NAACP Seeks State Action on Legislative Agenda, Hate Crimes

RALEIGH, N.C. — The state chapter of the NAACP called on top state lawmakers Friday to get moving on the group's legislative agenda, saying failure to address inequality creates an atmosphere where bias can flourish.

Officers of the civil rights group delivered a letter to Gov. Mike Easley, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Sarah Parker and leaders of the General Assembly in which they listed acts of racism across the state in recent months.

The lack of action on legislation related to bias creates an impression that the state is happy with the status quo, said the Rev. William Barber, president of the state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

"When we fail to address these issues directly, we help create an atmosphere of acceptability, intended or unintended, to the radicals of racial supremacy," Barber said.

The state chapter unveiled its 14-point agenda at an event in February at the beginning of the legislative session. It was endorsed by more than 60 organizations, including black Masons, the Latino group El Pueblo, union organizers, and Green and Socialist party members.

The agenda endorsed issues ranging from expanding health care coverage to abolishing the death penalty.

The groups also asked lawmakers to provide more education money to comply with the Leandro school-funding lawsuit, create a "living wage" that would be several dollars more than the current minimum of $6.15 per hour, and give collective bargaining rights to government employees.

Bills have been introduced to encompass most of those items, but only a few have received votes in committees or chambers.

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