Michael P. Boggs supported racist state flag, other extreme policies
ANCHORAGE, AK May 29, 2014: The Anchorage Branch of the NAACP is strongly urging opposition to the nomination of Michael P. Boggs, a controversial judicial nominee of President Obama's. As a representative, Boggs voted twice to keep the Confederate battle insignia on Georgia's state flag. Georgia's legislature added that Confederate battle mark to the state flag in 1956 to protest desegregation of the public school system in the Brown vs. Board of Education decision. "Senator Mark Begich's office stated that the senator has grave concerns about the nomination of Judge Boggs and is paying close attention to the nomination as the process moves forward." "It is unacceptable for the Senate to confirm a defender of racist symbols like the Confederate flag," said Kevin McGee, 1st Vice President, and Chairman, Political Action Committee of the Anchorage NAACP. The NAACP is deeply troubled by Mr. Boggs’ history of disregard for challenges unique to racial and ethnic minorities, the LGBT community, and women. His support to keep the Confederate battle emblem a prominent part of Georgia's state flag, for example, demonstrates an ignorance of, or perhaps a blatant disregard for, the hurt and hatred that the emblem represents to so many African Americans, among others. Given that African Americans make up over 31% of the residents of the State of Georgia, Mr. Boggs’ attitude could be especially hurtful and harmful if he is confirmed to a position serving all or even a portion of Georgians. The NAACP is further troubled by Mr. Boggs’ leadership in the fight to enact legislation in Georgia to ban marriage equality. The NAACP Constitution affirmatively states our objective to ensure the “political, educational, social and economic equality” of all people. Therefore, the NAACP has opposed and will continue to oppose any national, state, local policy or legislative initiative that seeks to codify discrimination or hatred into the law or to remove the Constitutional rights of any citizens. Mr. Boggs’ support of legislation to ban marriage equality further demonstrates his apparent insensitivity to the hurt and harm which can be caused by discrimination. In conclusion, we again urge both of our U.S. Senator’s in the strongest terms possible to oppose Mr. Boggs’ nomination and to utilize this vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia to further integrate this judicial district. ###
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May 07, 2014 Contact: Wanda Laws, 301-6041 NAACP Calls on Sullivan to Apologize for Offensive Slavery Remarks Candidate should apologize for outrageous statement ANCHORAGE: The NAACP is demanding an apology from Dan Sullivan, whomadeoffensivecommentsabout slavery at a forum of Lieutenant Governor candidates. “Slavery was about race, human degradation and America’s ‘greatest sin’. To compare it to today’s political issues of the moment diminishes how horrible and tragic it truly was,” said Wanda Laws, President of the Anchorage NAACP. Sullivan compared union membership to slavery as he endorsed "right to work" legislation, saying "I thought we ended slavery a long time ago." Sullivan doubled down on his comments after the candidate forum when talking with local journalist Amanda Coyne. Sullivan's slavery comments are grossly out of touch in Anchorage, which isone of America's most diverse communities. The Anchorage NAACP is proud to work with other organizations in Alaska to promote equality, and applauds recent work, including by business organizations like the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, to support Alaska diversity. ### |