7/30/2019 NAACP Cease & Desist Letter to Christopher Smitherman.pdf

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05/03/2013 17:26 NAACP PAGE 01/02

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE4805 M. HOPE DRIVE BALTIMORE, MD 21215-3297 (410) 5 30-5777

BENJAMIN TODD JEALOUSPrestdent Chief Executive OfficerCERTIFIED MAIL/RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

AND FIRST CLASS MAIL nose( I M. BROCKChairmen, 6 s ard of Dinecto,May 3, 2013Christopher Smitherman4439 Reading Road, Ste. #3Cincinnati, OH 45229

Re: Cease & Desist NoticeViolations of NAACP PolicyDear Mr. Smitherman:The National Office has been forwarded a link to a website for Amy Mur ay(http://www.electamymurray.cornOp=269) who is a candidate for City Council inCincinnati. On this site, there appears a video of a recent broadcast of your cableshow "For Your Information" in which you endorse Ms. Murray's candidacy. During hebroadcast you did not indicate that you are making tiis endorsement in your capacity asan elected official or as a private citizen and not on behalf of the NAACP. Since heopening credits of the program identify you as "President, Cincinnati Branch NAAC '",your failure to provide such a disclaimer could leave your viewers with the impress onthat, through you, the local branch is taking a partiSan position in the election. As 5 ouare aware, such an endorsement would be a violation of the Association's poll -, y,(NAACP Bylaws, Article II, Section 2(d)).In order to clarify the record, you are asked to issue a statement clearly indicating t iatyour endorsement of Ms. Murray represents your personal opinion and not that of heNAACP. This statement should be issued immediately to the local media in Cincini 'at'and should be read by you during the next broadcast of your cable progrE m .Additionally, we expect that future endorsements will be communicated with the pro )erdisclaimer. Failure to comply with this request may result in your removal as Presid ?ntof the Cincinnati Branch and suspension of your membership in the NAACP or of lerdisciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the National Board of Directors.The NAACP acknowledges and supports your right to hold elected office and y )urpolitical activities may call for you to endorse candidates from time to time. We )reaware that you are not the only NAACP leader Who hosts programs on the radic ortelevision. We hope you understand that it is Or responsibility to ensure that y )urengagement in such activities do not violate NAACO policies.

www.naacp.org

7/30/2019 NAACP Cease & Desist Letter to Christopher Smitherman.pdf

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Christopher SmithermanMay 3, 2013Page 2

Please forward a copy of the press statement c arifying your endorsement of h Is.Murray and the link to the video of your program in which this statement is read to R )v.Gill Ford, National Director of Unit Administration. If you have any questions, Rev, F{ Ordcan be reached at or .If you have any questions, Rev. Ford can be reached at 410A04-1408Sincerely,

oge C. VannChief Operating Officer &Chief of Staffcc: Sybil Edwards-McNabb, President, Ohio State Conference

Kim M. Keenan, General CounselRev. Gill Ford, National Director of Unit AdministrationRev, Charles L. White, Jr, National Field Direct&Andrea Brown, National Director of MembershipJerome L. Reide, Regional Director, Region IIICincinnati Branch Executive Committee

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