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NAACP head in Los Angeles resigns over links to Donald Sterling NAACP head in Los Angeles resigns over links to Donald Sterling
(4 months later)
The head of the The head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Los Angeles has resigned over his ties to Donald Sterling, the Clippers owner who has been pilloried for racism.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Los Leon Jenkins announced he was stepping down on Thursday evening, saying his abortive plan to honor Sterling, a donor, had left the organisation open to criticism.
Angeles has resigned over his ties to Donald Sterling, the Clippers "The legacy, history and reputation of the NAACP is more important to me than the presidency,” Jenkins said in a brief statement. “In order to separate the Los Angeles NAACP and the NAACP from the negative exposure I have caused … I respectfully resign my position as president of the Los Angeles NAACP.”
owner who has been pilloried for racism. The local chapter of the civil rights group has come under intense scrutiny the past week over the fact it honored Sterling in 2009 and planned to do so again this month, giving him a lifetime achievement award at a banquet.
Leon Jenkins announced The planned award was rescinded after TMZ posted a recording last Friday of the Clippers owner making racist comments about black people, triggering a nationwide outcry. The National Basketball Association has banned Sterling for life.
he was stepping down on Thursday evening, saying his abortive plan to Jenkins, who took over the NAACP's LA chapter in 2008, struggled to explain his previous embrace of the real estate tycoon turned pariah.
honor Sterling, a donor, had left the organisation open to The group honored Sterling in 2009 despite the fact the same year he paid $2.7m to settle government claims that he refused to rent property to latinos and black people.
criticism. Also in 2009 Elgin Baylor, an African American and former general manager of the Clippers, sued Sterling for wrongful termination and discrimination on the basis of age and race, accusing the owner of having a “vision of a southern plantation type structure” and a “pervasive and ongoing racist attitude”. Baylor subsequently dropped the racism accusation and lost the case in 2011.
"The legacy, This week Jenkins had defended the ties with Sterling, 80, on the basis he was a philanthropist who financially supported the NAACP and other groups which campaigned for racial and ethnic minorities.
history and reputation of the NAACP is more important to me than the Critics accused Jenkins of trading the group's credibility for donations intended to camouflage a billionaire's racism. An online petition calling on the NAACP to suspend the LA chapter attracted more than 400 signatures.
presidency,” Jenkins said in a brief statement. “In order to Jenkins's position weakened further when the Los Angeles Times, citing records from the state bar of California, reported that as a judge in Detroit in 1988 he was indicted on federal bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud and racketeering charges.
separate the Los Angeles NAACP and the NAACP from the negative Authorities at the time alleged Jenkins received gifts from those who appeared in his court and committed perjury. He was acquitted of criminal charges but the Michigan supreme court disbarred him, finding "overwhelming evidence" that Jenkins "sold his office and his public trust", according to the bar records.
exposure I have caused … I respectfully resign my position as
president of the Los Angeles NAACP.”
The local chapter of
the civil rights group has come under intense scrutiny the past week
over the fact it honored Sterling in 2009 and planned to do so again
this month, giving him a lifetime achievement award at a banquet.
The planned award was
rescinded after TMZ posted a recording last Friday of the Clippers
owner making racist comments about black people, triggering a
nationwide outcry. The National Basketball Association has banned
Sterling for life.
Jenkins, who took over
the NAACP's LA chapter in 2008, struggled to explain his previous embrace of the real estate
tycoon turned pariah.
The group honored
Sterling in 2009 despite the fact the same year he paid $2.7m to
settle government claims that he refused to rent property to latinos
and black people.
Also in 2009 Elgin
Baylor, an African American and former general manager of the
Clippers, sued Sterling for wrongful termination and discrimination
on the basis of age and race, accusing the owner of having a “vision
of a southern plantation type structure” and a “pervasive and
ongoing racist attitude”. Baylor subsequently dropped the racism
accusation and lost the case in 2011.
This week
Jenkins had defended the ties with Sterling, 80, on the basis he was a
philanthropist who financially supported the NAACP and other groups
which campaigned for racial and ethnic minorities.
Critics accused Jenkins
of trading the group's credibility for donations intended to
camouflage a billionaire's racism. An online petition calling on the
NAACP to suspend the LA chapter attracted more than 400 signatures.
Jenkins's position
weakened further when the Los Angeles Times, citing records from the
state bar of California, reported that as a judge in Detroit in 1988
he was indicted on federal bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud and
racketeering charges.
Authorities at the time
alleged Jenkins received gifts from those who appeared in his court
and committed perjury. He was acquitted of criminal charges but the
Michigan supreme court disbarred him, finding "overwhelming
evidence" that Jenkins "sold his office and his public
trust", according to the bar records.