ICYMI: Seacoast NAACP President Fred Ross Backs Senator Watters’ Re-election Campaign

Dover, NH – Today, Senator David Watters received the backing of a prominent community leader, NAACP Seacoast President Fred Ross, in a Letter to the Editor in Foster’s Daily Democrat. 

“Having dedicated my career both in the legislature and in the classroom to advancing civil rights, I’m truly honored to have Fred Ross’ support. I’m looking forward to many more years of working together to recognize equality and justice for all,” said Senator David Watters.

See below the full endorsement published in Foster’s Daily Democrat earlier today:

Support for Watters
Foster’s Daily Democrat

July 17, 2014

To the editor: I am writing to offer my endorsement of Senator David Watters for his decades of dedication to equality and justice for people of all races. I support candidates who don’t just talk the talk but walk the walk of equal opportunity and opposition to discrimination. Senator Watters is a Silver Life member of the NAACP and the Seacoast NAACP chapter, and he has worked closely with me, chapter president, on voting rights and other civil rights issues.

I’ve known Senator Watters for over 20 years and have seen how he embraces the changing communities of District 4 to ensure that all citizens can participate fully in our democracy. He draws on the experiences of his own biracial family, but he also has a deep understanding of racial history in NH. As a UNH professor, teaching African American literature and history, the founder of the Black New England Conference, and a Board member of the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, he has increased awareness of the hidden history of diversity in New Hampshire.

As a Senator and Rep., David Watters has demonstrated his leadership through legislation. He cosponsored the bill to retroactively emancipate Portsmouth slaves who petitioned for freedom in 1779, and he fought against attempts to restrict voting rights. He stood with the NAACP to support death penalty repeal. He fought for marriage equality, and met with local police to promote sensible policies on immigration status. It is an honor for me to support such a person as David Watters.

Purnell “Fred” Ross

Dover