Press Advisory


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NAACP IS PREPARED TO RESPOND TO RACIAL PROFILING AND DISPARATE TREATMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT AND SOUTH KING COUNTY

The Seattle/King County Branch of the NAACP is deeply concerned about what appears to be a dramatic increase in racial profiling of African American youth in the Central District and South King County. We will be bringing two particularly egregious cases that have occurred in the past month to the attention of the public. One case involves an African American Juvenile Probation Officer who was grabbed by police officers and verbally harassed when she attempted to explain to police officers that one of the children on her case load had done nothing wrong. The other case involves a high school student at Garfield who has consistently been stopped and harassed by police officers. On multiple occasions his white counterparts have witnessed the officers swearing at the high school student while telling him that he will never amount to anything in his life. This behavior is appalling and must be stopped. It adversely impacts the self identity of our children and impacts their ability to succeed. Additionally, this sort of treatment undermines the objectives of programs that are geared toward helping youth.

We will also be talking about the steps that the NAACP will be taking to empower youth and what steps we will be taking to protect against racial profiling.

Presenters at the press conference:

1. The Juvenile Probation officer that was harassed by police officers;
2. The Garfield High School student that was harassed by Police; and
3. James Bible, President of the NAACP

When: Monday 9/29/08

11:15 p.m.

Where: Seattle Urban League Building

105 14th Avenue
Suite C, 1st Floor
Seattle, WA 98122

Seattle King County NAACP turns 95!

SAVE THE DATE: NOVEMBER 15TH Seattle King County NAACP celebrates 95 years of dedication to civil and human rights!
POWER, JUSTICE, FREEDOM: VOTE!
Program with Dr. Michael Eric Dyson* keynote address FREE to the community.
Purchase tickets to Freedom Fund Reception at www.brownpapertickets.com or call 1-800-838-3006
*for more information on this speaker, please visit www.apbspeakers.com

Join us for our Freedom Fund Dinner

The Seattle King County NAACP has been serving the civil and human rights interests of the people of Seattle for nearly 95 years. While we are proud of our tradition of working hard to protect the rights of all people while promoting equality and equity, we will not rest on our laurels. We will continue to take stand up for what is right.

SAVE THE DATE: NOVEMBER 15TH Seattle King County NAACP celebrates 95 years of dedication to civil and human rights!POWER, JUSTICE, FREEDOM: VOTE!Program with Dr. Michael Eric Dyson* keynote address FREE to the community. Purchase tickets to Freedom Fund Reception at www.brownpapertickets.com or call 1-800-838-3006*for more information on this speaker, please visit www.apbspeakers.com

ITS TIME FOR A CHANGE

Come Celebrate 95th

The Seattle King County Branch of the NAACP is the oldest branch west of the Mississippi River. Over the course of our 95 years of service to the greater Seattle area, we have worked to end discrimination in housing, employment, political participation, health, and criminal justice. We will continue to work to bring inequitable treatment to an end.

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR

We will be holding our 95th anniversary fund raiser on November 15, 2008. We would love to see you there. Please save this date and we will be sending more information soon.

ACT-SO Competition

Finals and award presentations for the 2008 ACT-SO Program is April 26, 2008, Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center at 10:00 am until 1:00 pm. Please let every high school student in grades 9-12 that you come in contact with know it is not too late to be a part of this year's program. All they need to do is show up with a science project, song, poem, drawing, dance, painting, original essay, photography, or sculpture and get it judged. The time limit for all presentations is five (5) minutes. ACT-SO continues to strive for excellence in our students and encourage them to take advantage of all opportunities to showcase their talents. This year the first place winners will be going to Disney World to represent the Seattle King County Branch at the National ACT-SO. We are still in need of a few judges (science, painting, drawing, humanities, and music), while searching for a few of our past judges we have lost contact with. If you wish to be a judge, please contact the NAACP office at 206-324-6600. If you know or see Simeon Rhoden, Quinton Morris or Marlette Buchanan ask them to get in touch with ACT-SO at the above number.

Youth Violence Prevention Network

The Youth Violence Prevention Network is an organization dedicated to helping youth find creative solutions to violence in their communities. I have had the pleasure of attending these meetings and am greatly impressed with the level of thought that is put into creating an environment in which all people are respected and valued. For more information about this wonderful organization contact (206) 937-0210 or visit them on the web at www.youthviolence-prevention.org.