Topic: NAACP

HUD, Justice Department asked to review Downtown Redevelopment Plan

By Christine Anne Piesyk | May 7, 2008 |

NAACP charges Tennessee Code and Civil Rights violations in Clarksville’s proposed redevelopment ordinance.

Jimmy Garland Sr., president of the Clarksville Chapter of the NAACP, has contacted the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., and the HUD (Housing and Urban Development) office in Nashville, charging that the controversial Clarksville Downtown Redevelopment and Urban Renewal Plan does not adhere to Tennessee Codes and will have a detrimental effect on “mostly the poor, elderly and minorities residents of this inner city community.” The plan has been highly touted by city officials, Mayor Johnny Piper, and the Downtown Business Partnership (DDP).

Garland further charges that the plan is a possible “civil rights infraction” by the Clarksville City Council. The Council is scheduled to hold a second reading and a final vote on the ordinance Thursday evening during a special session scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers at 108 Public Square.

“No real plan has been introduced that will define the actual areas to be redeveloped and which properties are actually blighted within the targeted area,” Garland said.

Clarksville NAACP President Jimmie Garland Sr. [center] stands with irate property owners outside a “public” hearing on the “blight” bill.

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Sections: Issues, News, Politics | 3 Comments

Home vandalism stirs alarm in Jackson, TN; incident viewed as ‘hate crime’

By Turner McCullough Jr. | April 28, 2008 |

Racial epithets amid high dollar vandalism alarms citizens, but not police

Vandalism of a Dorothy Cove home in Jackson has caused alarm and distress. The Jackson Police Department (JPD), is investigating the vandalism as a property crime. The damage has been estimated at between $8,00 and $10,000. However the Jackson-Madison County Branch of the NAACP has said it views the incident also as a hate crime. Police have not denied that racial epithets were found at the home last Tuesday, as part of their investigation.

Harrel Carter, president of the Jackson-Madison County NAACP Branch issued a press statement denouncing the hate crime. He based the characterization on the presence of racial epithets found in the home on Dorothy Cove. Carter held a press conference in the lobby of the Jackson Police Department, 234 Institute St.

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NAACP Springfield reactivation underway

By Turner McCullough Jr. | April 21, 2008 |

Clarksville Branch officials support neighboring branch efforts

The NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Springfield Branch is currently undergoing a reactivation and reorganization effort. The branch had lapsed into an inactive status. However, citizens recently have expressed their desire to see the branch once again active and engaged in local affairs as an advocate and watchdog for their civil rights.

Rev. Gardner with Terry McMoore and Jimmie M. Garland Sr. of Clarksville Branch NAACP.

Rev. James Gardner, president of the Springfield Branch, conducted the meeting. The reactivation meeting was attended by more than sixty citizens. He thanked those attending. He stated that the main objective at this point is to increase the membership level to the critical threshold for activation as a viable branch. Due to recent constitution changes, branches are now required to have a minimum of 100 members for activation.

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Springfield NAACP branch reorganization forges ahead

By Turner McCullough Jr. | April 14, 2008 |

On the evening of April 10th, the Springfield Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (N.A.A.C.P.) held a reorganization rally. The reorganization effort is being led by Rev. Garner.

Jimmie Garland, 3rd vice-president of the Tennessee State Conference of Branches and president of the Clarksville Branch, addressed the gathering of some sixty residents and citizens. He noted that their mayor had issued a press statement declaring “that as long as the branch had the right kind of leaders and membership, the NAACP was welcome in Springfield!” Garland thanked the mayor for his warm endorsement. He stressed that Rev. Garner was just the kind of strong leader needed to helm the resurgent branch. He continued that people often fear the presence of the NAACP because they always see it as a threat to their comfortable ways. However, he said that is not, and need not, always be the case.

The NAACP believes in advocating for everyone’s civil rights. Membership is not restricted to just Blacks. Hispanics and Latinos, Native Americans, Jews, Caucasians, legal immigrant,or illegal immigrant, men , women and children, heterosexual, gay, young or old. The NAACP is a civil rights advocacy organization that cares for everyone’s civil rights.

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African American community to hold meeting on redevelopment plan

By Terry McMoore | February 26, 2008 |

The Progressive Citizens Advocates (PCA), along with the Clarksville-Montgomery County Branch of the NAACP, is sponsoring a town hall meeting at Greater Missionary Baptist Church which is located 450 Ringgold Road in Clarksville, on Monday, March 3 at 7 p.m. The meeting will feature an appearance by Clarksville Mayor Johnny Piper.

Progressive Citizens Advocates membership is largely made up of ministers and progressive movers and shakers within the African American Community. The meeting  will attempt to address the questions and issues surrounding the Downtown District Partnership’s Clarksville Center Redevelopment Plan. The meeting is open to the public and will feature a question and answer period. 

For more information contact PCA president Rev. Frank Washington (931) 980-1918 (cell).

Sections: Events, Issues | No Comments

The ultimate political heavyweight prize: Presidency of the United States of America

By Terry McMoore | January 30, 2008 |

While others look at candidates in this year’s Presidential Primary as individuals competing against each other, I prefer to look at politics as the ultimate team competition. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama best illustrates this analogy. Right out of the box his competitors only concerns were how much of the black vote he could get, how well spoken he was and what his educational back ground was. Since then, many of them have been scrambling to play catch up based on their assumption that he was not a great team strategist.

For years, less privileged Americans have had to read about the triumphs and victories of selected famous elected politicians in our history books. Each and every ingredient required to run for office is well documented and available to the people via internet, written publications, and media sources. But the right combination on how to apply those ingredients and how much to use for political success has always been the missing link among candidates struggling for local office — and the ultimate political heavyweight prize of them all, the Presidency of the United States of America.

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Sections: Opinion, Politics | 1 Comment »

A letter from Clarksville NAACP President, Jimmie Garland

By Jimmie Garland, Sr. | January 23, 2008 |

Thanks Clarksville Online for your support. Your devotion to covering events hosted by the Clarksville Branch of the NAACP throughout the city of Clarksville this weekend was unparallel. We, as the sponsor of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative celebration, salute you and your staff on making our programs more available to those who desired to partake.

The MLK holiday for some was just a day-off, but for members of the NAACP, it was a day-on. By this I mean a day set aside to pay homage to a man who made a tremendous difference in the way we live today. Believe it or not, there were some who chose simply to forget the contributions he made to freedom irregardless of race, creed or national origin.

We, the NAACP, chose to devote quality time to keep the dream alive by attending religious services, preparing and presenting workshops and marching. Although the march was symbolic, it had its relevance to society as we know it today. «Read the rest of this article»

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In honor of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.

By Debbie Boen | January 22, 2008 |

Yesterday several hundred people of all ages filled Burt School’s auditorium and classrooms for workshops and  seminars before the annual NAACP Martin Luther King Day march. Children worked on projects and learned more about the civil rights movement and Rev Martin Luther King Jr.   Director of Schools Michael Harris spoke to adults about their children’s education. Vanderbilt University Professor Wanda Snead addressed issues of  domestic violence, and Valerie Hunter-Kelly of Keller Williams Realty spoke about mortgages and personal finances.

Several elected officials attended today’s event, including State Representative Joe Pitts, County Commissioner Lettie Kendall, and City Council members Barbara Johnson and Marc Harris. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | 3 Comments