seen the transformative effect state-level advocacy can have on small communities; this experience has reinforced my commitment to building powerful non-profit advocacy organizations and networks.”
In addition to her work in LGBT advocacy, Fran has worked as a Summer Associate with Jumpstart, a national early education organization, as a Policy and Planning Analyst for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, and as the Development Coordinator for CHIRLA, a leading immigrant rights group.
Fran completed her MBA at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she focused her study on strategic and financial planning and will complete her Masters of Public Policy and Public Administration there in May 2013.
I am thrilled to have Fran on staff and am looking forward to the positive impact she will have on the Federation team and our member organizations. Please join me in welcoming Fran to Equality Federation.
In solidarity,

Rebecca Isaacs
Executive Director

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Evidence of Racist Jury Profiling by Wilmington 10

UPDATED

ADDRESS CONFIRMED,

NC NAACP News Conference

Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 10:00 AM 

State Capitol - Morgan Street Side

Raleigh, NC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

26 November 2012

For ore information:                Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, 919-394-8137

                                                Mrs. Amina J. Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

For media assistance               Rob Stephens, Field Secretary, 336-577-9335

Shocking New Evidence of Racist Jury Profiling by Wilmington 10 Prosecutor To Be Discussed as Governor Considers Pardoning the 10 Activists

RALEIGH - Newly discovered racist jury profiling by the Pender County Prosecutor Jay Stroud, shows shocking racial hostility toward prospective Black jurors. In his first effort to select a jury to convict ten young activists who had been charged with burning a Wilmington store, District Attorney Stroud ended up with ten Blacks and two Whites. Stroud felt "sick," and asked for a mistrial. The judge agreed, and the trial was rescheduled for Pender County. Stroud got a list of about 100 prospective jurors, and he wrote racial comments beside most of their names.

            "We rarely get such direct evidence of prosecutorial racism in jury selection," said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President of the North Carolina NAACP. "The prosecutor is ethically bound to put justice over winning. District Attorneys represent all the people in North Carolina, not just White people in North Carolina. We will analyze his thinking at our news conference tomorrow morning."

The North Carolina NAACP will renew its call for Governor Perdue to pardon the ten North Carolinians at a News Conference in Downtown Raleigh, NC on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 10:00 AM. Exact location to be announced. 

            Researchers discovered the hand-written notes made by Stroud, while he weighed the pros and cons of asking for a mistrial, after selecting his first jury. He decided to move for a mistrial on the grounds he was sick. He also decided to do better planning to select a jury more likely to convict. His profiling was based on one principle, according to his notes: Select a jury made up of "KKK" and "Uncle Tom" types.

            "If this direct evidence had been available for the Fourth Circuit," Rev. Barber commented, "I believe they would have recommended prosecuting the prosecutor."

"The new evidence is a nightmare," Rev. Barber continued. "It's a nightmare to see evidence of this District Attorney committing such egregious acts of hate on behalf of the citizens of North Carolina. The evidence clearly reveals the injustice that took place in the conviction of the Wilmington 10 and the entrenched racism that polluted the process. North Carolina needs to repent and cleanse itself of this tragic misuse of power in our judicial system."

            The North Carolina NAACP brought a resolution to the National NAACP Board of Directors in support of the Wilmington 10, which was passed unanimously. The North Carolina NAACP also initiated a national online petition with the National NAACP asking the Governor to pardon the Wilmington 10.

###

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.        

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Tar Heel Worker Campaign

Progress NC is reporting that a behind closed door deal concerning a plan to cut a deal on reforming NC Unemployment Insurance System is underway in the NCGA. The deal is being worked out between legislators and Chamber of Commerce with out any input form Worker Advocates (which mean the employee will get the short end of the stick). Length of time and amount of unemployment in on the chopping block.

If you feel that this discussion belongs in the OPEN Forum Please sign the Petition at Tarheelworkers.org, (see below for links)

Petition | I am a Tar Heel Worker Campaign

tarheelworkers.org

11.19.2012 Yesterday, the Associated Press wrote that North Carolina policymakers are nearing a deal on reforming the unemployment insurance system that will likely include cuts to the amount of benefits and

Yes those wonder jokers that are elected by us want jobless folks to pay back the UI debt that they cause by years of underfunding by employers.. Do you think this is fair..

I’m all for reform, but these talks need to be held in a Open Public Forum, not behind closed doors..

Stop by their Facebook page for more info, too.

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Just because they have a badge doesn’t mean they know Everything.

Via Photography isn’t a Crime,

Just another Ignorant asshole with a badge who thinks he knows everything, and when that don’t work, just claim the 9/11 law..

Video Description

On Thursday, November 14th when filming near the Valero refinery in Manchester TSB organizers were stopped and approached by two officers of the notoriously violent and corrupt Houston Police Department. E.T. Ramirez, badge number 8407 and D. Jimenez, badge number 8105, claimed that it was against the law to film near Valero, but when questioned about which law that was, neither officer could name it. Upon further questioning one officer simply stated, "9/11."
The police continually harassed the organizers demanding that they produce ID's. One of the organizers refused to cooperate, to which an officer replied, "If you're not doing anything wrong and you don't have any warrants or anything then you shouldn't have any problem giving me your ID."
This is emblematic of the repression directed at anyone that attempts to speak out against the corporations that are systematically poisoning their neighbors. Valero, their private security, and the Houston Police Department sends a clear message to the community: if you question Valero, they'll question you.
After continued resistance to their requests to produce identification the police retreated to their vehicle for a few minutes before coming back to let the TSB crew know they could leave, but not before asking one last time if they were "sure" they didn't want to show them some ID...
Later that same day the crew was interviewing a Manchester resident who lives right next to the Valero refinery and who wanted to raise her voice and speak up about Valero's egregious practices. While filming the interview in a public park --the only park in Manchester-- and not five minutes into the process Valero's private security approached the scene. The security guard, much like the police, proved once again that Valero will do everything in its power to silence anyone attempting to expose the injustice and abuse it perpetrates daily.
This video documents these interactions with Valero security, which would be comical if it weren't so tragic for the residents who have to deal with this type of police harassment on a daily basis.

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The Anti-Protest Bill: How Congress Just Took Our Rights Away

HR 347 limits our ability to protest by making "disruptive" behavior a felony. Help us stop it now! Sign the Petition! Share on Facebook!

Imagine an America in which the government can deny protest in any public space it deems fit. Where wearing a dissenting shirt around an elected official could be construed as a felony. Where First-Amendment protections become privileges subjectively doled out by the state. Sadly, that America is pretty much here.

In March, Congress passed HR 347, a bill that limits Americans' ability to protest in public and on government grounds. Mainstream media didn't raise peep, but now there's finally some anger building. The bill, passed almost unanimously, makes it a federal offense punishable by up to ten years in prison to "knowingly" protest in the vicinity of the Secret Service--that is anywhere the Secret Service "is or will be temporarily visiting."

It also makes many public events impervious to lawful protest. Any "National Security Special Event" (NSSE) requires Secret Service protection. NSSE-designated events have proliferated since 9/11 to include Super Bowls, concerts, campaign events, and now any public event that Very Important People want protest-free.

Most dangerously, it criminalizes protest. Under the bill, "disorderly or disruptive conduct" or activities that "impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions" could warrant felony charges. What constitutes such "disruptive conduct" rests in the eye of the beholder--or the eye of Eric Holder. To put it plainly: the government can decide where and when free speech is allowed and severely prosecute any "disruptive" activity, while we're confined to "free speech zones." We can help fix it, however! Join our petition below to protect our speech rights!

PETITION TO CONGRESS: We treasure our first amendment rights of free speech and public assembly! HR 347 limits valid arenas of peaceful public protest, and broadens the government's ability to curtail civil liberties. We demand that Congress amend the bill to provide clearer language as to what constitutes "disruptions"; to allow for reasonable, peaceful protest at NSSEs and around Secret Service; and to ensure that no peaceful protest can ever be deemed a felony.
Click here to sign -- it just takes a second.
Thanks,
-- The folks at Watchdog.net

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I think McCain needs to see a Doctor..

Angry White Man needs another job! He clearly is failing in the one he was elected to do.

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Email Share, ThinkProgress

By ThinkProgress War Room

Today’s Top Three

The Progress Report is on hiatus for the rest of November. In the meantime, check out three important posts from ThinkProgress you don’t want to miss today:

1. GOP Rep Admits CIA Approved U.N. Ambassador’s Talking Points On Libya

2. Republican Poll Worker Complains About High Turnout Among ‘People Of Color’

3. Hostess Blames Union For Bankruptcy After Tripling CEO’s Pay

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NC NAACP Post-Election News Conference To Issue Call For Collaboration and Challenge to Govern for the Good of the Whole

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

16 November 2012

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

                                               Mrs. Amina J. Turner, Executive Director, (919) 682-4700

For Media Assistance:           Mr. Rob Stephens, Field Secretary, (336) 577-9335

NC NAACP Holds Post-Election News Conference to Extend to

Governor-Elect Pat McCrory an Invitation for Collaboration and

a Challenge to Govern for the Good of the Whole

DURHAM - On the heels of a historic turnout of African-Americans and other minorities in this month's election, members of the NC NAACP State Executive Committee, representing leadership from across the state, will join President Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II for a news conference on Saturday morning to extend Governor-Elect Pat McCrory an invitation for collaboration and a challenge to govern for the good of the whole.

The news conference will take place at the NC Mutual Life Insurance Building, 411 West Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at

10:00 AM.

The NC NAACP will do the following three things at the news conference:

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