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IRS revokes tax-exempt status of North Carolina NAACP

North Carolina's influential state chapter of the NAACP has lost its federal tax-exempt status for failing to file tax returns for three years, according to the federal government. The Internal Revenue Service stripped the civil rights organization's state chapter of its tax-exempt status May 15 under a process that automatically revokes the designation for nonprofits that fail to file federal tax returns for three consecutive years, according to a post on the IRS site.

news.yahoo.com

Orange County NAACP president resigns citing alleged anti-Asian racism

The president of the Orange County branch of the NAACP announced her resignation on Sunday in a Facebook post, accusing the organization of anti-Asian racism. Dr. Vanessa Toolsie, the first South Asian leader of the organization, held the post for less than six months. In an extensive Facebook post from the Orange Country branch’s page, Toolsie said she had informed other leaders in the branch of her intentions to leave weeks prior.

news.yahoo.com

Lawyer: Former president of North Carolina NAACP found dead

The Rev. T. Anthony Spearman, a civil rights advocate and former president of the North Carolina branch of the NAACP who also served as president of the N.C. Council of Churches, has been found dead, authorities said Wednesday. Spearman, 71, was found in his home on Tuesday, the Guilford County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. The death was confirmed earlier in the day by Mark Cummings, a Greensboro attorney who said he was representing Spearman.

news.yahoo.com

Statement from Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta Regarding Settlement between U.S. Postal Service and NAACP

Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta issued the following statement regarding the settlement reached between the U.S. Postal Service and the NAACP:“The right to vote and ability to access the ballot is the cornerstone of our democracy. The department is pleased we could facilitate a resolution that reflects the commitment of all of the parties to appropriately handling and prioritizing election mail.”

justice.gov

North Carolina man wrongfully imprisoned 24 years pardoned

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday pardoned a man who spent 24 years behind bars for a murder he has long said he did not commit. Cooper’s pardon of innocence allows Dontae Sharpe to apply for compensation up to $750,000 for his wrongful conviction. “Mr. Sharpe and others who have been wrongly convicted deserve to have that injustice fully and publicly acknowledged," the governor said in a statement announcing he had pardoned the man after a careful review of the case.

news.yahoo.com

Georgia NAACP and voting rights groups file another federal lawsuit to block new election law

Georgia NAACP and voting rights groups file another federal lawsuit to block new election law On Monday, Georgia's NAACP and voting rights groups filed a second federal lawsuit seeking to block sweeping changes to the state's voting process that are set to take place under a new bill signed by Republican Governor Brian Kemp. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Mark Niesse joins CBSN's "Red & Blue" anchor Elaine Quijano with more.

cbsnews.com

Curry, WNBA players receive Jackie Robinson award from NAACP

The NAACP has given him its Jackie Robinson Sports Award. And, for the first time, the nation's oldest civil rights organization is recognizing more than one person by honoring the WNBA Players Association. Ad“I am so proud of the WNBA players for this well-deserved recognition of their continued activism and advocacy for social justice and equality," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement provided to the AP. Warriors coach Steve Kerr, outspoken on many issues himself, admires the WNBA players for their activism. “I love what the WNBA players have done.

Black woman becomes face of Missouri following NAACP warning

Nearly four years after the NAACP warned travelers that their civil rights may not be respected if they visit the state, a Black woman has become the face of Missouri's tourism campaign. (Missouri Division of Tourism via AP). – A Black woman has become the face of Missouri's tourism campaign, nearly four years after the NAACP warned travelers that their civil rights may not be respected if they visit the state. Pictures also show her posing as a Foodie Mo, Barbecue Mo, Lake Mo, History Mo and more. He said Visit Missouri, the tourism website that features Mo, “auditioned over 200 actors and actresses with strong ties to Missouri.

Black women persevere to lead in Vermont despite harassment

(AP Photo/Jessica Hill)Mia Schultz has watched three other Black women in Vermont leave leadership posts in the mostly white state because of harassment and threats. Democratic state Rep. Kiah Morris, who was the only Black woman in the Vermont state Legislature, resigned that year partially in response to harassment from a self-described white nationalist. Anyone holding public office or high profile advocacy roles takes on risks as a public figure, but Black women face harassment and threats of violence aimed at them for both their gender and race. It's a challenge Black women leaders across the United States face and coincides with a surge of women, and women of color, running for office. Just this week during Vermont's annual town meetings, at least three Black women won seats on town and school boards.

NAACP lawsuit will put Trump "out of business," Congressman Bennie Thompson says

Congressman Bennie Thompson, the Democratic lawmaker who is partnering with the NAACP in a lawsuit against former President Trump and Rudy Giuliani, says he is looking forward to his day in court. If he doesn't, we will put him out of business," Thompson, the chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, told CBSN in an interview Wednesday. He spoke along with NAACP President Derrick Johnson about the legal action they are pursuing against those they want held accountable for the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol. Mr. Trump issued a statement saying he "did not incite or conspire to incite" the violence at the Capitol. Thompson said the arguments and evidence brought by his House colleagues "justify this lawsuit."

cbsnews.com

NAACP lawsuit will put Trump "out of business," Congressman Bennie Thompson says

Congressman Bennie Thompson, the Democratic lawmaker who is partnering with the NAACP in a lawsuit against former President Trump and Rudy Giuliani, says he is looking forward to his day in court. If he doesn't, we will put him out of business," Thompson, the chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, told CBSN in an interview Wednesday. He spoke along with NAACP President Derrick Johnson about the legal action they are pursuing against those they want held accountable for the January 6th assault on the U.S. Capitol. Mr. Trump issued a statement saying he "did not incite or conspire to incite" the violence at the Capitol. Thompson said the arguments and evidence brought by his House colleagues "justify this lawsuit."

cbsnews.com

NAACP and Democratic congressman sue Trump and Giuliani over Capitol assault

The NAACP said two other Democrats, Congressman Hank Johnson of Georgia and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, plan to join the litigation. As Mr. Trump is out of office, he no longer enjoys some of the legal protections afforded to presidents. While he was acquitted by the Senate on the charge of incitement of insurrection Saturday, some Republicans have suggested Mr. Trump could be held accountable for his actions through the criminal justice system. In their complaint, Thompson and the NAACP lay out the campaign by Mr. Trump and Giuliani to reverse the outcome of the 2020 election, including tweets and remarks from the weeks before the assault falsely claiming the presidential election was stolen. Democrats asked Mr. Trump to testify during the trial, though his lawyers swiftly declined the invitation.

cbsnews.com

NAACP, House Homeland Security Committee chair sue Trump, Giuliani, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, alleging Capitol riot conspiracy

The suit comes three days after Trump was acquitted of inciting the riot at his second impeachment trial by the Senate. Trump for months before Election Day had said without evidence the 2020 presidential contest would be tainted by fraud. Jason Miller, a spokesman for Trump, said in a statement, "President Trump has been acquitted in the Democrats' latest Impeachment Witch Hunt, and the facts are irrefutable." "President Trump did not plan, produce or organize the Jan. 6 rally on the Ellipse. President Trump did not incite or conspire to incite any violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6," Miller said.

cnbc.com

Jacksonville NAACP continues to push for vaccinations in underserved communities

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Branch of the NAACP sent a letter to Mayor Lenny Curry and City Council President Tommy Hazouri calling for more COVID-19 vaccination sites in neighborhoods that have been overlooked in the past. Rumlin writes that plan should consider the fact that the statistics show COVID-19 has disproportionately affected communities of color. “The Curry Administration and City Council Members who represent these communities should reach out to aggressively and with urgency to vaccinate these communities,” reads the letter, dated Feb. 9. AdREAD: Letter to mayor and City Council president from Jacksonville NAACPThe letter was also signed by the presidents of the Jacksonville Urban League, Northeast Florida Medical Society Foundation and First Coast Black Nurses Association. The State of Florida determines who receives the vaccine supply and they have their own distribution chains that we do not control.

Jacksonville NAACP president outlines vaccine rollout concerns in letter to mayor

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Branch of the NAACP sent a letter to Mayor Lenny Curry, outlining the civil rights group’s concerns about COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Isaiah Rumlin, president of the NAACP’s Jacksonville branch, writes in the letter, dated Jan. 22, that the group is not confident in the city’s vaccine rollout in the African American community. Expand the number of vaccination and testing sites to ensure that communities of color in the city are adequately covered. READ: Letter to mayor from NAACP Jacksonville BranchCain also said he encourages people in the African Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine. “The City of Jacksonville does have the capacity to implement mass vaccinations as we have demonstrated through our multiple COVID-19 testing sites throughout the City.

"Stark contrast" in police response to BLM protesters and "domestic terrorists" who stormed Capitol, NAACP president says

NAACP President Derrick Johnson on Thursday criticized police inaction toward Trump supporters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, saying it showed a double standard when compared to how law enforcement responded to Black Lives Matter protesters this summer. The response to Black Lives Matter protesters, he said, "was as if they were criminals, and they were simply carrying out a First Amendment right to protest." Law enforcement did not have the same presence at the Capitol during the pro-Trump riots. "No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protestors yesterday that they wouldn't have been treated very differently than the mob that stormed the Capitol," Biden tweeted. No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protestors yesterday that they wouldn’t have been treated very differently than the mob that stormed the Capitol.

cbsnews.com

NAACP head decries using racism to score political points in wake of Capitol mob

NAACP head decries using racism to score political points in wake of Capitol mob The riots at the U.S. Capitol have ignited calls for impeachment and removal from office of President Trump and prompted civil rights leaders to criticize a double standard in how law enforcement reacted to the mob Wednesday versus how it responded to Black Lives Matter protests last year. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson joins CBSN to discuss how the incident and the deep racial divide in the country.

cbsnews.com

Jury: Black bikers' race was a factor, but city won't pay

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The city of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was motivated by race when it created a traffic plan designed to “suck the fun” out of Black Bike Week, a federal jury has found. But the same jury sided against the bikers, saying the city probably would have imposed the plan anyway. The Black bikers have been particularly frustrated by a 23-mile (37-kilometer) one-way no-exit traffic chute that funnels them out of town during the peak nights of Atlantic Beach Bikefest, otherwise known as Black Bike Week. The NAACP has tussled in court with the city, as well as local restaurants and a hotel, over their responses to the Black bikers for nearly two decades. That settlement expired in 2015, when the new traffic plan was established.

Black bikers see racism in Myrtle Beach, SC, traffic plan

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Motorcycle clubs roar into Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, each May for separate week-long rallies, one mostly white, the other mostly Black. White bikers rolling in days earlier for Harley Week each May are treated differently, Black bikers say. In opening arguments last week to five Black and four white jurors, an NAACP lawyer said Myrtle Beach during Bikefest is “like a city under martial law," The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reported. The Atlantic Beach event soon sprawled into nearby towns, including Myrtle Beach, where most of the 35,000 residents are white. Myrtle Beach city and Chamber of Commerce officials refused to talk about the trial.

Historic Black voter turnout in 2020 presidential election

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The NAACP is working to ensure Georgia voters know that another important election is coming up in January -- the runoff races for two Senate seats. The 2020 presidential election broke records for voter turnout, including the number of minorities that cast a ballot. The NAACP said it spent millions of dollars, especially in swing states, to encourage voters to get to the polls. “This was the most strategic and largest initiative for voters,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson. $15 million dollars was spent on the initiative, which included the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Texas and Alabama.

Jacksonville police ready to keep fans, peaceful protesters safe this weekend

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It’s going to be a busy weekend in Jacksonville for those hoping to enjoy some fun sporting events downtown and for those with a more serious agenda. A peaceful rally is planned for 3 p.m. Saturday at City Hall -- just 30 minutes before kickoff of the annual Georgia-Florida game at TIAA Bank Field. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is preparing for the events to keep everyone safe, and police are also monitoring any potential unrest surrounding the election results. pic.twitter.com/PN76rsfxRn — NAACP (@NAACP) November 6, 2020Jefferson said people should be hesitant to believe things, especially in a random text message, but they should also be aware. Those coming for any of the sporting events this weekend are encouraged to still come early, despite smaller crowds due to COVID-19 and stadium capacity limits.

Gainesville police say false threat against black churchs circulating

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Emails circulating within African American churches throughout Gainesville contain an alleged warning from the NAACP that white supremacists were coming to the area to kidnap black men and hang them, according to the Gainesville Police Department. GPD immediately consulted with federal authorities, including the FBI, and confirmed that the threat and the emails are not authentic. The exact same email was circulated throughout the African American community in Atlanta several months ago. The NAACP said they were not aware of any such threats and had issued any warning. “GPD takes any threats such as these extremely seriously and will continue to partner with local and federal law enforcement agencies to protect and serve our neighbors in the Gainesville community,” according to a release Friday morning.

New Woodward book raises Florida election security concerns

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A soon to be published book by author Bob Woodward, who found fame after reporting on the Watergate scandal, named St. Lucie as the second Florida county that was supposedly hacked by Russians in 2016. The book, “Rage,” is re-igniting concerns over election security in Florida. “There have been problems that have been identified, and there’s been a response to that,” said Mark Earley, Election Supervisor for Leon County. While the election is just under two months away, mail ballots go out in two weeks, on Sept. 24. Adner Marcelin with the NAACP said it’s also important to track your mail ballot after returning it.

NAACP responds to new police body camera release procedure

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The NAACP and other community groups will meet with State Attorney Melissa Nelson, Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and other city leaders during the next several weeks to discuss the associations demands for racial equality. Isaiah Rumlin, the president of the Jacksonville chapter of the NAACP, joined News4Jax anchor Jennifer Waugh on The Morning Show to talk about the organizations reaction to the decision by the state attorney and the sheriff to release body camera video of police shootings. RELATED: New policy on body camera footage in police shootingsNelson announced Monday, that Duval, Clay and Nassau counties will release footage from police shooting within 30 days, unless the state believes it will hinder a case. Watch Rumlins interview below for more on what the NAACP wants to see happen in the city:

Survivor relives violence from Ax Handle Saturday

One of the worst days he can recall was Aug. 27, 1960, a day we know as Ax Handle Saturday. So thats what prompted me to join the NAACP Youth Council.At the age of 23, Yates joined the NAACP Youth Council and then became its vice president. This photograph provided by Yates shows a mob of men, some wielding ax handles and other implements against peaceful protesters, on Ax Handle Saturday. After we had been seated for a few minutes, evidently one of them had spotted us and he yelled to the group and a large group of them came charging into the store, Yates recalled. These days, when Yates reflects on his time as a peaceful protester, he fondly remembers the time he spent serving the NAACP Youth Council.

Ax Handle Saturday protester: ‘No one backed away’

“Perhaps that one day, Ax Handle Saturday, was the first time that I really felt true fear,” she said. Among the peaceful protesters were Youth NAACP President Rodney Hurst, Vice President Alton Yates and Meeks Brown, the group’s secretary. “No one backed away,” Meeks Brown said. “No one backed away.”As a child, Meeks Brown lived at the intersection Moncrief Road and 30th Street. Photograph of a young Marjorie Meeks Brown (Courtesy of Marjorie Meeks Brown)“There’s a swimming pool for whites only,” she remembered.

Hearing on Florida schools reopening lawsuit begins today

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Floridas largest teachers union has been joined by the NAACP in its lawsuit seeking to keep schools closed. That lawsuit will go before a judge Wednesday who will decide whether a state order requiring in-person learning in all 67 counties by the end of August is constitutional. Ron DeSantis, the Department of Education and Commissioner Richard Corcoran over the order arguing that the order is unconstitutional given that school districts are run by elected boards. School districts are being pressured with this zeal to open schools without regard for the continuing expansion of the pandemic, attorney Ron Meyer said. More than a dozen school districts -- including Baker, Bradford, Charlton and Union counties -- opened last week.

Tyler Perry's work honored with 2020 Governors Award

NEW YORK Tyler Perry has won awards from the NAACP and BET. Now he's getting a big one from the Television Academy: He and his foundation are the recipients of the 2020 Governors Award. Tyler Perry has changed the face of television and inspired a new generation of content creators. He pioneered a new brand of storytelling that engages people of color both in front of and behind the camera, and his shows have resonated with a global audience, said Governors Award selection committee Chair Eva Basler in a statement. The award honors an individual or organization in the television arts and sciences whose achievement is so exceptional and universal in nature that it goes beyond the scope of annual Emmy Awards recognition.Previous recipients of the Governors Award include Star Trek, American Idol, Masterpiece Theater and Comic Relief.

Democrats call for end of black voter disenfranchisement

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Riding the wave of racial justice protests, Florida Democrats are calling for an end to the disenfranchisement of black Floridians ahead of the 2020 election. Felons voting rights and the states clemency process are at the center of their demands. Democrats also want DeSantis to revamp the states clemency process, which currently has a waiting list of 17,000. Restoration of rights for black Floridians is the lowest in half a century. Governor DeSantis and the clemency board must fix this shattered system that unfairly punishes black Floridians and denies them their constitutional rights, said Davis.

NAACP holds virtual town hall amid protests sparked by death of George Floyd

The NAACP held a virtual town hall meeting Wednesday night after more than a week of peaceful protests, violent riots and the arrests of police officers in the death of George Floyd. Demmings said police departments need to change from the inside out and that all neck restraints should be banned. “We need to make it clear, we’re talking about much more than choke holds, we’re talking about neck restraints, restraints above the shoulders of any kind,” Demmings said. Prosecutors charged three more police officers Wednesday in the death of George Floyd and filed a new, tougher charge against the officer at the center of the case. A full autopsy of Floyd was released Wednesday, providing several clinical details, including that Floyd had previously tested positive for COVID-19.

Slave cemetery poses questions for Florida country club

Delaitre Hollinger, the immediate past president of the Tallahassee branch of the NAACP, visits the Capital City Country Club in Tallahassee, Fla., on Dec. 17, 2019. Hollinger says the slaves buried at the country club deserve to have their dignity restored. (AP Photo/Bobby Caina Calvan)TALLAHASSEE, FL – The rumors swirled for decades: A dark history long lay buried under the grassy knolls and manicured lawns of a country club in Florida's capital city. A huge swath of the property became the Capital City Country Club, now an 18-hole golf course in one of Tallahassee's most sought-after communities. “A hundred years ago when the golf course was constructed there was certainly no technology to decipher what was or wasn't here," he said during a recent visit to the country club.

Councilmember: JEA has violated the public’s trust

The move came just moments after a City Council meeting ended with JEA’s Chief Executive on the hot-seat. “It’s definitely not illegal laws we followed all laws and ethics code,” JEA CEO Aaron Zahn told News4Jax following the meeting. Just recently people became aware that a million dollars in purchases of those “units” would pay 300-times that amount if JEA was sold. And if there’s a breach of trust you shouldn’t be running JEA,” said councilmember Rory Diamond. Mullaney said the perceived violation of public trust is an appropriate topic for a grand jury to investigate.

The Secret Life of a Woman Who Ran an Underground Lottery in Detroit

Bridgette Davis mother ran numbers. Growing up in Detroit, Bridgette knew to keep it a secret. But in her new book, The World According to Fannie Davis, Bridgette documents the underground lottery business her mother ran in the 1960s, when what she was doing was illegal. From the time I was born, my mom was running numbers, Davis told InsideEdition.com. People would play bible verse numbers, numbers theyd seen in dreams, or whatever they thought would get them lucky.

Man freed 4 decades after wrongful conviction awarded

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - One of two men freed after four decades behind bars for a crime they didn't commit was honored Thursday evening. The NAACP Jacksonville Branch presented an award to Williams, thanking him for his stand for righteousness and justice. "I'm glad my daddy right here -- free," Warren Rozier, Williams' son, told News4Jax on Thursday night. A spokesperson for the State Attorney's Office told News4Jax told that Myers is eligible for the compensation under Florida statute. Williams said the fight isn't over:"Like my dad said, we down but we not out," said Warren Rozier, Williams' son.

100 years ago, white mobs attacked blacks across the country

Over the next few days, white mobs stormed the streets attacking blacks indiscriminately. Scores of black men and women were killed that year in racial violence. "Overwhelmingly, it was whites attacking blacks," Krugler told CNN. "The Red Summer doesn't fit into the stories we tell ourselves about US history," Krugler says. Blacks across the country set up armed self-defense patrols to protect the communities the police failed to protect, Krugler says.

NAACP: State needs to investigate takedown arrest

We strongly condemn this behavior by any and all officers of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, who are all sworn to protect and serve our communities. READ: Full statement from NAACP Jacksonville Branch |RAW: Video shows takedown after Westside standoffAccording to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, the incident will receive a standard review by the Response to Resistance Board. News4Jax has learned one officer involved had a body camera and has requested that video from the Sheriff's Office. Isaiah Rumlin, head of the Jacksonville branch, told News4Jax on Tuesday he wants the state to intervene because he feels the officer's actions were unacceptable. The state attorneys office said it is waiting for JSO to review it and if JSO thinks there is a problem, then it will investigate.