Mintz Responds to NAACP Resolution on Racism

Touting a "zero tolerance" policy on racism, the leader of the South Bay Tea Party (SBTP) responded Wednesday to accusations by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) that the Tea Party tolerates bigotry within its ranks.

"As a Jewish-American, I ... cannot sit idly by without reiterating my strong position that the South Bay Tea Party has a zero tolerance position against racism of any kind," said Nathan Mintz, Republican candidate for this year's 53rd District state Assembly race, in a statement released Wednesday. "That is not who we are, that is not what we stand for, and it would violate the very tenants of the organization we have formed."

As the country's largest civil rights organization, the NAACP adopted a resolution Tuesday during its annual convention in Kansas City, Mo., calling on "the Tea Party and all people of good will to repudiate the racist element and activities" within the nascent political movement.

According to the association's website: "Members of the Congressional Black Caucus reported that racial epithets were hurled at them as they passed by a Washington, D.C. health care protest. Civil rights legend John Lewis was called the 'n-word' in the incident while others in the crowd used ugly anti-gay slurs to describe Congressman Barney Frank, a longtime NAACP supporter and the nation's first openly gay member of Congress."

NAACP President Ben Jealous blasted the Tea Party during the convention in Kansas City, saying the party is dividing the country and "represents a small and dying demographic."

Mintz's campaign manager, Gary Aven, offered a contrary assessment of the party's local appeal in a previous interview with Patch, citing a "great deal of groundswell" since the chapter was founded in April 2009. The number of SBTP members has grown to 1,500 in a little more than a year, Aven said.

"I will publicly denounce any chapter of the Tea Party movement in California who entertains even so much as a racist thought, a racist sign or anything bearing the slightest resemblance to it," said Mintz. "Our door remains open, we continue to invite all who wish to join, and we will continue to fight for freedom for all Americans—regardless of race, religion, color or creed—through November."

The 53rd District Assembly seat is being vacated by Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), who will have served the maximum term of six years in the legislature. Mintz ran unopposed in June's Republican primary and has been building on momentum gained from the Tea Party's national wins in other key state primaries, including Nevada, Kentucky and South Carolina.

"I am a uniter, not a divisive leader," said Mintz, "and it is in this spirit that myself and more than 1,500 South Bay residents will continue to work toward November to restore fiscal accountability to our state and nation."