NAACP Responds To Biden’s Second State Of The Union Address
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2023
Contact: Trovon Williams, trwilliams@naacpnet.org
BALTIMORE — Following President Biden's second State of the Union address to Congress, NAACP President & CEO, Derrick Johnson released this statement:
"Tonight, President Biden presented a vision for the future that spoke to many issues that are top-of-mind for Black Americans including police reform, voting rights, bolstering our economy, addressing climate change, and ensuring affordable and accessible health care. Though his remarks renewed his commitment to addressing racial inequality and protecting our democracy, we need more than words– we demand action. Black America is grieving and continues to experience profound injustice at the hands of our nation's broken systems. Far too many Black people have lost their lives due to police violence and yet I cannot name a single law that has been passed to address this issue. While President Biden signed an executive order, we still need strong policies signed into law that will finally end the horrors of police brutality and hold officers accountable for their misconduct.
"In the year ahead, we will continue calling on President Biden and our other elected leaders to join us as we speak out against what doesn't work for Black America and advocate for the policies that will result in the changes we're demanding. The NAACP looks forward to the bold actions that will follow President Biden's words tonight and will hold him accountable for his promises, as we always do."
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ABOUT NAACP
Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF – was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation's first civil and human rights law organization and shares our commitment to equal rights.