Pre-2022 Position Papers and Public Statements

2021 Year in Review

2021 Annual Advocacy, Accomplishments & Highlights

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Executive Committee Votes to Remove School Resource Officers

Arlington, Virginia – On Thursday, July 23, 2020, the Executive Committee of the Arlington Branch NAACP voted in favor of removing School Resource Officers (SROs) from Arlington Public Schools (APS). Branch President Spain stated,

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Letter to Mr. Earl Conklin, Arlington Juvenile Detention Center

The events of the past few weeks have shone a light on the injustices of our criminal justice system -- injustices centuries old, but that will never again be hidden from view. It is in this context that we must take a hard look at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center, which serves Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church, and ask who is being sent there and why.

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Letter To Arlington County, Body Worn Camera and Civilian Review Board

On behalf of the members of Arlington Branch NAACP#7047 and over 9,600 petitioners, we urge you to listen to the members of the local community who have requested and continue to request that the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) implements, as soon as possible, five research- backed life-saving measures listed below.

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Letter To Editor

SYMBOLS MATTER
Arlington County’s most prominent symbol is its logo and seal. A symbol that is everywhere ... on government correspondence, uniforms, buildings, vehicles, websites. A symbol of a slave labor camp. A symbol of the southern plantation economy designed to ensure White privilege and Black subjugation.

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Fair Housing Letter

In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this year marks the 52nd year the Fair Housing Act, which Congress passed one week after the assassination of Dr. King in 1968. Dr. King dedicated the last years of his life to fighting housing discrimination and government policies that created segregation and trapped blacks in high-poverty neighborhoods.

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Letter To The Sherriff & Arlington Police, Death of Inmate

Arlington Branch #7047 of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) calls for a full AND independent investigation (to include policy, procedural, and criminal violations) into the death of Mr. Darryl Becton, 46, who died while in your custody on October 1, 2020, after he was found unconscious in his cell at the Arlington County Detention Facility.

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Letter To Arlington Public Schools, Budget

Due to the significant adverse impact of Coronavirus COVID-19 (COVID-19) and virtual learning which we believe exacerbate pre-existing opportunity gaps, we urge Arlington Public Schools (APS) not to eliminate or delay funding for any of the instructional priorities outlined in this letter, or delay compliance with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Settlement Agreement regarding English Learners (ELs).

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NAACP and Black Parents of Arlington Letter

October 31, 2019
The need to eliminate the achievement or opportunity gap for Black and Latino children in Arlington Public Schools (APS) is a common APS staff and School Board refrain. Recent data indicates persistent and, in some areas, growing disparities between these children and their White counterparts. These ongoing disparities are one of the most pressing issues facing APS.

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Arlington Branch NAACP Condemns Acts of Hate Speech, March 19, 2021

Arlington, Virginia - The revelations of racially charged, abusive, disparaging, and threatening hate speech by student-athletes of Marshall High School, Falls Church, Virginia (Fairfax County) towards black student-athletes of Wakefield High School, Arlington, Virginia (Arlington County) is atrocious. 

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Racist Actions at Fairfax County and Arlington Public Schools

Arlington Branch NAACP and Fairfax County Branch NAACP Joint Public Statement March 19, 2021
The Fairfax and Arlington branches of the NAACP join to express both horror and sadness regarding the bigoted acts on display at a high school football game between Fairfax County and Arlington County schools.

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Response to Proposed APS (FY22) Budget

Letter to APS March 21, 2021
Dear Dr. Durán and Arlington Public School Board (APS) Members:

We have had a chance to review portions of the proposed Tier 1 and Tier 2 adjustments for the fiscal year 2022 budget (FY22). We are concerned that equity appears not to have been considered in creating the current Arlington Public Schools (APS) budget. 

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Arlington County Police Chief Selection Process

Letter to County Manager April 5, 2021
Dear County Manager Mark Schwartz: The Arlington Branch #7047 of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is a nonprofit social justice organization comprised of 800 members as of April 5, 2021. Along with many of our allies and citizens of Arlington, we know that the Arlington County Police Department conducted a national search for the next Chief of Police. 

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Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Scoring Guidance,  April 7, 2021

The NAACP is committed to ensuring that low-income Arlington residents have access to safe, decent, and affordable housing. The county’s Committed Affordable Units (CAFs) represent a critical partnership between non-governmental organizations and the county to ensure that low-income residents continue to live in and enrich our community.

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Presentation to Arlington Committee of 100

Briefing by Branch President April 14, 2021 Arlington Committee of 100 

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Arlington County Board Meeting – Saturday, April 17, 2021, 8:30 a.m. Public Comments by Julius “J.D.” Spain, Sr., President of the Arlington Branch of the NAACP 

To be clear, the community will benefit from a Chief of Police who will lead us forward. We do not need status-quo law enforcement cronyism or anyone who stagnates with practices that we know historically harm our communities, especially our Black and Latino community. Finding a quality Chief of Police and improving the community's confidence in law enforcement lies entirely the County Board and an open and transparent recruitment process. This has not occurred.

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Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI), April 29, 2021

The Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) branches are committed to advancing fair housing in Northern Virginia by integrating segregated neighborhoods and eliminating opportunity gaps between residents of color and white residents. We support the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ (COG) efforts to conduct a regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) inclusive of Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Montgomery County, Maryland. 

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Controversial Imagery?? New Signage at the Market Common (now The Crossing Clarendon), April 29, 2021

Arlington Branch NAACP asked our members and allies to provide input on new signage in Clarendon. Read more to view the responses.

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Letter to County Manager and County Board - Serrano Apartments, April 30, 2021

On April 23, 2021, the Arlington Branch NAACP President and Housing Committee Co-Chair participated in a walk-through of the Serrano Apartment buildings and six apartments organized by Serrano Tenant Association leadership.

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Letter to Arlington County Board, PPG Recommendations, May 13, 2021

The Arlington Branch #7047 of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) writes to urge the Arlington County Board to take real action on Police Practices Group's (PPG) recommendations of February 15, 2021, and reject the recommended superficial adoption of only a small number of recommendations. 

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Arlington Branch NAACP #7047 and Arlington for Justice Markup of ORDINANCE to amend the Code of Arlington County, Virginia, to add a new Chapter 69 establishing a Law Enforcement Civilian Oversight Board and Independent Policing Auditor  - June 10, 2021

The NAACP Arlington Branch #7047 and its Criminal Justice Committee in collaboration with Arlington for Justice support the strong, robust civilian oversight that the General Assembly presumed, and the PPG recommended. Sadly, the draft ordinance proposed by County Manager Mark Schwarz rejects the conclusions of both the General Assembly and the County’s own PPG in favor of a neutered civilian board that can only “review” completed ACPD self-investigations with sharply limited information, and then recommend at most that the ACPD investigate itself again.

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School Resource Officers Work Group Recommendations
June 10, 2021

On June 3, recommendations from the Superintendent and the SRO Work Group were presented to School Board members. The key recommendation was that SROs be removed from Arlington Public Schools full-time. While there were other recommendations from the Superintendent, such as renaming the program and placing police officers in proximity outside of the school boundaries, we believe those are considerations to be undertaken by ACPD. 

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School Board Policy J-7.4 Student Code of Conduct and Policy Implementation Plan (PIP), June 15, 2021

The Arlington NAACP Education Committee recognizes that an opportunity gap exists for significant portions of its student population, namely amongst Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) students, English Language Learners, and students with disabilities. We expect APS and the school board to identify and address the causes of disproportionate treatment in discipline, to reduce and eliminate the racial disparities in the use of punitive school discipline, and any other disparities that may exist for other under-served populations

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Arlington Branch NAACP Public Statement: Arlington County Community Oversight Board, July 23, 2021

NAACP National challenged our over 2,200 units across America to advocate for meaningful civilian oversight boards with subpoena power. Despite the County Board’s recent adoption of a Community Oversight Board (COB) ordinance, we are disappointed that the County Board refused to adopt the General Assembly-approved authority for the COB to be truly independent and to make binding disciplinary determinations.

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2021 Scholarship Program Awardees

Three award types for 2021

Willard Woodson Brittain, Jr. Foundation – Renewable $5,000

Arlington Branch NAACP Future Leaders Scholarship – Renewable $10,000

Arlington Branch NAACP One Time Scholarships - $1,500

Three levels of review: Community, Scholarship Committee and Executive Committee The students were selected based on a combination of the community and scholarship committee review, their strong academic achievements, heavy involvement in their schools and community, leadership potential and their commitment to the ideals of the NAACP. The Future Leaders scholars also were reviewed for financial need. You can use this element to explain to visitors what you do or inform them about other subjects. For instance, what is your passion and why or what does your company offer, i.e. products and services. You can hide this element in the menu on the right

View 2021 Awardees

PUBLIC STATEMENT REGARDING HATE SPEECH INCIDENT

On Thursday, August 26, 2021, at 11:05 a.m., an Arlington County employee reported a Hate Speech incident to County Board Officials, the County Manager, the Chief Race and Equity Officer for Arlington County, and the Arlington Branch NAACP. As a result, a police report was filed on August 30, 2021, by the employee. In addition, the Arlington Branch NAACP intends to notify federal authorities. The incident occurred in the garage located at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Ellen M. Bozman Government Center (Courthouse Plaza). In emails shared with the County and NAACP, the employee who reported the hate speech said it best: "It seems because I reported it, and because I happen to be Black, I am seen as a single victim. I do not see myself in this way."

The Arlington Branch NAACP believes that every County employee who parks in that garage was 'victimized' by the hateful message. We strongly believe that a "KKK" message is meant as a message of hate and intimidation OR as a message of solidarity – there is no in-between. You can use this element to explain to visitors what you do or inform them about other subjects. For instance, what is your passion and why or what does your company offer, i.e. products and services. You can hide this element in the menu on the right

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Public Statement regarding medical care at the county jail

October 25, 2021 5:30 p.m. The Arlington Branch NAACP #7047 is aware that the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office has “entered into negotiations with a new [medical] provider.” Although the Sheriff’s Office is seeking a new medical contractor, the issue remains that there have been six in-custody deaths in six years, as reported by the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office. The Arlington Branch NAACP’s position remains firm in seeking justice for those who have died while in the custody of the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office. Ultimately, the Arlington County Sheriff, the Command Staff, and Sheriff’s Office personnel are responsible for the health, care, and safety of the individuals in their custody – and the Arlington Branch NAACP will continue to seek justice to find All who are responsible, complicit, and or negligent in the deaths of those in-custody and hold them accountable.

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