NAACP Announces Opposition to Prop 1

NEW YORK, NY (10/14/2014)(readMedia)-- New York- The NAACP announced their opposition to Prop 1, a proposed redistricting amendment that will be on the November ballot. The NAACP, the nation's premier civil rights organization, has a long history of advocating for protecting voters rights as well as the rights of communities of color. The NAACP NY Chapter voted on their opposition to Prop 1 at their state convention held over the weekend of 10/10-12.

"The NAACP is 100% opposed to Proposition 1. New Yorkers should not be fooled by fake redistricting reform. For decades, the NAACP has led the fight against lawmakers who have tried to suppress our civil rights through the redistricting process," said Dr. Hazel Dukes, President of the NAACP NY conference. "This proposed commission does not reflect the will of the voters: it would only be a proxy for the Legislature which has manipulated us for far too long. We deserve better than the same old Albany status quo. On November 4th, vote no!"

Proposal 1 is an amendment that will lock a flawed redistricting plan into the state constitution. "We are extremely happy to have the NAACP join our opposition to Prop 1," said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause NY, an opponent of Prop 1. "Prop 1 will force future map drawers to consider the current district lines that are already used to reduce the voting power of communities of color. The NAACP has a history of standing strong against laws that would suppress their communities' civil rights and we are proud that they stand with us in this fight."

In their opposition to Prop 1, the NAACP is joined by The Center for Law and Social Justice. "The Center for Law and Social Justice strongly opposes Proposition 1. It is bad for Black voters. Proposition 1 is 'fake redistricting reform' when we need real redistricting reform in New York State. It will allow the same political players to continue to call the shots on redistricting. It will continue the gerrymandering that has minimized the voting power of Black citizens of New York State for decades in the New York Senate. It will continue the systemic voting injustices that erode democracy in the Empire State," said Esmeralda Simmons, Esq. the Executive Director of the Center for Law and Social Justice. "I'm voting NO on November 4th."

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.

The Center for Law and Social Justice (CLSJ) is a unit in the School of Professional and Community Development at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York.

No to Fake Redistricting Reform Committee was established as a campaign committee in 2014 to advocate against Prop 1, a state amendment to the NYS constitution. This proposal will take away voters rights to pick their legislators and continue to divide up the state by the will of Albany politicians instead of drawing maps to fairly represent the will of the voters.

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