The New Britain Herald : New Britain, Conn., and surrounding areas (newbritainherald.com)
NEW BRITAIN — The NAACP of New Britain invites the community to its annual Emancipation Day program this Saturday at the Spotswood AME Zion Church.
The first event of the New Year for the city’s NAACP chapter will educate and celebrate the historic presidential executive order issued by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.
The event, Davis said is an opportunity for people who have not been involved in the struggle or want to learn about social justice to get involved.
For that reason, Davis said the guest speaker for the program will be Ernest Newton, a former state senator from Bridgeport who, in 2005, resigned from the Senate after being charged with corruption.
He served five years in federal prison the following year.
“I felt that he would be an excellent speaker. I feel as an organization we have a reconnect to help our brothers and sister in helping them back up to where they need to be in our community,” Watson said.
“Despite his charge with corruption, Ernest Newton has remained loyal and very active in the community and in the struggle.”
Newton, a native of Fort Belvoir, Va., moved to Bridgeport at an early age and in 1978 graduated from Winston-Salem State University with a degree in music education.
He returned to Bridgeport school system to teach for five years.
In 1981, Newton ran for and won a seat on the Bridgeport City Council, becoming the first black person — and the youngest at age 25 — to ever hold the position as council president.
“He held that position for four years and became one of the city’s strongest and most fervent voices,” Watson said.
In 1989, he was elected to the state House of Representatives, and was re-elected eight times and served on numerous committees.
After being sworn in to the state Senate in 2003, Newton was appointed by Sen. Kevin Sullivan to serve as the deputy president pro tem, the third-highest leadership position in the Senate.
Newton was also chairman of the legislative Black and Puerto Rican Caucus from 1991 to 1992.
He has been instrumental in getting Bridgeport vital education funding, creating better job opportunities for urban residents, and in securing the city funding for key projects such as the Opportunities Industrial Center, Harbor Place, the Ballpark at Harbor Yard and Bridgeport’s new sports and entertainment arena.
The program will also have a variety of entertainment, including dancers, singers and a gospel choir..
The New Britain Branch of the NAACP will host the program Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Spotswood AME Zion Church, 25 Crestwood Lane.
The NAACP meets every second Tuesday of the month at 55 Spring St. from 6:30-8 p.m. Membership costs $30 per year.
NEW BRITAIN — The NAACP of New Britain invites the community to its annual Emancipation Day program this Saturday at the Spotswood AME Zion Church.
The first event of the New Year for the city’s NAACP chapter will educate and celebrate the historic presidential executive order issued by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.
The event, Davis said is an opportunity for people who have not been involved in the struggle or want to learn about social justice to get involved.
For that reason, Davis said the guest speaker for the program will be Ernest Newton, a former state senator from Bridgeport who, in 2005, resigned from the Senate after being charged with corruption.
He served five years in federal prison the following year.
“I felt that he would be an excellent speaker. I feel as an organization we have a reconnect to help our brothers and sister in helping them back up to where they need to be in our community,” Watson said.
“Despite his charge with corruption, Ernest Newton has remained loyal and very active in the community and in the struggle.”
Newton, a native of Fort Belvoir, Va., moved to Bridgeport at an early age and in 1978 graduated from Winston-Salem State University with a degree in music education.
He returned to Bridgeport school system to teach for five years.
In 1981, Newton ran for and won a seat on the Bridgeport City Council, becoming the first black person — and the youngest at age 25 — to ever hold the position as council president.
“He held that position for four years and became one of the city’s strongest and most fervent voices,” Watson said.
In 1989, he was elected to the state House of Representatives, and was re-elected eight times and served on numerous committees.
After being sworn in to the state Senate in 2003, Newton was appointed by Sen. Kevin Sullivan to serve as the deputy president pro tem, the third-highest leadership position in the Senate.
Newton was also chairman of the legislative Black and Puerto Rican Caucus from 1991 to 1992.
He has been instrumental in getting Bridgeport vital education funding, creating better job opportunities for urban residents, and in securing the city funding for key projects such as the Opportunities Industrial Center, Harbor Place, the Ballpark at Harbor Yard and Bridgeport’s new sports and entertainment arena.
The program will also have a variety of entertainment, including dancers, singers and a gospel choir..
The New Britain Branch of the NAACP will host the program Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Spotswood AME Zion Church, 25 Crestwood Lane.
The NAACP meets every second Tuesday of the month at 55 Spring St. from 6:30-8 p.m. Membership costs $30 per year.
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