P.O.
Box 15692 ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87506-15692 ~ (505) 424-6100
President Carol Johnson
1st Vice President Wanda Ross- Padilla
2nd Vice President Agnes Moses
August 2009
2009 marks the 100th Anniversary of the
founding of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People. We are the
oldest Civil Rights Organization in America.
PRESIDENT’S LETTER – Carol Johnson
I hope you are having a great summer. The
NAACP National Convention was held in New York
City, July 11-16, 2009. The theme was NAACP
100 Years Bold Breams – Big Victories! Chris
Johnson was our delegate; see her report for
highlights.
I accompanied William Katz, author of The Black
West to meet with Libby Dover, Executive
Director of Santa Fe 400 during his visit to Santa
Fe in May. Santa Fe 400 would like to include Mr.
Katz in their quatrocentenial lecture series which
will begin October, 2009. Funding is an issue
Secretary Cynthia Geder
Asst. Secretary Alex Downen
Treasurer Christine Johnson
since the Legislature did not provide funds for the
Santa Fe 400 commemoration. Santa Fe 400, the
Branch and others are investigating potential
funding sources. Any ideas are greatly
appreciated. Members of the Branch met with Mr.
Katz after the meeting at Santa Fe 400 for lunch
and stimulating conversation. We will keep you
informed as to the progress and plans for a
presentation by Mr. Katz in Santa Fe.
Congratulations to Christine Johnson, Bob Moses
and Wanda Padilla for their awards from the New
Mexico Office of African American Affairs on June
13, 2009. They are well deserved. Thanks to
them for their continued hard work and
dedication to the NAACP and the community.
It has been a busy spring and summer for the
Branch. Read on for more details. We are sending
the newsletter electronically, by email and on
website, and will have printed copies at
meetings. If you would like a printed copy mailed
to you, please let us know. The cost of printing
and mailing the newsletter was becoming
prohibitive. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Thanks for your support and dedication to the
mission of the NAACP.
ABOUT US
Protecting the diversity of culture, ethnicity, and
the rights of people under the law is at the heart
of the mission of the Santa Fe branch of the
NAACP. Bruce King, former New Mexico
governor declared, in 1979, that New Mexico is a
multicultural state. The NAACP is about ensuring
the political, educational, social, and economic
equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate
racial hatred and discrimination.

BOLD DREAMS BIG VICTORIES!
NAACP NATIONAL CONVENTION
JULY 11-16, 2009
-Report by Christine Johnson.
The Annual NAACP National Convention was held
in New York City, July 11-16, 2009, the
birthplace of the NAACP in February, 1909 and
this was its 100th Anniversary. The Theme was
BOLD DREAMS BIG VICTORIES.
On Sunday, July 12th, I attended the Prayer
Breakfast/Memorial Service for deceased NAACP
Officers and members, the Rev. Al Sharpton was
the "Speaker" and he preached!!!! Later on in
the evening the Grand Ballroom was packed for
the Opening Public Mass Meeting, which was very
ably presided over by the VP of the Board of
Directors, Roslyn Brock.
All the dignitaries from NY State and City, State
Senators and Representatives and the US House
of Representatives Speaker of the House brought
greetings. The Keynoter was Julian Bond,
Chairman of the Board. He was committed to
what the NAACP stands for and insistent in what
MORE has to be addressed and done in the next
100 years. He announced that he will not be
running next year for Chairman of the Board.
On Monday, July13th, we began having our
Regional Meetings which begin (Mon, Tues, &
Wed. @8am) for Region VI (AR, LA, OK, NM, &
TX). Sam Bone, Jr. presided and I took
the minutes. The newly elected Officers 2009-
2010 are Chair: Miller Newman (OK), Vice Chair:
Gary Bledsoe (TX), Secretary: Twan Jones (OK),
Asst. Sec: Yolanda Smith (TX), Treasurer: Ora
Washington. The 1st Plenary Session had 5 of the
former Presidents/CEOs speak and then our
young Pres/CEO Benjamin Jealous gave the
Keynote address. He was energetic, forward
thinking and explicit in what this organization has
to and MUST DO in the next 100 years--starting
NOW!!!
Tuesday, July 14th, at our Regional meeting met
with Miller Newman presiding--we elected Dr.
Ernest Johnson (La) as our Regional Nominee to
the Board of Directors. Our present Board of
Directors members gave their reports. The Youth
of Regional VI elected officers and they were
introduced. Sam Bone, Jr. (NM State Pres) gave
a detailed report of the Region VI's Leadership
Conference held in ABQ. In Feb, 2009. The
Conference made $1,311.82.
There were over 2,000 registered Delegates, and
5,000 attendees at this historical Convention--the
largest ever!!!
During the Legislative session, I was most
impressed with the young delegates who spoke
to and for different Resolutions on the floor, in a
concise, intelligent, researched, and committed
manner. Some notable Resolutions passed on
Tuesday, were: National Day of Non-
Violence,April4,2010;anti-bullying and
Harassment in schools; HIV/AIDS "The Way
Forward" in 2006 in collaboration with the Black
AIDS Institute; Change the time of Annual
Financial Report from February to March; NAACP
supports legislation to address Racial
Discrimination and Disparities in Criminal Justice
Prosecutions.
Tabled Resolutions that will come before the
Delegates on Thursday AM were: Combining the
Efforts of ACTSO of the mind and Back to School
Stay in School program to assist in Demolishing
of High School Dropout Rates among African-
American students.
We started all the Plenary and Legislative
Sessions with this Call led by the President
FIRED UP--and we answered--READY TO
GO!!!! This was done three (3) times each
louder than the first. WOW!!!!!
Thank you for permitting me to represent the
Santa Fe Branch!

TRUTH & RECONCILIATION
IN SOUTH AFRICA
-Report by Vikki Scott
The end of apartheid in South Africa and the
election of the first democratic government in
1994, was one of the defining events of the end
of the 20th century. After careful consideration,
the new government decided against instituting
judicial proceedings based on the Nuremberg
model to prosecute the perpetrators of human
rights abuses under the Apartheid Regime. It
was thought that to "judicialize" the process
would by too costly in time and money for the
young nation and the patience of her citizens to
bear.
Instead the South African Government under the
leadership of President Nelson Mandela, instituted
the first Truth and Reconciliation Commission
(TRC) by statute, the Promotion of National Unity
and Reconciliation Act, No. 34 of 1995. Since
then Commissions have been set up to address
all sorts of government wrongdoing in countries
from Argentina to the United States. These
Commissions have taken various forms and
served different ends, but the South African
model remains foremost in the minds of people
the world over.
An important objective of the Commission was to
discover the truth of what happened during the
apartheid era. It was thought that an honest and
open examination of past events would foster
informed public debate and an accurate public
consciousness of shared history. The mandate of
the Commission was limited to only two years.
Distinctions between the function of the TRC and
the judicial system were defined in the Statute
and refined in practice. The Commission sought
free confession and the renunciation of violence
by perpetrators, the incentive being the
possibility (not the promise) of amnesty. Cross-
examination, legal representation, the
determination of guilt, and the imposition of
sanctions were left to the Courts. The process
was thought to reinforce democracy.
The experience of the TRC in South Africa and its
role in facilitating the transition to a democratic,
nonracial South Africa continues to be evaluated
and debated. The South African model is invoked
where people seek to resolve conflict and expose
government abuse outside the limitations of the
judicial system. Here in the U.S., Senator Patrick
Leahy and Representative John Conyers have
proposed a "truth commission" to investigate, but
not prosecute, alleged crimes of the Bush
administration. It is appropriate for people who
value democracy to understand the workings of
the South African Truth and Reconciliation
Commission in order to support the effective
implementation of the principle where needed.
FORT CRAIG REPATRIATION CEREMONY
SANTA FE NATIONAL CEMETERY
JULY 28, 2009
The remains of 64 soldiers and civilians exhumed
from Fort Craig Cemetery in central New Mexico
by the Bureau of Reclamation are now resting at
the Santa Fe National Cemetery. The last three of
the soldiers were reburied following a memorial
service at Santa Fe on July 28, 2009.
The three identified soldiers, United States Army
Privates Levi Morris, Thomas Smith and David
Ford and the other soldiers and civilians received
full military honors during the ceremony held on
National Buffalo Soldier Day. All three were
Buffalo Soldiers.
Cliff Shields, director of the Santa Fe National
Cemetery, was Master of Ceremonies; the FROM NAACP NATIONAL
Presentation of the Colors was performed by the AUGUST, 2009
New Mexico National Guard; the Eulogy was
given by retired U.S. Army General Julius Parker;
and other comunity leaders were on hand at the
event.

NAACP Congratulates Supreme Court

Justice Sonia Sotomayor

APPLAUDS U.S. SENATE FOR

CONFIRMING THE NATION’S FIRST
LATINA JUSTICE AND BALANCING
THE SUPREME COURT

WASHINGTON DC—The NAACP issued the

(For more on the story go to
http://www.usbr.gov/uc/feature/FtCraig/index.ht following statement today on the confirmation of
ml) Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the next Supreme
Court Justice.

“The confirmation of the first Latina to join the

Supreme Court is a moment that our nation
should celebrate,” NAACP President and CEO
Benjamin Todd Jealous said. “It brings us one
step closer to the inclusive democracy that is the
hallmark and promise of our great nation. Judge
Sotomayor has the judicial track record, the
intellectual fortitude, and the life experiences
that will serve the Supreme Court and our nation
well.”

Said Jealous; “The NAACP applauds the U.S

Senate and the Judiciary Committee members
Senators Patrick Leahy, Benjamin Cardin, Charles
Schumer, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Lindsay
Graham for moving this process along in a swift
and judicious manner. Justice Sotomayor brings
more federal judicial experience to the Supreme
Court than any justice in 100 years and we are
proud to see her confirmed.”
“The United States Senate made history today,
and the NAACP is proud to stand with newly
confirmed Supreme Court Justice Sonia
Sotomayor. Justice Sotomayor’s historic
nomination and confirmation to the Court is an
excellent choice, and she will bring much needed
balance to Supreme Court,” stated Hilary O.
Shelton, Director of the NAACP’s Washington
Bureau and Senior Vice President for Advocacy.
“Justice Sotomayor’s decisions after 17 years on
the federal bench show her to be thoughtful,
intelligent and extremely fair-minded with a
strong and proven commitment to civil rights
protection. As such, we have not seen a more
inspired nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court
since the great Judge Thurgood Marshall,”
concluded Shelton.
HTTP://WWW.NAACP.ORG/
NORTH AFRICAN & CARIBBEAN CAFE
AUGUST, 2009
Jambo Cafe
North African and Caribbean influenced
restaurant will be having its grand
opening in Santa Fe!
Chef Amed Obe has a great menu
featuring his native foods.
Jambo Cafe has good prices and a
welcoming environment.
Drop by and say “Jambo” (hello)!
Lunch or dinner anyone?
Location: 2010 Cerrillos Road
Open 11am to 9pm
505-920-4803 for information
Only 15 percent of drug users are African-
American, yet 74 percent of all drug
offenders sentenced to prison are black
Arianna Huffington on Sunday, July 26th, 2009 in
This Week with George Stephanopoulos
INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP
PROGRAM
AUGUST 11, 2009
At the August 11th monthly meeting, we will
have very special visitors present who are
participating in the International Visitor
Leadership Program sponsored by the State
Department and hosted by The Council on
International Relations. They are from Israel,
including an Ethiopian student coordinator.
The objective of their visit includes Examining
how grassroots organizations seek to influence
human rights policy at the national, state, and
local level and Exploring citizen's rights and
responsibilities in a civil society, particularly
minority rights.
Hope you are able to attend!
SANTA FE NAACP BRANCH MEMBER
PASSES
Luis Rodriguez
1935 – 2009
NAACP Branch member, Luis Rodriguez of Santa
Fe and Las Vegas, passed away in the early
morning of Friday, June 26, after a brief struggle
with lung cancer. He died at home surrounded
and supported by family and friends.
Louis Alphonse Rodriguez, Jr. a.k.a. Luis
Rodriguez was born January 24, 1935, on Cerro
Gordo Road near Two Mile Reservoir in Santa Fe.
He was 5 years old when he and his 2 brothers
were orphaned by the death of their mother from
TB. His father left Santa Fe to serve in the Navy
during WWII. The brothers were raised by their
grandmother, Simona Ortiz Rodriguez. Grandma
Rodriguez made tortillas by hand on their wood-
burning stove; they drew water from the acequia
and kept goats on the hills above. Grandma
taught him to roll and smoke tobacco at the age
of eight: he was a life-long smoker. Luis's
experience growing up in pre war Santa Fe, in
Oakland, CA, and later in the US military, gave
him a keen sense of racial justice and social bias.
Luis is survived by daughters Audry Rodriguez of
Albuquerque and Yvonne Rodriguez of
Sacramento, California; companion of 20 years,
Victoria Scott of Santa Fe; her children Charles
Mundy-Castle of Las Cruces; Jenny Mundy-
Castle, and daughter Salomé Castle-Verkouille of
Santa Fe.
PLANNING MEETING OBJECTIVES OF THE NAACP

The Santa Fe NAACP Branch 2009-10 Planning
Meeting was held March 10, 2009 during
combined Executive Committee and Membership
meetings. In this centennial year and the next,
we are planning productive and exciting
activities, which will increase our ability to
continue the struggle for civil rights for all.
Some of the activities planned include events to
increase membership and strengthening our
partnerships with other organizations with like
missions; speakers at monthly meetings;
Juneteenth and Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday
celebrations; participation in the 400th
anniversary of Santa Fe; a Walk for Family
Justice; a trip to Africa…
The principle objective of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
shall be to ensure the political, educational, social
and economic equality of minority group citizens;
to achieve equality of rights and to eliminate race
prejudice among the citizens of the United States;
to remove all barriers of racial discrimination
through democratic processes; to seek enactment
and enforcement of federal, state and local laws
securing civil rights; to inform the public of
adverse effects of racial discrimination and to seek
its elimination; to educate persons as to their
constitutional rights and to take all lawful action to
secure the exercise thereof, and, to take any lawful
action in furtherance of these objectives consistent
with the Articles of Incorporation.

The following members have agreed to chair and

participate on the following committees:

Communications/Press & Publicity –

George Geder & Vikki Scott
Community Coordination –
Cedric Page
Education –
Rebecca Cecil & Carol Johnson
Finance/Fundraising –
Christine Johnson, Daran Moon & Carol Johnson,
Political Action –
Bob Moses & Reena Szczepanski
Youth Work –
Isaac Engelson
Health – Doris Fields NAACP – The Oldest Civil Rights
Membership – Cynthia Geder & Alex Organization in America
Downen Founded in 1909
Juneteenth – Nichoe Lichen & Karen Finney
Legal Redress – 100th Anniversary Celebration in
Karen Finney 2009
Chair and committee members are pending for
the following committees:
Armed Services/Veterans Affairs, Special thanks to the following members
Religious Affairs, Economic Development, who assisted in getting out this
Housing, Labor & Industry, newsletter:
and Martin Luther King Day.
Carol Johnson, Christine Johnson &
Volunteers are need for all committees. Your
participation will be greatly appreciated and will Victoria Scott.
increase our ability to continue the struggle for
civil rights for all. George Geder, Editor

www.naacpsfnm.blogspot.com