Black Pro-Life Groups to Protest NAACP Image Awards

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Thursday, January 31, 2013

A group of African-American pro-life activists and organizations are planning to protest the 44th Annual NAACP Image Awards in California.

Groups and individuals including Life Education And Resource Network (LEARN), Black Autonomy Network Community Organization (BANCO), Dr. Alveda King, and others will protest the televised event on Friday. The coalition argues that the NAACP supports abortion, which is the leading cause of death in the African-American community.

Dr. Johnny Hunter, national director of LEARN, said in a statement that the NAACP's strong ties to Planned Parenthood have made it an organization harmful to the black community. "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," said Hunter. "The NAACP must quit endorsing destructive and unfruitful behavior."

The Rev. Edward Pinkney, president of BANCO, told The Christian Post that he believed the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People "is out touch with the black community." "The NAACP is no longer a civil rights organization due to the failure of the NAACP organization to represent the best interest of the community," said Pinkney.

"The NAACP supports abortion and the pharmaceutical company that make Depo Provera all for money. The NAACP has betrayed the black community."

Depo Provera, the drug that Pinkney was referring to, is a birth control shot that is supposed to prevent pregnancy for up to 14 weeks. The shot is distributed by Pfizer, which sends contributions to the NAACP. On its website, BANCO has referred to the shot as being dangerous and "eugenic" in nature and condemns the NAACP for its alleged complacency in the matter.

According to WebMD, while Depo Provera does have several risks including depression, weight gain, and loss of bone density, it is not an inherently fatal or deadly birth control method.

For years, many black conservative writers have denounced the pro-choice leanings of the NAACP. While the national organization does have an official position on the abortion debate, over the years it has had prominent members support the pro-choice side. For example, in 2004 then NAACP Board Chair Julian Bond remarked, "This is an issue of equal rights, and we are pleased to join those insisting on a woman's right to control her own body."

Meant to focus on exemplary entertainment by, for, and/or germane to minority communities, the 44th annual 2013 NAACP Image Awards will be hosted by comedian and actor Steve Harvey.

The NAACP did not return comment to The Christian Post by press time.