A timeline of Boulder’s NAACP, and the current national controversy surrounding the branch’s dissolution

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – more commonly known as the NAACP – has been in local headlines quite a bit lately.

Leaders of the Boulder County NAACP branch announced that they were dissolving the branch on March 29th. But, the validity of that decision has become a huge point of contention locally, regionally, and nationally.

If you ask former local leadership, they will state very directly that the branch is closed.

But if you speak to regional or national board members, you’ll be told the exact opposite – that only they can decide when a branch is closed, and that they haven’t made any such decision related to Boulder’s NAACP.

The situation is complex, and has been the object of speculation for the past two months or so. But, tensions between the Boulder County NAACP and the City of Boulder have been building for at least two years now.

This morning, you’ll hear from former and current NAACP leadership to discuss the status of the local branch – if it’s actually dissolved, what led up to this point, and what happens next.

First, Sedley spoke with three former leaders of the NAACP Boulder County Branch: former NAACP Boulder County president Annett James, former NAACP Vice President and Chair of Economic Opportunity Jude Landsman, and Minister Glenda Strong Robinson, a former at-large member as well as the historian.

Then, Sedley spoke with Portia Prescott – the regional president for the Rocky Mountain State Conference of the NAACP, which encompasses Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. You can hear both conversations, as well as find links to sources and previous KGNU exclusive interviews, below.

Listen:

KGNU’s Jackie Sedley has spoken with several community members who have been involved with Boulder’s NAACP branch over the years. None were willing to speak on the record, but I can say that emotions are all across the board – anger, support, confusion, shock.

Sedley has also reached out to the NAACP’s National Office, and have yet to hear back.

Sources:

Boulder County NAACP press conference following dissolution

City of Boulder’s statement on Boulder County NAACP dissolution

National NAACP Office’s statement on Boulder County NAACP dissolution

Previous KGNU coverage of NAACP Boulder County:

NAACP Boulder County says city’s accusations of “unethical” and “unacceptable” behavior are very misleading

“A slap in the face to the community”: NAACP Boulder weighs in on Redfearn as interim police chief, and the Police Oversight Panel