To say that the NAACP is making a threat to sue just hours before the school board runoff election is a bit of a stretch.
As noted in Saturday's article by Thomas Goldsmith and Kristin Collins, that threat to litigate was made at Friday's NAACP mass meeting at Martin Street Baptist Church.
The Rev. William Barber, head of the state NAACP, drew a standing ovation at Friday's meeting when he brought up the willingness to sue Wake to prevent resegregation.
You can check out tomorrow's paper and the blog for an amplification on Barber's position. For now, you can read this speech he made Friday.
Comments
a few of the comments herein
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 21:04 — Bromhala few of the comments herein are sad, but I'm not sure as sad as Barber's twisted logic of quoting Thurgood Marshall so wrongly (thanks for making the NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS point for your opposition) and the openly calling John Tedesco a racist.
Below is text from Barber's
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 15:45 — red_balloonBelow is text from Barber's speech. It appears his idol, Thurgood Marshall, saw the benefits of neighborhood schools.
I want you to listen to the final words of the General Counsel of the NAACP, Thurgood Marshal. Close your eyes as he closed his argument before the Supreme Court, 56 years ago. He was arguing for our children, who walked by their neighborhood schools to go to the segregated colored schools across town. Those same kids in Virginia and South Carolina—and I have seen them do it—they play in the streets together, they play on their farms together, they go down the road together, they separate to go to school , they come out of school and play ball together. They have to be separated in school.
Shocking...
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 15:56 — Bob_SconceI can't believe that Thurgood Marshal (and Rev. Barber himself) would use code words like "neighborhood schools."
Agree
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 23:14 — SDR256I agree with CC. I learned when I was eight that when my brother threw peas at me and I just ignored him it wasn't fun anymore and he stopped it. Same mentality here.
Let's take the high road and simply prove all their accusations WRONG. We know we have been working for the children - ALL children. We are the adults. Let's set a good example.
(I know, I know, I've not been perfect either. It'll be your turn to remind me next time)
Nah, if you act up we'll
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 23:42 — CaryCurmudgeonNah, if you act up we'll just pelt you with peas... frozen.
yeah -
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 23:40 — louiselee44there's plenty of proof too!
Folks, please don't fall
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 21:26 — CaryCurmudgeonFolks, please don't fall into his trap. Not now. Eyes on the prize, let's go win an election tomorrow.
No one I know has taken
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 22:08 — woodstockNo one I know has taken their eyes off the prize. But I, for one, am beyond fed up with Barber's insulting and narrow-minded rhetoric.
I'll wait until
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 21:34 — g88ky07John is elected about this time tomorrow night, but then everyone should get their waders on cause me and ole Shoney's Big Boy ain't done! And for desert I may add a few others to the menu!
Barber is one foul human
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 00:46 — woodstockBarber is one foul human being and nothing more that a bully and a blowhard. Let 'em sue. I'd love to see it. That way his ridiculous accusations and the systematic discrimination of low-income and minority students by the status quo will be exposed for all to see. Bring it on Fat Man.
where were his "concerns"
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 20:58 — AngelaWwhere were his "concerns" when EVAAS showed even poorer results from WCPSS than previously known?
cares about the children? I think not!
Tired of the race card
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 20:55 — fiestamomFrom his eloquent speech:
"First, the use of code words like ‘neighborhood schools’ and ‘busing’ is the old “N-word” politics cleaned up with euphemisms taken directly out of Richard Nixon’s southern strategy play book. Stir up old racial fears.
I would have more respect of the opponents of diversity if they would just openly say they want segregated schools. They don’t want their children around certain other children based on race or class. Put it out there straight, rather than using code words. "
I'm sorry, but I'm tired of this garbage. I'm a white person. Am I forcing 70% of black children to grow up with no father? Was I there? The number one cause of death for black men ages 15-24 is HOMICIDE. The perpetrators of the homicide? Black men ages 15-24. Am I responsible for that too? The fatherless black children of America need a whole lot more than a 2 hour bus ride.
Call me, Reverend Barber when you actually DO SOMETHING for black kids. Stop blaming me.
Am I forcing 70% of black
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 21:10 — MorrisVMorrisAm I forcing 70% of black children to grow up with no father?
I don't want to be their daddy either ... send them back to their own schools and stop screwing up mine. If you want to be in my school get a job and stop trying to sue your way into my neighborhood. Ditto mexicans.
Free cruise for you!!!
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 23:11 — Its_the_parents...Hey, all I can pray for is that by tomorrow night, you will be enjoying a taxpayer-funded free cruise down North Carolina sewers to the Atlantic...
Sayonara you shriveled up piece of hate...you have never contributed anything genuine to society...you are a parasite who plays the race card to try to stay in power. (Next time, focus on REAL solutions for our children).
Looking forward to flushing you down, even a bloated gasbag like you...oops, might take 2 flushes...kinda like a runoff?
Hmm...
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 20:03 — Bob_SconceSounds like somebody is trying to make a name for himself. If he was really concerned about African-American children, he should be complaining about how they've done under the current board.
As to the lawsuit. Ha! Nobody has a right to any particular school assignment. As long as the district doesn't look at your race when assigning you, he has no basis to sue. And he knows it.
...
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 19:15 — SideburnsI heard that Rev. Barber called Mr. Margiotta "the devil" at Friday's forum.
He sounds like a real bridge-builder.
Sigh
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 20:52 — Dadof3So, the Rev calls Margiotta "the devil?" So profoundly offensive on so many fronts.
from another post
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 18:40 — AngelaWMon, 11/02/2009 - 17:25 — AngelaW
NAACP threatens Wake school lawsuit http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7096103 -- The NAACP says it will sue the Wake County School Board if it ends its controversial busing policy. The threat comes just hours before voters decide a final school board seat that could set that change in motion. The battleground is in District 2 - covering southeast Raleigh, Garner, and southeastern Wake County.
"...we are prepared to fight that every child has a constitutional education that's what's at stake," offered NC NAACP President William Barber.
(I'd like to hear their "defense" of the current magnet "lottery process" )