Funny, why would a donation cause this?

[Sangersteve]

Earlier this month, one of the nation’s largest public-sector unions — AFSCME, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees — decided to sever its relationship with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), which in June accepted $25 million from libertarian philanthropists David and Charles Koch.

Yesterday, Al Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN) announced its supportof AFSCME’s move. NAN issued the following statement:

While National Action Network respects the work done by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) in support of students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities and understand the need to raise funds to continue this critical work, we stand in support of the decision by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) to sever ties and end their partnership with the UNCF. As a nonprofit civil rights organization, NAN recognizes that the funding landscape has changed and many organizations must figure out ways to continue their programming by bringing in new types of funders.

However, the Koch brothers have not only worked on initiatives that have a disenfranchising effect on the same students UNCF supported institutions work to educate, the Koch brothers have also led efforts to end union organizing. We believe that AFSCME is doing what is right for its members who the Koch brothers have targeted and is working in the interests of students of color who attend not only UNCF Institutions, but all institutions of higher learning. But most importantly, AFSCME is working to support the value of justice. The union has already committed to continuing to support students of color by working directly with colleges and universities, so the end of the partnership does not signal an end to opportunities in organizing for students.

[ann jusko]

Is that like having your cake and eating it, too?