NAACP Plans March on Justice Department

Guy Djoken

At the Maryland NAACP State convention held last weekend at Ocean City, I had the distinctive honor of receiving the 2007 Freedom Fighter Award for significantly advancing the cause of Human & Civil Rights in Frederick County. Indeed it was a great honor for the Frederick County Branch to be recognized at the State level. I want to thank all those who have been working actively with us during the last few months for making this possible.

We believe the federal government has been sluggish in dealing with hate crimes. We, civil rights leaders and organizations, believe the federal government should prosecute "noose hanging" as a hate crime.

The increase in reports of violence and overly aggressive prosecution against African American youth by law enforcement officials symbolized by the boot camp beating death of Martin Lee Anderson, the assault of Shelwanda Riley by a police officer and countless other recent dehumanizing attacks has led the NAACP to declare a 'State of Emergency' that requires immediate action by local and state authorities as well as the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Congress.

"The NAACP denounces overly aggressive handling of black youth by law enforcement entities, a blatant disregard toward investigating hate crimes and racially discriminatory utilization of prosecutorial discretion," said Interim NAACP President & CEO Dennis Courtland Hayes. "We demand that the American criminal justice system live up to its Constitutional obligations to serve and protect all Americans with dignity and fairness irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, religious faith and other differences. Violence and intimidation of our young people is not acceptable, is against the law and must end now."

The Maryland NAACP State convention last weekend appointed me as the Western Maryland Coordinator for the upcoming march on the Justice Department scheduled on November 16th from noon to 2pm.

We must have the federal government protect us from local hate and bigotry. From Mychal Bell in Jena, Louisiana, to Sean Bell in New York, it is time for the federal government to intervene.

You can help us achieve this objective by participating in this March. We will be providing transportation to all those who are interested.

The trip is free for children 18 and under and current members of the NAACP and a nominal fee of $10.00 for non-members - first come first served. We will arrive in Washington, D.C. at 11 am and leave at 3 pm.

Please call our office 301-682-3937 or send us an email at dojnov16march@naacpfrederickcountymd.org and we will provide you with additional information.

Your participation in this upcoming peaceful protest will aid in pressuring the Department of Justice to put an end to the "Two Systems of Justice" currently operating in many parts of the country.