March 2021

President’s Message

Springtime is on its way, and with it comes election season. 

That sounds like a typo. We just got through a major election; how can we be moving right on to another? And aren’t elections in the fall anyway?

This year we’ll be electing important county and local officials – school board members, judges, our District Attorney and Sheriff amongst others.  While the general election will take place in November, on May 18th we’ll vote in primaries to select who will get to run in that general election. 

Now, many people don’t bother to vote in what is called “off-year” elections like this, and they certainly don’t bother to vote in off-year primaries.  That’s why your vote has even more power, more ability to determine the outcome, in these elections. 

And the offices we’re voting on could not be more important to you and me, to our children and grandchildren.  Our work on Reimagining Public Safety, ensuring that every Bucks County resident is safe, and they feel safe and protected with our police, can be advanced or stymied by our District Attorney and our Sheriff.  Our work on Education, ensuring that all children in Bucks County feel included, celebrated, and protected at their schools, depends on school board members who understand the importance of diversity, inclusion, and equity.  And when we are forced to turn to the courts, we depend on judges to administer equal justice under law.

So, I encourage all NAACP members to join that small but mighty group of people who VOTE in every election, including the primary coming up on May 18th.  Consider voting by mail, because it will give you the opportunity to receive the ballot and do some research on candidates before casting your vote - particularly important in races like this where there is generally not much information or advertising out there.  You can request your mail-in ballot here: www.votespa.com/applymailballot.  And if you need to register to vote, you can do that here: www.votespa.com.

One more word about the upcoming election: as someone smart once said, “If you’re not at the table, you’re probably on the menu.” 

Karen Downer

President

NAACP Bucks County Branch #2253

Criminal Justice & Education (CJ&E) Committee Takes on Key Challenges

Last summer, after the murder of George Floyd, we launched a new NAACP Bucks County initiative to address issues of systemic racism right here at home.  Our Criminal Justice & Education Committee has been working since then to advance racial equality in policing; promote anti-racist policies, practices, and culture in schools; increase public awareness of racism and create a culture of equity and anti-racism; and support relevant legislation at the state level.  Their work is often behind the scenes, so we’re taking this opportunity to keep all members in the loop.  

The CJ&E Committee, led by Patrice Tisdale and Helen Tai, operates through three sub-committees:

Reimagining Public Safety – There are 39 police departments in Bucks County, each with its own leadership and policies.  Led by Kayma Sherman-Knuckles, our Reimagining Public Safety sub-committee is meeting with each of those departments.  Recognizing that policing works best when there is trust between police and the community, the sub-committee seeks to work collaboratively with the departments to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement.  The sub-committee is requesting information from each department to help us better understand current policies and arrest and citation data by race, amongst other topics.  Thus far the sub-committee has met with 13 departments, has 5 more meetings scheduled, and is actively setting up additional meetings to complete them all in the next two months.

Legislation – The Legislation sub-committee, led by Sue-Ann DiVito and Peggy Dator, started the year with a bang with a major activation to stop the PA judicial gerrymandering bill- H.B. 38.  NAACP membership response was strong, generating 111 contacts with crucial Bucks County legislators. Constituent pressure made a difference, and at this point the bill has not been scheduled for a House vote and therefore will not be on the May ballot for voters to approve as a constitutional amendment.  The sub-committee is now working on a Legislative Toolkit – essentially a “Legislation 101” presentation that can educate all members on how the legislative process works and on how we as constituents can make our voices heard.  Bucks County legislators are often the swing votes needed for legislation to pass the PA legislature. As Bucks County constituents we can make a real difference.

Education – The Education sub-committee, led by Adrienne King and Marlene Pray, encompasses both public outreach education and education equity in our schools.  On the public outreach education side, the sub-committee has hosted a series of popular Zoom webinars on Addressing Racism in Everyday Life, including such topics as white privilege, how to be an ally to people of color, implicit bias and microaggressions, and talking with kids about racism.  They are now launching a book and film discussion group – see the announcement in this newsletter. On the public school front, recognizing that there are many organizations focused on building more anti-racist schools, the sub-committee is establishing the NAACP as a coordinating body, developing resources and providing guidance to help parents demand the very best in diversity, inclusion, and equity in Bucks County education. The committee is also engaged with identifying candidates for the many school board positions open this year across all 13 Bucks County school districts, and requesting that all candidates indicate their commitment to a series of action items rooted in anti-racism and equity in education, in alignment with the NAACP mission and goals.

Scholarship Opportunity

Each year, our chapter awards a $1,000.00 scholarship to three (3) Bucks County high school seniors who are planning to continue their education at an accredited institution (college, university, or vocational trade school).

​

An eligible applicant must be an American citizen residing in Bucks County with at least a 2.5 weighted G.P.A. Additional  eligibility requirements apply.

Please direct any questions or requests for clarification to Leonore Hope, Education Scholarship Chair, at lihope@icloud.com. 

March Events

Planning- Educating- Informing

Our monthly membership meeting will be held on Monday, March 8th. We will be joined by special guest candidate speakers: Judge Timika Lane for Judge of the PA Superior Court and Bucks County Democratic endorsed candidate Mark Lomax for Bucks County Sheriff.

On March 30th, our Education Committee is planning the first in a series of discussions on books and films. We will have a conversation with guest speaker, Robert Daye, who spoke at some of the racial justice rallies over the summer that sprung up after the tragic death of George Floyd.  He passionately reflected on his experiences growing up as a black person in Bucks County and how reading the “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave” changed his life. He will be sharing with us the impact that this book had on his life and hope that you will come engaged to do the same. 

Join Our Team

Are you a licensed attorney? Do you have experience as a paralegal? We are looking for volunteers to assist our Legal Redress team to field questions and complaints from the public related to civil rights issues. If you are interested in joining our fight against racial injustice, discrimination and hatred, then apply today.