Tourism Sanctions Against South Carolina

WHEREAS, the State of South Carolina continues to exhibit a confederate mentality in responding to the interests of African Americans living within its borders, evidenced most notably by its insistence upon having the confederate battle flag flown in a sovereign position at the Capitol; and

WHEREAS, the government of South Carolina continues to defy the call made by the NAACP in 1999 to retire all Confederate battle flags being flown at the State Capitol to a museum or other places of purely historical significance; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP, through its South Carolina State Conference and 1700 other units around the globe launched a campaign to restrict tourism events being scheduled in South Carolina as long as the State continued to disrespect African Americans and other people of good conscience by flying the divisive Confederate banner at the State House; and

WHEREAS, South Carolina has attempted to lure visitors to the State by increasing its advertising expenditures, and recently allocating $5.7 million in public funds to support establishment of a Palmetto Bowl in Charleston amid languishing needs in the State's public school districts, especially in those districts where the student population is overwhelmingly African American; and

WHEREAS, patriotic citizens from communities across the nation have banded together with the NAACP by canceling conferences, family reunions, meetings and other events that support the tourism industry in South Carolina; and

WHEREAS, fraternal, faith, civic and professional organizations that share in our belief that the flag that represents the Confederate States of America's campaign to preserve the institution of slavery in this country should not be represented as an official symbol of the government of South Carolina, continue to avoid scheduling conferences and meetings in the Palmetto State; and

WHEREAS, organizations such as the Black Coaches Association (BCA), the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) steadfastly oppose the immoral practice of flying Confederate flags at the State House in South Carolina.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP applaud the efforts of millions of people of America and around the world who have helped to advance the "campaign for dignity" for our brothers and sisters in South Carolina and supported the call to retire the Confederate battle flag flown at the Capitol in South Carolina; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP encourage the NCAA to maintain its moratorium on sporting events being scheduled in the State of South Carolina, and commend the BCA and NABC on their unwavering advocacy and support of the tourism sanctions on South Carolina; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP acknowledge and give the highest praise to the vast array of organizations – corporate, civic, fraternal, social and professional – and numerous individuals who have demonstrated with us by marching their tourism dollars away from the State of South Carolina; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that we admonish the government of the State of South Carolina to comply with the letter and spirit of the NAACP's call to remove the Confederate battle flag from all positions of sovereignty in the State, and pursue a vision of a bright future that creates a multicultural society where citizens of color are afforded equal respect and opportunity.