WASHINGTON, D.C. – ColorOfChange.org today announced that they will deliver more than 341,000 petition signatures to the Republican National Committee calling on RNC Chairman Michael Steele and other Republican leaders to publically condemn bigotry and hate among supporters of the Republican Party, as well as fear-mongering and coded racism from officials in the party.
Members from ColorOfChange.org will join with members from MoveOn.org, CREDO and Brave New Foundation’s ‘Cuentame’ to formally deliver the petition signatures on Thursday, April 1 at 12:30pm in front of the Republican National Committee Headquarters (see below for details). The organizations collected petition signatures from their respective members last week—all will be delivered.
The petition delivery comes on the heels of recent news of the violence and outright hatred that took place during Republican-led Tea Parties over the past few weeks in protest of President Obama’s health care initiative. Attendees shouted racial slurs at black Congressmen as well as homophobic slurs toward openly gay Congressman Barney Frank.
The Huffington Post recently released a video proving Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver’s claim that he was spit on as he walked past the rally.
Since the passage of health care reform, at least ten members of Congress have received threats – windows and doors were smashed at several representatives’ offices, and a gas line was cut at what vandals thought was the house of Congressman Tom Perriello. One office had to be evacuated when it received a threatening letter filled with an unidentified white powder.
The petition circulated by ColorOfChange.org, MoveOn.org, and CREDO demands the following of RNC Chairman Michael Steele and other Republican leaders: (1) to unequivocally condemn bigotry and hate among your supporters, and make clear that those who embrace it have no place in your party and that you reject their support and (2) make clear that you will not tolerate fear-mongering and coded appeals to racism from officials in the Republican party, at any level.
The petition circulated by Brave New Foundation’s ‘Cuentame’ uses different language but carries the same sentiment
Event Details:
WHO: Members from ColorOfChange.org, MoveOn.org, and CREDO, Brave New Foundation’s ‘Cuentame’ Speakers Include: Dani McClain, ColorOfChange.org; Patrick Robinson, MoveOn.org; Tanene Allison, Brave New Foundation’s ‘Cuentame’
WHAT: Petition delivery to the Republican National Committee, calling on Republicans to condemn bigotry and hate among their supporters as well as fear-mongering and racism from officials in the Republican Party
WHEN: Thursday, April 1, 2010 – 12:30pm
WHERE: Republican National Committee Headquarters 310 First Street, SE Washington, DC 20003
With more than 600,000 members, ColorOfChange.org is the largest African-American online political organization in the country.