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The New York Civil
Rights Coalition (NYCRC) is an organization of people concerned with kindling
in Americans a spirit of unity and commitment in achieving a truly open and
just society, where the individual enjoys the blessings of liberty free of
racial prejudice, stigma, caste or discrimination. In this regard, NYCRC works
purposefully to encourage people and institutions to take affirmative steps to
achieve an integrated society—inclusive neighborhoods; strong, diverse, and
interracial educational systems, both public and private; equal opportunity in
employment and voting rights; and unfettered participation in the civic affairs
of our democracy.
We are committed to integration as a strategy
as well as a philosophy for accomplishing equal opportunities because we
believe that in the field of race “separate is inherently unequal.” There is
much evidence that a racially-fractionalized society perpetuates inequalities
and imperils the unity of the nation. Moreover, a racially-polarized society
reinforces stereotypes, and fosters intergroup suspicion, hostility and
rivalry. NYCRC, therefore objects to all forms of segregation and schemes that
in purpose or effect separate people on the flimsy basis of their skin color.
Thus, NYCRC works to promote and strengthen racial harmony and understanding
through the realization of the uniqueness of the individual, and by convincing
“tomorrow’s people” that there is only one race to which we all belong,
and that our humanity is the bond of our diversity and commonality.
The New York Civil Rights Coalition (NYCRC) exists to speak
out knowledgeably and intelligently about racial incidents and to protest acts
of hatred. NYCRC mobilizes organizations and individuals to purposeful, non-violent
action, to respond to all forms and outbreaks of bigotry, including anti-black
behavior, anti-Asian violence, xenophobia, and anti-Semitism. NYCRC, Inc.
analyzes historic and current events related to racial prejudice and problems
of discrimination, and seeks, through research, fact-finding, and publication
to counteract myths and reckless rumors. NYCRC, Inc. also serves as a watchdog
of government, assessing the equitable delivery of essential governmental
services related to human resource development and human relations concerns.
NYCRC, Inc. prepares youth to assume and to demonstrate their civic and
leadership responsibilities, through internships and volunteerism in school
programs and through community service. NYCRC involves youth and adults of
all colors, ethnic backgrounds, nationalities and religions.
NYCRC
operates in accordance with a philosophy that enforced racial segregation is an
unwarranted restriction on human liberty. Thus, pressures to separate people on
the flimsy basis of their skin color are to be combatted, because such
pressures stifle individuality, lock people out of places, and deprive them of
meaningful social intercourse and contacts that are essential to the
eradication of the conventions of racial prejudice.
No
other civil rights organization like NYCRC exists in New York or the nation.
NYCRC has a central office of core staff, headed by an expert in civil rights
who was trained by the venerable Roy Wilkins (the NAACP's Executive Director
for 22 years) and the eminent scholar and psychologist, Dr. Kenneth B. Clark.
The grassroots structure of NYCRC consists of over thirty city-wide and
community-based organizations, each of which reserves the right of
self-governance while agreeing to work cooperatively on specific campaigns to
advance public education and understanding about the crisis in race relations.
And unlike single-purpose rights and "ethnic" organizations, NYCRC
allies itself with all victims and targets of discrimination and hate. For
example, NYCRC stood with Jews and Italians against the racist rhetoric of
Professor Leonard Jeffries. And NYCRC stood with Asians against those chanting
such vicious epithets as "yellow dogs" on Church Avenue in Flatbush,
Brooklyn. NYCRC co-sponsored a memorial service on Staten Island for a man who
fell victim to anti-gay violence. And NYCRC sponsored marches through Canarsie
and Bensonhurst in response to anti-black violence. Unfashionable, and
sometimes unpopular, NYCRC is always principled and attentive to its
mandate to oppose all acts of bias and incitements to racial discrimination and
divisiveness. Moreover, NYCRC has provided quality analysis of current events
and developments in the field of human relations, upon which the public at
large, constituent groups, and the media rely for an honest perspective and
rigorous assessment.
NYCRC
is an organizational success, notwithstanding its controversial
stances. NYCRC's refusal to be intimidated into silence, its steadfast
commitment to principle, its tireless work on behalf of a truly open society,
and to equal opportunity and fair play for poor and powerless people in an
increasingly competitive and racially-divided society, has won support from
individuals, public interest organizations and foundations. Since 1986, when
NYCRC was founded, the Coalition has been funded by public donations, corporate
and foundation grants. As a matter of policy, it does not accept governmental
funding.
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