WHEREAS,
The City Council of Philadelphia is pleased to honor and recognize the NAACP on the centennial anniversary of this most important organization; and
WHEREAS
, The early 1900’s were a turbulent time for African Americans in the United States. They were subject to political, voting and economic disenfranchisement, segregation and often violent attacks such as lynching and race riots against their communities; and
WHEREAS,
In early 1909 a group of concerned civil rights activists decided to issue a “call” for a national conference on the civil and political rights of African Americans on the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, February 12,1909; and
WHEREAS,
This “call” lead to the formation of the National Negro Committee which organized the permanent body known as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People or the NAACP; and
WHEREAS,
The mission of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination; and
WHEREAS
, The vision statement of the organization is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination; and
WHEREAS,
The strategic plan initiatives of the NAACP are as follows: Membership, Advocacy Training, Legal Capacity, Policy Advocacy Capacity, Criminal Justice, Civil Right Compliance, Economic Empowerment, Educational Excellence, Health Advocacy and Political Empowerment; and
WHEREAS,
For 100 years the NAACP has been built and grew on the collective courage of thousands of people. People of all races, nationalities and faiths united on one premise- that all men and women are created equal; and
WHEREAS,
The membership of the NAACP has reflected everyone from school children to laborers to professionals to presidents to just ordinary men and women, those who decided to champion what’s right and just; and
WHEREAS
, The nation’s oldest civil rights organization has changed history in America and Philadelphia, PA for example the NAACP lead the charge for integration of Girard College, and the opening of jobs , retail stores and entertainment venues that were previously closed to African Americans. Despite violence, intimidation and hostile government policies, the NAACP and its grassroots membership has persevered; and
RESOLVED,
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA
, Declares and recognizes February 12, 2009 as “NAACP Day” in the City of Philadelphia to recognize the Centennial Anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and
FURTHER RESOLVED,
That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the representatives of the NAACP as evidence of the sincere sentiment of this legislative body.
End