Worcester Branch NAACP Picks New Leadership Slate

WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester Branch NAACP on Monday elected a new slate of leaders, including elevating Fred Taylor to president from first vice president.

The new leadership slate includes: Fred Taylor, president; Ed Robinson, first vice president; Nelly Medina, second vice president; Doreen Oughton, secretary; Frances Graveson, assistant secretary; Ron Nneji, treasurer; Bob Michel, member at-large; Rich Mackoul, member at-large.

Taylor, who has been especially vocal over the last year following unrest over the summer, released a statement pledging to keep working on several issues in Worcester: addressing racism in policing, Black representation in municipal government and the removal of police from public schools.

"I would like to start by saying how grateful I am to be in this position to lead the Worcester Branch NAACP. I understand this will not always be easy. I am humbled by the support expressed by many people in the community. Our unity is so important in this time when a light has been shined on the injustices Black people face in this country. There is finally some recognition of the long-standing injustices in policing, in the judicial system, in the education system, in political representation, and in workforce representation for hiring and decision-making.

"In the year ahead, with your support and the work of those wanting to bring change to our city, I pledge my commitment to the Worcester Branch NAACP’s continued efforts to: address systemic racism in the Worcester police, to remove police from our schools, to bring political representatives to our city that reflect the faces of our sons and daughters. We will continue to work on criminal justice reform and be an active member in the crucial organizing work being done with Black Families Together in our city.

"The murders of Black children, women, and men by people who took an oath to “serve and protect” has cast a painful shadow over the past several years. We have a duty to the generations before us, and the generations to come, to not back down from our cries for justice. The Worcester Branch NAACP will continue to advocate for our safety and security. We will use all our tools to fight against the demonization of our community, abuse of force by the police, and the baseless charges forcing Black, brown, and poor white people to plead guilty in court to weak charges. The revelations of police abuse, false reporting, and racist statements by some have strengthened our call for the immediate implantation of a civilian review board, with full transparency, community leadership and full subpoena powers in Worcester.

"We also need fair representation in the Worcester Public Schools system. A good start would be to change the current election system regarding the School Committee. This would increase the chances of fair representation on the School Committee. The Worcester NAACP has worked with community groups and met with diversity officers to discuss how to diversify the workforce. As part of Black Families Together, we pushed for Worcester’s Chief Diversity Officer to be elevated to a cabinet position with better pay and an office with support staff.

"As said by Mother Teresa, 'I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create a ripple.' I pledge to you to work hard to do what is right even knowing I will not be perfect. Hopefully we can take on this righteous work and battles for equity and justice together. This is a very ambitious agenda. We look forward to working with the community, administration, and the media."