THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 23, 1994 TAG: 9408230386
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
A small gathering of supporters and members of the Portsmouth NAACP rallied Monday in a call for equal housing and equal treatment on the job for the city's poor. They also called for the resignation of their leader, Ethel Robinson.
But Brian Melchor, a committee chairman of the Portsmouth branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and treasurer of the state branch, said the protesters don't have support from other members or its executives.
``She's not going to be ousted,'' Melchor said.
Clyde Toler, another vice president of the Portsmouth NAACP, called for the march after trying to discuss specific cases of alleged discrimination at a meeting last week. Robinson refused to let him speak, telling him he was out of order. More than 100 people left the meeting, and Toler began a petition drive to oust the president.
Melchor said that accusing specific companies or individuals of discrimination during an open meeting could hurt the reputations of innocent people.
```Mrs. Robinson was proper in telling Mr. Toler he couldn't discuss those things in a general meeting,'' Melchor said. ``You have to have a thorough investigation before you can charge any business with discrimination. These things are worked out in committee meetings. It helps protect the company that has been accused.
``People come to me all the time and think that they have been discriminated against and it turns out that they haven't,'' he said.
Toler said Robinson hasn't done enough to end discrimination.
In a speech Monday outside the Third Baptist Church, where the NAACP holds its meetings, he asked for support at the next NAACP meeting.
``I want this place packed,'' Toler said. ``I still want you to join. If you've got a bad apple, then put that bad apple out.''
Toler then condemned alleged discrimination at the post office. The Portsmouth postmaster denies those charges.
The Rev. Rudolph L. Perry, who also spoke, criticized several practices at the housing authority. The participants marched from the church on Godwin Street to the Ida Barbour public housing complex.
Perry said the authority charges public housing tenants a fee for owning items like microwaves, air conditioners and televisions. He also said white tenants got preferential housing.
Hal Short, a spokesman for the housing authority, said the agency does not charge a fee for owning appliances. He said public housing tenants are given a certain allowance for electricity and are charged for anything over that allowance.
The housing authority has also denied any unfair treatment in placing tenants.
The leaders of the march asked that black residents send a message to Robinson that they want a leader who will act quickly to end discrimination.
Melchor said NAACP members will have the opportunity to vote in a new leader in November - if that's what they want.
``Mr. Toler is a hard worker, but he's out of order on this,'' Melchor said. ``He shouldn't have called for her ouster.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
JOSEPH JOHN KOTLOWSKI/Staff
A small group of NAACP members and their supporters protested
discrimination in public housing and called for the ouster of their
leader. At left, Clyde Toler, a vice president of the Portsmouth
NAACP, and Rafiq Zaidi marched in Portsmouth on Monday.
Roy Cromwell, center, joins other marchers in prayer before an NAACP
rally on Godwin Street in Portsmouth on Monday.
by CNB