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The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People posted a statement on its website to address the growing controversy surrounding NAACP Spokane Branch President Rachel Dolezal.
It was recently revealed by Dolezal's parents that she is Caucasian, not African-American.
Dolezal is being accused of falsely portraying herself as African-American. In addition to leading the NAACP branch, she teaches African studies at a Washington university and allegedly identified herself as African-American to secure an appointment on a local citizen police commission.
In response to the controversy, Dolezal told the Seattle Times that "We're all from the African continent."
The NAACP has released a statement in support of Dolezal:
"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. 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.
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. We take all threats seriously and encourage the FBI and the Department of Justice to fully investigate each occurrence."
