Durham NAACP Condemns War Moves, Mfume Condemns Durham NAACP Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit source - "Theater of the Oppressed Laboratory" Durham NAACP supports Gatewood The Herald-Sun (Durham, North Carolina) Sep 23, 2001 : 9:43 pm ET by Ronnie Glassberg rsg@herald-sun.com DURHAM -- The Durham NAACP voted unanimously to stand behind its president's controversial comments on this month's terrorist attacks Sunday evening despite a stern rebuke from the organization's national president. The Rev. Curtis Gatewood, the local branch president, said the national office's position would "supercede this vote," which took place after an NAACP City Council candidate's forum. He said the Durham branch would conform to "the national's authority." "I will not speak on this issue under the NAACP banner after today," Gatewood said later. But he also said, "We are not going to apologize for the truth - even without the seal of the NAACP." In his statement, Gatewood called for the United States to refrain from retaliating against the attacks, a position that he said reflects the NAACP' s nonviolent, spiritual and cultural roots. Gatewood went on to say that black Americans should listen to God and not to the "nation's arrogant calls for blind patriotism, retaliation and hatred." He said black Americans would be sent to the front lines of any war, only to return and "be discriminated against by people whose businesses were headquartered in the World Trade Center." "This is not the time to sacrifice our fathers, sons and brothers to a country that has not protected our rights," he continued. The roughly 25 people at the meeting applauded after Gatewood read the statement. Gatewood said he had always planned to bring the statement to his members and wasn't trying to "dictate national policy" in taking the vote Sunday. "This is not a dictatorship," he said. "They need to know what I say, what I do." Nancy Kenyon said she felt Gatewood was right in his statement. "He's just such an upright person -- all about justice," she said. "Freedom, justice is what we all need. That's the basic bottom line." Larry Hall said the members needed "the full story" about Gatewood's statement. "We certainly - want to make sure we're fair and just to all Americans," Hall said. "We have to speak out and say, 'Let's be cool, let's be rationale.'" National NAACP President Kweisi Mfume said last week that Gatewood's views don't represent those of the NAACP. Gatewood said he received a letter from the national office stating its position. "While we live in a society where there are problems and imperfections, at this time of war it's important to keep our priorities straight and focused," Mfume said. "This is not a time to sit back and pontificate with pointed fingers about the fact that there are imperfections in our society." Gatewood said he would respect the national NAACP, but "we would like for them to respect the Durham NAACP." "By that, pick up the phone and say, 'There are some questions about your statement, and I would like to hear from you and not a reporter,'" Gatewood said. The national NAACP office had received a copy of Gatewood's statement before Mfume commented. Gatewood said he had "problems" with Mfume's comments but that those concerns would be addressed later when a reporter was not present. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytrc-09.27.01-02:39:08-15834