GA State NAACP President Dubose Insults Albany Branch in White Media

GA State NAACP President Dubose Insults Albany Branch in White Media

Sumter County NAACP president Matt Wright and Dr John Marshall join Albany NAACP president William Wright and Albany Officers in a show of solidarity.

Staff Reports

ALBANY, GA - The local NAACP branch has pledged to carry out the civil rights organization's fight for justice, even if it's for their own civil rights. Officers of the Albany- Dougherty County NAACP and the branch lawyer said the move this month by the Georgia State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to suspend members on allegations they weren't paying their dues - was unlawful and unjust.

"We will continue to fight injustice, even if it is against the Georgia State Conference," said branch attorney, Maurice Luther King, Jr.

For years, there has been friction between then Albany branch president, William Wright, and the Georgia State Conference over the financial assessment amount the branch should pay. Wright said Albany branch members shouldn't have to pay as much dues -- which is based on how many blacks who live in the county -- as those in much larger populated areas.

"It's like a poll tax," King said.

The state NAACP office had alleged the Albany unit owed $2,460 in past-due assessment fees. King said the branch negotiated with the state office for $1,000 and sent them a check, with the understanding that cashing it would mean the branch had met its financial obligation.

King said the check was deposited and cleared the bank. A letter written by national NAACP President Benjamin Jealous was sent to the White Albany Herald newspaper before it was sent to President William Wright. The letter stated that Wright failed to pay the assessment and held improper branch meetings.

The members were supposed to be suspended.

King contends that under Georgia law, the assessment was paid when the check was deposited.

"When the check was negotiated, it served as an accord and satisfaction," King said.

King added the state conference violated its own bylaws by using Article 10 to remove the local officers -- an Article which sets policy for the expulsion, suspension or removal of members.

"It never mentions assessment fees," King said.

King added he also didn't like how the NAACP was treating Wright, a longtime NAACP member and chapter president, adding the state conference has tried to embarrass him in the white media.

Wright has been affiliated with the local NAACP for 34 years and president for 20.

"It's a terrible tragedy, when an organization founded on fighting bigotry, racism, discrimination, differential treatment, to not have due process, that's the most insidious thing to me, not to have due process of law," Wright told another news outlet.

In a letter to NAACP attorney Anson Asaka and copied to Ben Jealous and GA State President Edward Dubose, dated Oct. 4, 2010 King wrote:

"I find it astonishing that the NAACP would treat Mr. Wright in this disrespectful manner considering the actions Mr. Wright has taken to advance the rights of black people in Southwest Georgia," he said. "In fact, I am inclined to believe that even the Tea Party would have treated Mr. Wright better than the NAACP has treated him in regard to this matter."

It's not clear what effect the suspension will have on the branch. King said the Albany branch will go on with business as usual, because the state conference does not own the building where the branch operates.

We have received information that State NAACP President Edward Dubose sent two of his district coordinators to branches and attempted to close them down. The post office boxes were closed in Camden and Dougherty counties and the contents removed from both boxes. The branches are having the NAACP investigated by their respective District Attorneys and the U S Attorney to see if federal laws were violated.

Finally, the GA State NAACP Convention held this past weekend in Lithonia, GA was called the worst convention ever by one attendee. President Dubose was expecting 500 delegates and 1000 attendees. We are told there were 61 adults and approximately 60 youth members.

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