People over profits?
It is clear to see that with all of the "spy vs spy" fights that go on amongst progressive Black people, if there was an ideological and/or partisan divide between them - at least some of them would turn to shooting each other. Sadly there are several notable squabbles on various city councils, school boards and so-called "civil-rights organizations" between those who are consider "on the same team" already - I'd hate to think what would happen if the practice of "Black ideological unity enforcement" were to cease and these people had more formal divides between them.
It goes to show you that absent an EXTERNAL UNIFIER, not even the consideration of the benefit that prisoner re-entry programs have in working to keep a person that once got in trouble with the law to stay on course is enough to keep certain people's egos in check as they remain focused on the best interests of their community.
I wonder if they have a Tea Party in Camden County Georgia who could have a rally and get the NAACP re-unified as they march in opposition?
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WOODBINE - A volunteer program in Woodbine to help former inmates re-enter society as productive, law-abiding citizens has created a dispute between the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP and the NAACP's Camden County branch.
Larry Lockey, a NAACP district coordinator, said all officers at the Camden County branch have been removed from office and new elections will be held at a date to be announced.
He said the NAACP removed the officers because they refused to stop running the Camden County Re-entry Program. Staffed by volunteers, the program helps former inmates earn GED diplomas, learn job skills and find employment.
"The Camden County branch re-entry service is not sanctioned by the Georgia State Conference," he said. "They were told numerous times to cease operations. If the chapter is not performing to NAACP bylaws, why have one?"
Lockey said Camden County branch leaders have refused to provide bank records and have not attended mandatory training required by the national organization.
"Nothing has been given to the state or national level," he said. "They're not providing anything. They said they didn't have any bank accounts."
Robert Cummings, who has served as Camden County branch president on and off for nearly 20 years, said the re-entry program is not a NAACP function but some branch members are volunteers in it. And because those who work in the program are unpaid, no money is raised and the bank accounts the NAACP wants to see don't exist, he said.
"It's not a chapter function, but this is what we are supposed to be doing," he said. "I was very much surprised."
Cummings said the decision to remove all officers and reorganize the Camden County branch is political. He said state president Edward Dubose lied to national NAACP officials to convince them to reorganize the Camden branch. Dubose did not return calls to two different numbers for comment.
"It's all a lie," Cummings said. "It's all because the state president is in a dogfight with Bob Jackson over the re-entry program in Camden County."
Jackson, a member of the NAACP executive committee in Carroll County, said he helped create the state's first inmate re-entry program three years ago in Carroll County. Only 10 of the 540 participants in that program have gone back to jail or prison, said Jackson, who helped establish Camden County's inmate re-entry program about two years ago.
Sheriff Tommy Gregory said he is not aware of any of the 49 participants in the Camden County program being charged with another crime.
"We have to do something to stop the revolving door in prison," he said. "You bring in people who don't have any hope and give them hope. It's about helping and saving people."
Cummings said he is appealing the decision. But Lockey said there will be no appeal because the local chapter failed to respond to requests from state NAACP officials for records.
"They don't have an appeal because they didn't turn in the materials we requested," Lockey said.
Jackson said the reorganization of the Camden County branch may be punishment for supporting his bid for state president two years ago.
"There's a strong possibility that might be the case," he said. "I don't know what his [Dubose's] problem is. The focus should be on those who support the program."
Harriet Wyatt, a teaching assistant who helps former inmates prepare for GED exams, said the program makes a difference.
"They come here so we can help them with a new beginning," she said. "When the guys call us and say they got a job, it makes us feel good."
Gregory said he is a strong supporter of the program because it works.
"They're trying to break the cycle of recidivism," he said. "The program is wonderful. It's a benefit to our community."
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