Dear Friends:

We write today out of concern for our communities and for the future of the community organization ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) whose member families have provided crucial grassroots voice for justice around the country for decades.  

Recently, conservative activists have released disturbing videos of some frontline ACORN staff making indefensible statements.  Although we continue to have questions about the motives and tactics behind these videos, we applaud the swift and decisive action that ACORN's Board of community leaders and its management has taken in response to the tapes.  

Scott Harshbarger, former Attorney General of Massachusetts, is conducting an independent and comprehensive inquiry into the systems and processes for ACORN's social service programs.   ACORN's CEO and Chief Organizer Bertha Lewis has committed to implement whatever guidelines Mr. Harshbarger recommends.  In the meantime, ACORN has suspended new appointments for its service programs.  As Mr. Harshbarger has stated, his mission is, "to make a full report, including recommendations for restoring ACORN's full capacities to carry out its mission on behalf of low- and moderate-income families."  The inquiry is being conducted under the guidance of ACORN's Board.  ACORN leadership is also consulting with an outside Advisory Committee, which is comprised of nationally prominent leaders from the corporate, philanthropic, labor and non-profit sectors and former elected officials.  We applaud ACORN's leadership and management for addressing these important administrative and programmatic concerns in a transparent and expeditious manner.  We ask that ACORN be treated in a fair and balanced manner and wish to express our concern that some of those who are calling for a rush to judgment have an unstated political agenda.

For over 40 years ACORN has provided effective service to our communities in the areas of affordable housing, fair access to mortgage lending, education, health care and social services.  We recognize ACORN as an important part of the fabric of our communities.  We are encouraged to note that ACORN's existing supervisory systems did not allow a single piece of improper paperwork to be completed or filed in any of the incidents portrayed in the recently aired videos. We see that the actions of some employees and volunteers were inappropriate, and we applaud their dismissal.  We believe that the further reviews and changes to ACORN's procedures will strengthen the organization, allowing ACORN to continue its work to meet our shared goals of stronger, more stable families and communities.

Now more than ever, ACORN's mission to help hard working families is critical.  We will continue to support ACORN – an irreplaceable community organization and important voice for working families – as we work with them in addressing the troubling allegations leveled in recent weeks.

We urge others to join us.