You are here: Home » Hot Topics » Activism » Calling for the Resignation of NAACP President in IOWA-

Calling for the Resignation of NAACP President in IOWA-

Melanie Nathan -  pursuant to Press release where NAACP President for Iowa and Nebraska endorses Republican Vander Plaats for Governor in IOWA;

In the wake of a recent endorsements and due to his flagrant disregard for the NAACP stand on LGBT equality as a civil rights issue, I call for the resignation of Rev. Ratiff President of IOWA and NEBRASKA NAACP. Unless willing to explicate a public withdrawal of support for the 2010 Republican Gubernatorial candidate, Bob Vander Plaats, who has taken an open stand against Gay marriage, I expect a resignation and an apology for the Rev’s unabashed endorsement of the anti-gay – hence anti civil rights ticket of the Governor ‘wanna be.’

Quoting the website of Vander Plaat’s Issues statements, he asserts that he is “FOR – a stay on same-sex marriages until the General Assembly rewrites state law or Iowans are allowed to vote on the definition of marriage as one man and one woman.”  

Notwithstanding this overt indictment against legal Gay marriage in Iowa, the Reverend Keith Ratliff, pastor of the Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church and president of the Iowa/Nebraska Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People,(NAAC) announced his support for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats.

I ask, where is the consistency in the NAACP?   In at least two prominent appearances, Julian Bond Chairman of  the NAACP has categorically stated that LGBT equality is a civil rights issue and that the NAAC fully supports LGBT equality.  These statements could not have been clearly. The first time I heard Mr. Bonds assert this stance, was on June 3^rd of this year while sitting directly behind him at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the equal immigration legislation, Uniting American Families Act.  The video of his testimony is available on You Tube. The more recent affirmation was at this past weekend’s Equality march in D.C.

In a press release appearing on Vander Plaat’s website:

“Speaking at a morning news conference at the Statehouse, Rev. Ratliff noted that his support for Vander Plaats is “an individual decision based on Bob’s commitment to improving our educational system, economic opportunities for all Iowans and ensuring that our criminal justice system is equal to all.” He added, “I know that Bob Vander Plaats is not afraid to stand up for what is right. That takes courage. He has what it takes to be a fiscally responsible governor who gets Iowa’s financial house back in order, but there is so much more work to be done,” Ratliff said.

No only does Ratliff endorse Vander Plaat, but he also ascribes to the anti-gay marriage tickets when he stated, “Vander Plaats talked about the importance of defending the institution of marriage. And, most importantly, he won’t just talk about those things he’ll do something about them. That takes backbone and determination. That’s what I want in my governor – and that’s why I’m standing here today to show my support for him.”

This is an imperative opportunity and must not be missed – so I encourage all to write Mr. Bonds and express your feelings about this sad contradiction.  Demand that an organization such as the NAACP cannot have at a State’s helm any person who is unable to separate church from state, personal from NAACP position, and one who does not place civil rights as the paramount issue above all else.

watch?v=70wZwx247MQ

Blogged by, MELANIE NATHAN, CEO of Private Courts, Inc. – Consulting, mediation & private advocacy ; motivated by injustice, I blog about family law/mediation, politics, news and LGBT equality and anything that ‘tickles my fancy.’ Otherwise blogging as O-blog-dee-o-blog-da. Websites and blogs include: http://www.privatecourts.com; http://www.divorcemediators.us; www.oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com. CONTACT:- nathan@privatecourts.com