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Keep the momentum moving from Hawaii to Delaware.

Hours ago, legislators in Hawaii passed a Same Day Registration (SDR) bill that will allow people to register and vote on the same day. The bill is on the way to the Governor’s desk for a signature, and will make Hawaii the 13th state (plus the District of Columbia!) with SDR. Our Hawaii state partner, Faith Action for Community Equity, was on the front lines of this fight.

With right-wing leaders doing everything they can to restrict the franchise in places like Arizona, North Carolina, and Texas, SDR is one step states can take to expand rather than reduce voter rolls. Because voting is a right, not a privilege, and we are stronger when everyone has a voice.

That’s why Action for the Common Good and Center for Popular Democracy are also working closely with our state partner, Delaware Alliance for Community Advancement, to pass an SDR bill in the First State.

Can you help our efforts to advance voting rights in Delaware and elsewhere with a $13 investment?

Arcane, outdated voting rules fall most heavily on young people, low-income citizens, and people of color – those with the lowest registration rate. Same Day Registration helps level the playing field for them by offering a major new opportunity to register to vote and participate in elections.

Same Day Registration is a proven means of increasing voter participation. States with SDR led the nation in voter turnout by 10 percentage points in the 2012 presidential election. Please help us pass SDR across the country and continue to do what we can to expand rather than restrict voting rights.

DONATE HERE.

Thanks for all you do.

Katrina and the Voting Rights Team, Action for the Common Good

www.commongoodaction.org

Friends,

The bigoted comments of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling that came to light last week were deeply hurtful. That the Los Angeles branch of the NAACP had been planning to give an award to a man with a history of hateful remarks is simply inexcusable.

Last night, I accepted Leon Jenkins’ resignation from his position as President of the Los Angeles branch. This was the first of many steps we as an organization are taking to address this issue. The NAACP remains actively engaged in a review of the Los Angeles branch. We will determine the shortcomings that enabled Donald Sterling to receive or be considered for any awards. We will prevent this from happening again.

We recognize the need for all our units to have the resources to serve their communities, but we must not allow that need to compromise our founding principles. We must determine what Donald Sterling donated to the NAACP Los Angeles branch—in order for it to be returned.

I know you may be angry, frustrated, and confused. We will be making changes, and I hope our commitment to addressing this issue helps us move forward, so we can remain focused on the critical issues facing so many of our communities.

Millions still face unprecedented attacks on their rights to vote. Our families too often feel the terror of gun violence. The number of children with access to a quality education is shrinking, while economic inequality and instances of racial profiling are on the rise.

The success of our mission requires vigilance on many important issues at once, even as we strive to improve our organization at every level.

I look forward to working with you on both fronts this year and beyond.

Thank you,

Lorraine C. Miller
Interim President and CEO
NAACP

P.S. We commend the NBA for banning Donald Sterling for life, and commencing the process for a forced sale of his team. Write a message of thanks to Commissioner Silver, and we’ll deliver your note when we meet to discuss the issue of racism in professional sports.

In the aftermath of in-custody deaths, authorities rely on each other’s conclusions — even when those conclusions are flawed — ensuring no one is held accountable when prisoners die.

Go to section.

Read more from Journal Sentinel: http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/gov-scott-walker-expected-to-sign-police-custody-bill-b99253819z1-256342301.html#ixzz30fCMuZ9B
Follow us: @JournalSentinel on Twitter

We did it! Wisconsin passed AB409 into law last week. Thanks to your help, officers involved in fatalities will now be investigated by someone from a department outside of their own.

Wisconsin’s largest newspaper covers part of the story here. http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/gov-scott-walker-expected-to-sign-police-custody-bill-b99253819z1-256342301.html

Please pass this news along and if you live outside of Wisconsin, please forward it to your state’s legislators.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Family photo

Michael Edward Bell is shown in this family photo with his brother Carson, 5. Michael was killed by Kenosha police in 2004. Carson is now 15.

Read more from Journal Sentinel: http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/gov-scott-walker-expected-to-sign-police-custody-bill-b99253819z1-256342301.html#ixzz30fCAAPrW
Follow us: @JournalSentinel on Twitter