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Black Pro-Life Groups to Protest at NAACP Image Awards Show

Posted byBy Kevin Webb | Published on: CommentsComments (2)

Friday night’s 44th annual NAACP Image Awards will bring together the nation’s prominent black artists in film, literature, music and television, but a group of African-American pro-life protestors have pledged they will also be in attendance. A coalition of organizations upset with the NAACP’s stance on abortion plans to protest the event in Los Angeles during its live broadcast. The activists include the Life Education and Resource Network (LEARN), the Black Autonomy Network Community Organization (BANCO), and Rev. Alveda King.

The coalition’s Twitter account, @NAACP_WATCHDOGS, was suspended on Thursday for its attacks against the NAACP. The final tweet was a quote from LEARN national director Johnny Hunter, condemning Planned Parenthood as a form of racial oppression.

“Racist elitists no longer need the Ku Klux Klan to control blacks; they have Planned Parenthood. And Planned Parenthood has the NAACP on a leash,” read Hunter’s quote. “The NAACP must quit endorsing destructive and unfruitful behavior.” Less than five minutes later the account was suspended.

Though no official reason for the suspension has been released, the National Black Pro-life Coalition said that it was suspended after Image Award officials complained to Twitter administrators. Inflammatory accounts are grounds for suspension on Twitter, and the use of the “NAACP” in the username likely expedited the process.

The coalition views abortion as the No. 1 killer of African-Americans, and believes the NAACP is out of touch with the black community. The NAACP views abortion as a matter of women’s rights, and has opposed legislation that would pull funding from Planned Parenthood. The rights group has also sought a ban on abortions based on race. The latter issue has also been a point of contention, as groups like the National Black Pro-life coalition view abortion as targeted eugenics.

“The only word that can define the gross negligence of the NAACP is ‘betrayal,’ ” the coalition posted on Twitter, quoting Dallas pastor Stephen Broden. “They have abandoned our community’s morality, our economic and educational needs for thirty pieces of silver; they are drunk with the wine of the world and the power elite and their eugenic agenda against black folk.”

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