Press Releases & Publications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 10, 2025
 

JUNE 2025 Newsletter

(From the desk of Betty Williams, President)

Historical Civil Rights Organizations

and The Current Needs of the Community

Are historical civil rights organizations still holding true to their original missions and focus?

My character and my successes as a professional, as a leader and Black woman were constantly attacked, simply for me challenging my aggressor and running for a leadership position in one of the oldest civil rights organizations in the nation.  I (along with many others), had my voice silenced when challenging  what many may perceive as rigged elections (that frequently involve results without accurate counts and unverified winners). So many  have filed harassment and retaliation complaints for years without response from the National Office, and to this day, we still only hear crickets in response.

My story made national news, and the shame I felt was almost unbearable. However, through emails, text messages and phone calls from all over the country, I learned of many more stories similar to what I’ve witnessed first-hand.  There is a growing number of individuals, members of the association and supporters sharing their experiences, so I decided to organize and create a contact system to maintain good communication and collaboration. We connected weekly, then appeared on the Roland Martin Show where we were able to share with a broader audience, (and I thank God for quality, unapologetically Black-Owned media groups that are unafraid to speak our truths).

We received an email from the former NAACP branch in Boulder, Colorado that had decided to disband due to repeated harassment from local law enforcement and misconduct and lack of support from the National Office, and others constantly attacking their branch.  This decision took an enormous amount of courage and bravery to make this bold move to terminate their own branch.
 

Please understand that organizations like my creation of the National African American Civil Rights Organization (NAACRO) aim to serve needs that are severely undermet.   We invite the Boulder Colorado community and all others who would like to grow and evolve with us, especially during this critical time for our country.

Now to be clear, many of us are not against the principles or the mission of this civil rights organization; it is the misconduct that interferes with justice that we condemn. There are branches doing many great things and quality work within their respective communities. There’s a saying in the association, that “membership is the life blood of the association”.  People pay into national memberships that do not in-turn support unit sustainability. There is often very little or no branch foundational support for things like relevant training, websites, marketing, offices, maintenance and basic supplies.  These things also came out of the pockets of the volunteers who kept branches running. 

Many good people continue to overcome these short-comings, and they deserve respect and support from the organizations they uphold. Dealing with internal struggles as well as trying to meet the needs of the community can be overwhelming. We need to support our own on the front lines battling injustice.  Period.

So, yes, I have the audacity to create an alternative and purposeful civil rights organization to provide an outlet and an empowered voice for those who need it most, and I aim to do that with the best of my abilities, and with others who share the same passion.  If you’re interested in knowing more about NAACRO, please visit our website at NAACRO.org and be added to our email list. Please let us know if you would like more information about bringing NAACRO to your community and providing training to your community leaders so that we can bring a successful impact to those we serve.

We look forward to hearing from you.

In solidarity and with God’s blessings,

Madam President Betty Williams