NAACP Responds to Rachel Dolezal Controversy
The NAACP's national office in Baltimore issued a statement on Rachel Dolezal on Friday afternoon.
The Spokane, Wash., civil rights leader has been pretending to be Black, her parents told KREM.
"For 106 years, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has held a long and proud tradition of receiving support from people of all faiths, races, colors and creeds. NAACP Spokane Washington Branch President Rachel Dolezal is enduring a legal issue with her family, and we respect her privacy in this matter," the statement reads.
"One’s racial identity is not a qualifying criteria or disqualifying standard for NAACP leadership. The NAACP Alaska-Oregon-Washington State Conference stands behind Ms. Dolezal’s advocacy record. In every corner of this country, the NAACP remains committed to securing political, educational, and economic justice for all people, and we encourage Americans of all stripes to become members and serve as leaders in our organization."
The Spokane police department is currently investigating allegations that Dolezal has received hate mail and racially charged death threats.
"Hate language sent through mail and social media along with credible threats continue to be a serious issue for our units in the Pacific Northwest and across the nation," the NAACP statement reads. "We take all threats seriously and encourage the FBI and the Department of Justice to fully investigate each occurrence."
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(Photo: Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review via AP, File)
