This time will be different.
At least that’s what local political and religious leaders hope as they try to organize a Snohomish County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the nation’s oldest civil rights group.
| Established by a group of activists in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is the nation’s oldest civil rights organization. The NAACP seeks to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of all people’s rights, and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. |
In 1989, an NAACP chapter opened in the greater Everett area, but in 2000 the chapter dissolved because of a lack of interest and participation.
“We asked ourselves, ‘Why do we not have these areas of representation in this county and what would it take?’ ” the Rev. Paul Stoot said. “It became a developing tragedy when you have to reach to Seattle to supply services to Everett.”
Late last year, County Executive Aaron Reardon and Stoot, of south Everett’s Greater Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, decided it was unacceptable for an increasingly diverse county not to have a chapter of a national civil rights organization.
The county’s minority population is now at 20 percent, Reardon said.
More help needed
The county has a committee to address racial and cultural issues, but the NAACP can do things for people that “government can’t do,” Reardon said.
Early this year several hate crimes, including two cross burnings in the county, only hastened the discussion.
“People didn’t know where to turn,” Reardon said. “There wasn’t an advocacy organization.”
So how will this time be different?
“Easy. We’re going to let people know that we exist and that we’re calling for those in the four corners of Snohomish County – that we want them to be a part,” Stoot said.
The mission of the NAACP and its chapters is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of all people’s rights, and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.
Teamwork
The leaders of another grass-roots Snohomish County civil rights group hope to work closely with a new NAACP chapter.
The Communities of Color Coalition was revived this year, though it was organized almost four years ago, said Chairman Ed Glazer.
“It’s our position that any time people of color get themselves together for a common purpose, it’s good, be it political, or be it social,” Glazer said.
Interim President Harlan McGowan said the NAACP is not there to take away from any other groups working for similar goals.
“It can’t hurt to have another one,” McGowan said. “We don’t want to steal anyone’s thunder.”
The Snohomish County NAACP chapter will especially look to engage teenagers and young adults, he said. It will also be there just as much to address day-to-day injustices, such as workplace discrimination, as it is for highly publicized hate crimes such as the cross burnings.
For weeks, the NAACP chapter organizers have been planning the chapter’s first event. They hope a rally Saturday at Greater Trinity will draw people of all backgrounds.
The group will attempt to get some of the 100 adult memberships and 25 youth memberships it needs to get an NAACP charter, which will likely be formally approved in the spring, McGowan said.
Membership is open to all, regardless of race.
Richard Mitchell, general counsel to Gov. Christine Gregoire, will be the keynote speaker.
McGowan also invited rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot, who he knows from a CB radio club.
He reiterated that the NAACP is a place for everyone.
“A lot of people, the first thing they think about is blacks – people of color,” McGowan said. “It’s for the whole community.”
Reporter Jennifer Warnick: 425-339-3429 or jwarnick@heraldnet.com.
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