Let's start with the good. The NAACP/Providence Branch
commends the leadership of the Providence Public Library, Brown
University, Bryant College, Roger Williams University, Rhode Island
School of Design, and the University of Rhode Island for their
active concern for the educational future of our school-age children.
We now call on you to increase your efforts in this most critical
and difficult cause. As middle-class families abandon the Providence
Public Schools, those who are left behind need your suport more
than ever. Despite all the work that you have done, we need more
ideas and expertise to stop the decay that consumes our public
school system.
Adults, too, are left behind, as more homeless
families, teenagers and elderly citizens face human hardship,
unable to provide their own food and shelter. It appears already
that the number of homeless people seeking shelter in Providence
will be even greater than last year. To the Beneficent Church
and other charitable organizations that have voluntarily extended
themselves to the homeless and the poor, we express our gratitude
and praise.
The community policing initiative that our new
Mayor and the Police Chief are implementing appears to be a
very positive experiment for our City, and a departure from
the adversarial policies of the recent past. We are hopeful
that this intiative will restore confidence in those whom we
look to for justice and protection.
And now, the not-so-good.
While we look to the court system for justice,
we have experienced several disturbing disappointments. First,
we believe that Governor Carcieri missed the opportunity to
appoint a very qualified minority candidate, Superior Court
Justice Rogeriee Thompson, to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.Second,
we were disappointed that Judge Torres refused to give a hearing
to minority community perspectives on the Senate redistricting
plan that effectively reduced minority representation in the
Rhode Island Legislature. Third, we were disappointed by Judge
Lisi's inflexibility in denying Ms. Leisa Young her own civil
rights in selecting the attorney of her choice in the case regarding
the denial of civil rights to her son, the late Sergeant Cornel
Young, Jr. In all three cases, we feel that the fateful 'lighting
of the terrible swift sword' of justice has not been there for
us.
The Providence Branch of the NAACP values the support of
those many organizations, businesses and individuals who work
with us to better the lives of African-Americans and other minorities
in our society. With your continuing support, the NAACP/Providence
Branch will, "Have Our Say", as long as these problems continue
to exist.
Yours in the Struggle for Freedom,
Clifford R. Montiero, President
NAACP - Providence, Rhode Island Branch
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