PRESS RELEASE:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2023
Santa Maria, CA
On the weekend celebrating the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr., the Santa Maria Lompoc Branch of the NAACP is reporting an uptick in Racism, Hate, Bigotry, and Anti-blackness.
In the past several months, several known incidents of racial hatred and bigotry have been reported throughout northern Santa Barbara County including a black face incident, and two incidents involving monkeys, monkey gestures, and one incident involving a stuffed monkey and bananas as a Secret Santa gift with another student. These incidents involve school-aged children and one college student.
Many in the community know that comparing Black people to monkeys, apes, and gorillas (simians), has a long history, is RACIST, dehumanizing, derogatory, reprehensible, offensive, intolerant, very hurtful, painful, and TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
The NAACP has also continued to receive numerous reports of the pervasive use of the “N” word, including on numerous school campuses. While we are working with the appropriate authorities, we will not identify any individuals and/or schools and we will continue to condemn, remediate, and educate offenders and the public.
The NAACP rejects and condemns all forms of racism, hatred, bigotry, and Antiblackness in the strongest language possible. We call on ALL community members throughout the County, parents, students and schools, to reject hatred,
bigotry and intolerance in their communities and society as a whole and to work with the NAACP and other liked minded organizations to embrace diversity, tolerance, and inclusivity. We remain committed to an equitable and just society where all members are valued, treated equally, with dignity and respect, regardless of race, ethnicity, skin color, national origin, gender, and/or sexuality and are grateful for funding through “The Racial Equity Fund of Santa Barbara County (REFSBC), administered by The Fund For Santa Barbara, that we are able to work with schools and individuals to provide Education, Awareness and Advocacy, around these issues.
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities.
CONTACT:
Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt, President
Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP
WEBSITE: https://www.santamarialompocnaacp.org
Email: lyonspruitt@msn.com or info@santamarialompocnaacp.org
Phone: (805)-448-7869