Spokane police said Friday they were suspending "all cases involving Ms. (Rachel) Dolezal" after Dolezal's parents said in a media campaign that she's white and has been lying about being black for years.
Dolezal has filed racial harassment complaints and claimed earlier this year to have received hate mail at her office. Police said Friday they were “dropping all cases” involving Dolezal.
Dolezal is head of the Spokane NAACP, teaches Africana studies at a local college and sites on a police oversight commission.
Despite the stories about Dolezal and her failure to answer direct questions about her race and ethnicity, the NAACP stands by her.
The organization issued a statement Friday supporting Dolezal, who has been a longtime figure in Spokane's human-rights community.
"One's racial identity is not a qualifying criteria or disqualifying standard for NAACP leadership," the group said. "In every corner of this country, the NAACP remains committed to securing political, educational and economic justice for all people."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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