Anchorage NAACP Calls on Senate President to Remove Mike Shower as Chairman of State Affairs1/26/2021 Press Release:
January 26, 2021 6:00 a.m. CONTACT: Terria Ware (907) 529-7478 Anchorage NAACP Calls on Senate President to Remove Mike Shower as Chairman of State Affairs Assault on voting rights should disqualify Shower from leadership of key committee Following Senator Mike Shower's introduction of SB 39, a brazen assault on Alaskans' voting rights, the Anchorage NAACP is urging Senator Micciche to remove Shower from his position as chairman of State Affairs. "Anyone who would dismantle Alaskans' voting rights doesn't deserve to chair the committee overseeing election issues," said Kevin McGee, President of the Anchorage NAACP. "Senator Micciche needs to replace Senator Shower with a member who supports the democratic process." SB 39 would roll back Alaskans' voting rights by eliminating vote-by-mail elections established by municipalities, eliminating automatic voter registration as put into law by popular referendum, and dis-enfranchise tens of thousands of Alaskans. SB 39 is a local manifestation of the national white supremacist attack on voting rights, which included the recent violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Alaska Division of Election and Municipality of Anchorage have demonstrated that voting by mail is safe, secure, and reliable. Voting by mail has no apparent impact on partisan outcomes, but has been shown to protect the franchise and ensure Alaskans have access to the ballot box. ###
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July 28, 2017, 11:00 AM Contact: Kevin D. McGee, (907) 441-2137 NAACP Thanks Murkowski for Defending Alaska Murkowski bucked party in defense of Alaskans' health care ANCHORAGE: The Anchorage NAACP applauds Lisa Murkowski for casting a decisive vote to protect Alaskans' health care, including Alaskans who have care through Medicaid, private insurance, and tribal health care programs. "Lisa Murkowski's multiple votes in defense of Alaskans' health care make it clear that she places our health and welfare ahead of Washington Republicans' sick, pro-death agenda," said Kevin McGee, president of the Anchorage NAACP. "In contrast to Murkowski's principle and independence, Dan Sullivan flagrantly broke his promise to defend our care, and cowardly sided with party leaders instead of Alaskans," added McGee. Murkowski's voted in opposition to theft of Alaskans' health care, and she voted against the so-called "skinny repeal" that would have put private health insurance plans into a death spiral and driven up costs for private coverage. Dan Sullivan voted for both measures, effectively endorsing plans to end Medicaid coverage for tens of thousands of Alaskans while making private health insurance unaffordable. Scientific studies demonstrated that Medicaid expansion reduced death rates by six percent, meaning that Alaska's Medicaid expansion is saving some 2,000 lives per year. Conversely, repealing Medicaid coverage as proposed by Washington Republicans and supported by Dan Sullivan, could have condemned hundreds if not thousands of Alaskans per year to premature death. "Health care literally is life or death, and Alaskans have Lisa Murkowski to thank for defending the health care programs like Medicaid and private health coverage that keep many of us alive every day," said McGee. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 26, 2016, 12:00 PM Contact: Kevin D. McGee, (907) 441-2137 Anchorage NAACP Selects Kevin McGee As New Branch President Community Group Will Stay Focused on Civil Rights, Public Safety, Energy Justice, Economic Opportunity ANCHORAGE: The Anchorage NAACP has elected Kevin McGee as its branch president, following McGee's long history of activism on civil rights, public safety, and other public policy issues. "I am humbled to stand side by side with many active members of the Anchorage NAACP, and look forward to our continued work together," said McGee. McGee and the Anchorage NAACP has been very involved in prominent issues in Alaska and Anchorage, including organizing rallies to support strong and positive relationships with law enforcement, cracking down on violence and reducing recidivism, supporting voting rights, developing projects associated with Green/Clean energy and supporting economic opportunity for all Alaskans. Following the apparent election of Donald Trump, Alaskans' civil rights are at greater risk than at any point in recent memory, and the Anchorage NAACP will be working with other community organizations to stand up for Alaskans' Constitutional rights. McGee pledged to work on the following issues as Anchorage NAACP branch president: • Continue the progress made over the past four years through the leadership of outgoing President, Wanda V. Laws; • Maintain and develop more partnerships in our community to help move the NAACP progressive outreach; • Ensure that our public schools are accountable to communities of color; • Further the accountability of our state in matters of criminal justice reform; • Support and help defend the Equal Protection Clause in the Alaska State Constitution; • Further the NAACP, Anchorage Branch position as an Energy Justice supporter of Green Energy and producer of jobs in Green Energy; • Help establish more opportunities to provide scholarships for college and trade school bound students; • Hold "ALL" Alaska's elected officials accountable and demand they all support the renewal of the Voting Rights Act. 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. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2016, 8:00 A.M. Contact: Wanda V. Greene, (907) 301-6041 NAACP, Anchorage and Alaska Republican Party Partner Joint Resolution Developed on Criminal Justice Reform ANCHORAGE: The Anchorage NAACP has partnered with the Alaska Republican Party to develop and provide a Joint Resolution calling for Criminal Justice Reform to be developed, and established in the State of Alaska. The leaders of both organizations, NAACP Anchorage, President, Wanda V. Greene, and Alaska Republican Party, Chairman, Peter S. Goldberg, on March 26, 2016, signed a joint resolution to agree to the establishment of Criminal Justice Reform for the State of Alaska. Every year, Alaska spends approximately $150.00 per inmate per day which is a significant expense to the State of Alaska and taxpayers to keep folks incarcerated. Now, just to put that in perspective, for 500 inmates at $150.00 per day, 365 days a year costs $27,375,000. It’s a lot of money for what we spend to keep everyone locked up for one year. “In far too many cases, the punishment simply does not fit the crime. There should be accountability but in far too many instances the punishment is disproportionate to the crime. It would be more beneficial if we invested more in treatment, rehabilitation and education” said Wanda V. Greene, President, NAACP, Anchorage. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 17, 2016, 8:00 AM Contact: Xavier Mason, (907) 310-0319 NAACP Youth Council Commits to Community Involvement Day of Service in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ANCHORAGE: The Anchorage NAACP Youth Council in partnership with the Alaska Sierra Club, the Mountain View Lions Club and a number of other organizations are committing a day of service on January 18th in celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday. The event will begin at the Mt. View Lions Club, 501 N. Pine at 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The plan is to present two events, the first being a Day of Service for the Mt. View Committee through providing snow shoveling and picking up trash around the neighborhood. And the second event is a “Taste of Mt. View” beginning at 1:00 p.m.and ending at 3:00 p.m. at the Mt. View Boys and Girls Club. The main purpose for this event is to create an open dialogue in Anchorage’s most diverse neighborhood, provide a service opportunity for role model individuals and organizations in Anchorage and support economic development by highlighting local businesses. ###
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October 18, 2015, 10:30 AM Contact: Wanda V. Laws, (907) 301-6041 NAACP Calls on Alaska Day Committee of Sitka to Remove Slavery Auction Event Slavery Auction is Inflammatory and Insensitive ANCHORAGE: The Anchorage NAACP is calling on the Alaska Day Committee of Sitka, Alaska and the 2015 Festival Trustees to immediately retract and remove the scheduled Slavery Auction event listed on their calendar of events. This event we categorize as both egregious and insensitive to the entire African-American community in the State of Alaska as a whole. Events of this nature are what has justified national controversy and condemnation. “It is particularly disturbing to see an event identified as a "Slave Auction" in light of our Country’s history of slavery in relation to African Americans” said Wanda Laws, President of the Anchorage NAACP. Laws noted that to confirm these activities were actually scheduled the event was researched and confirmed atwww.alaskadayfestival.org on the Events page, on Facebook at alaskadaysitka and advertised in local newspaper and radio. This is unacceptable. It is ironic that the Sitka Alaska Day Committee and 2015 Festival Trustees see nothing immoral about supporting such an event. If they did they would find their continued obsession with slavery extremely misguided. "These types of inflammatory and insensitive events has no place in our society. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17. 2015, 11:00 AM Contact: Wanda V. Laws, (907) 301-6041 Julian Bond Longtime NAACP Leader and Civil Rights Advocate Dies at 75 ANCHORAGE: Horace Julian Bond, generally known as Julian Bond, the longtime NAACP leader and civil rights leader died on August 15, 2015, following a brief illness. He was president of Atlanta’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People before becoming the chairman of the national NAACP, a position he held from 1998 until 2010. NAACP, Anchorage President, Wanda V. Laws said “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Julian Bond.” “I had the brief opportunity and privilege of meeting and speaking with him at a previous NAACP National Convention.” “This country has greatly benefited from the sacrifices he has made. The NAACP Anchorage Branch will continue the goals of the late Julian Bond. He was truly a great man.” ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2015, 6:30 PM Contact: Kevin D. McGee, (907) 441-2137 Anchorage NAACP Thanks Gov. Walker for Medicaid Expansion Supports Walker Administration Decision to Expand Coverage and Lower Costs ANCHORAGE: The Anchorage NAACP wishes to thank Governor Walker's decision to accept federal Medicaid expansion funding. Federally-funded Medicaid expansion comes at a crucial time for Alaska, as it can reduce the growth in health costs, expand health coverage, and blunt the negative economic impact of budget deficits and declining oil prices. Medicaid expansion has become even more important as it will bring billions of dollars into Alaska at a time when the state confronts budget deficits and falling oil prices. "Thank God Bill Walker used his authority to expand Medicaid. Simply accepting this federal investment is vital to lower Alaskans' health care costs, expand health care coverage, and bring much-needed economic development to our state," said Kevin McGee, 1st Vice President and Political Action Chairman of the Anchorage NAACP. Medicaid Expansion Addresses Key Health, Economic Challenges: •Data from across the U.S. shows that Medicaid expansion can lower health costs, and that lack of Medicaid expansion traps consumers with higher insurance costs. After Parnell failed to expand Medicaid and failed to conduct oversight of insurance companies, Alaskans faced the highest-in-the-nation cost increases. Now Walker has an opportunity to bring down the cost of health care with Medicaid expansion, reversing damage done by Parnell. •Medicaid expansion could expand health coverage to some 42,000 Alaskans, according to the ANTHC. This reform will improve Alaskans health, save hundreds of Alaskans per year from premature death, and reduce the number of babies born prematurely. •Medicaid expansion will bring billions of dollars of investment and thousands of jobs to Alaska, according to the ANTHC. This economic development is vital at a time when budget deficits and falling oil prices have imperiled Alaska's economy. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2015, 8:00 AM Contact: Kevin D. McGee, (907) 441-2137 Sen. Murkowski and Sullivan vote NO on Attorney General Loretta Lynch NAACP wants answers as to why both of Alaska’s Senators voted NO on the first African American Woman Attorney General ANCHORAGE: Senators Murkowski and Sullivan were both NO votes on the confirmation of America’s first African American Woman Attorney General. Ten other GOP Senators came across the aisle and confirmed the President’s pick to succeed Eric Holder. According to the New York Times, only two other AG nominees took longer to confirm. Loretta Lynch holds many distinguishing factors including being a top prosecutor in Brooklyn, a district that has around 8 million people. Lynch has also been a leader in prosecuting cyber crimes, a growing concern. Bloomberg news notes that she has been a long time advocate for civil rights. As well as standing up for social justice, Lynch prosecuted terrorists such as the New York Federal Reserve bombing plot. In a statement to Facebook Murkowski noted, “Alaskans are looking for an AG who will champion our civil liberties against government infringement, vigorously defend our Second Amendment rights, and demonstrate a genuine interest in the public safety challenges that face our rural communities.” Ironically, Murkowski-- the author of the Alaska Native VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) exception-- cited rural public safety as one reason for her opposition. “I am disappointed that both Murkowski and Sullivan did not join the other ten GOP Senators who helped make history by confirming our nation’s first African American Woman Attorney General,” said Kevin McGee, NAACP Anchorage 1st Vice President. “This is a great step forward for women and people of color, it’s sad that Alaska’s Senators did not vote for Loretta Lynch’s confirmation.” ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2015, 12:00 PM Contact: Kevin D. McGee, (907) 441-2137 A Disappointment for Anchorage The NAACP Anchorage Expects More from a Citywide Leader ANCHORAGE: The NAACP Anchorage has been an established civil rights organization in the community since 1951. Our goal is to provide as much information as possible so that the community in informed and exercises their right to vote. It is extremely unfortunate that our invitation to mayoral candidate Amy Demboski to share her vision for Anchorage by participating in the NAACP Anchorage’s upcoming debate was declined. The NAACP has high expectations of our citywide leaders to be responsible and inclusive of our extremely diverse and multi-cultural community. Our organization inspires action through our many strides in social initiatives, education, and cultural competency. We will continue to empower the community by encouraging participation in the civic and democratic process to ensure that every voice is heard. The NAACP is a non-partisan, civil rights organization ### |