FORMER MEMBERS OF THE OSSINING NAACP
10 Madison Avenue
Ossining, New York  10562
914 941-6046

 We of the Friends of the Ossining NAACP wish to applaud State Chairwoman Hazel Duke's participation in the demonstrations called by the National Action Network protesting the injustice shown by the courts and cops toward Sean Bell and all Black people. It's long overdue that the NAACP, as the oldest organization in the U.S. fighting for the rights and dignity of Black people, should join such a struggle. Ms. Dukes' action should be expanded ten-thousand-fold to rival the recent demonstration in Detroit to repeal the 'n' word and the ones several years ago against the display of the Confederate flag over the South Carolina State Capitol. 
 
  At the same time we have a continuing protest against Ms. Dukes. In 2004 our unit sponsored a resolution which overwhelmingly passed the NAACP National Convention calling for justice for Mumia Abu-Jamal. Mr. Abu-Jamal has sat for over 26 years in Pennsylvania prisons for exposing, among other things, the same kind of racist and murderous actions there which the New York cops did to Sean Bell. For our actions Ms. Dukes suspended our unit on bogus charges and despite our strenuous efforts going through the proper channels, refuses to this day to do anything to reinstate it. Therefore, while we agree with her action in relation to Sean Bell, we also find it utterly hypocritical for her to join a demonstration for justice for Sean Bell while punishing a 60-year-old state unit in good standing for defending someone who has become a political prisoner for telling the truth about similar police brutality. 
 
 
  We renew our call for our unit to be reinstated immediately. 

                   Bill Bachmann                Omar Dotson                         Eileen Wietzman
                   Sundiata Sadiq                 Suzanne Ross                       Surya Peterson
                   Maria Gagliardi                James McDougal                  Luceda Carter
                   Pepi Powell                      Dorothy Goodman               Steven Kern
                   Don Debar                       Gwen Debrow                                 Leslie Plachta
                   George Thornton              Pam Africa                           Nada Kahdar
                   Kadoza Worthy               Charlene Dech                                 Nick Mottern
                   Bill Cowan                       Cathy Balloffet                    Kendall Buchanan
                   Robert Brooks                  Clarissa Barbour                   Betsy Mickel
                   Willene Brooks                Skylar Thomas                     Carmen Coard
                   Tibby Brooks                   Elizabeth Mitchell                Anne Pruden
                   Judith Ackerman              Charlie Knight                     Joan Crawford