Harnessing 'Power of the Purse to Demonstrate Power of Democracy,' NAACP Calls for N.C. Boycott

The NAACP on Friday called for what it described as "the first steps of an international economic boycott" of North Carolina over the state's legislative attacks on voters, workers, and the LGBTQ community.

The organization said it would not hold its convention in the state, and called on over 200 other organizations to join the economic boycott.

The resolution passed by the Board of Directors cites "racially gerrymandered districts," the controversial (and costly) anti-LGBTQ law HB2, and SB4, which limited the power of incoming Gov. Roy Cooper as reasons for the boycott.

If other states pass similar laws, the resolution says the group "will engage in applying various forms of economic sanctions or other appropriate economic or direct action to address these types of discriminatory legislative or executive actions."

"Seldom has such a poisonously partisan few violated the rights of a nonpartisan many: workers rights, LGBTQ rights, civil rights, and voting rights. Therefore, the NAACP must use the power of the purse to demonstrate the power of our democracy. We will use economic leverage, moral persuasion, civil disobedience, and litigation in North Carolina and across the nation—as needed and now. Unrelenting resistance is the order of the day," said NAACP CEO and president Cornell William Brooks.

Added Rev. Dr. Barber, NAACP North Carolina state president: "What has happened in North Carolina makes this state a battleground over the soul of America and whether our nation is sincere about making democracy real for all people, not just those with the right bank account, right sexuality, or right skin."