The Frederick Douglass Republican Council Of New York State

Grant Valentine, President
P.O. Box 201, New City, New York 10956

Meetings will be held the first and third Saturday of each month at headquarters in New City at 10:00 a.m.

Biographical Articles on Frederick Douglass

Newest Republican Club Infuses Divergent Ideas While Broadening the County's Republican Base

by Marianne Cucolo

The Rockland County Frederick Douglass Republican Local Chapter held its first meeting at County Headquarters. This latest addition to the list of Republican organizations in the county is most welcomed, and viewed as a necessary component to the future success of Rockland Republican Politics.

Lawrence C. Diggs Jr., founder and president of the state's organization, attended this first meeting. Mr. Diggs gave an inspirational welcoming speech to a packed room of both new members and Republican officials. Mr. Diggs pledged his support to this new local chapter. He promised to help and guide this organization in any way he could.

The basic premise of this Council is the belief that the two-party system is good for African Americans as it is good for America. THE ROCKLAND COUNTY FREDERICK DOUGLASS REPUBLICAN COUNCIL is committed to this belief; and only through the active participation in the two-party system can African Americans enhance their economic, social and political upward mobility. "We believe that African Americans place themselves at a gross disadvantage through continued adherence to their one-party allegiance: unquestioned support of the Democratic Party." African Americans have for too long followed and supported the Democrats in Rockland County. They should ask themselves: Has my standard of living and the quality of my life improved over the past twenty years of Democratic control? Do the Democrats deserve the loyalty and exclusivity of the African American vote?

The local chapter hopes to implement its goals over the coming months. Some of their major objectives are: (1) to develop economic and political strategies that will promote greater inclusion of African Americans (2) to develop and support Republican African American candidates (3) to increase voter registration (4) to develop a broad-based collaborative approach to local, state and national political issues and (5) to help members understand and positively promote political issues which affect their lives, country and the world.

Also in attendance to express their support and well wishes were: The Honorable Hezekiah Easter, Republican Legislator Emeritus of Rockland County; Mr. Edward Oliver Jr., president and founder of the Westchester Black Republicans; Senator Joe Holland; C. Scott Vanderhoef, our County Executive; Thomas Morahan, Chairman of the Legislature and Vincent D. Reda, Chairman of the Republican Party in Rockland County.