CHARLOTTE, NC – In response to ongoing conversations around municipal leadership, NAACP North Carolina President Deborah Dicks Maxwell, issued the following statement:
“NAACP North Carolina stands with the Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Branch and its long‑standing work to advance equity, justice, and accountability for Black communities.
As discussion continues in Charlotte around local leadership, our focus must remain clear. The NAACP evaluates leadership by actions, policies, and results, not by personal identity.
What matters is whether decisions made by those in power strengthen or harm the lived experiences of Black residents.
Local NAACP branches have an obligation to raise concerns when policies or appointments risk excluding Black communities from meaningful participation or progress. We respect the Charlotte branch’s role in engaging these issues through advocacy rooted in outcomes, not personalities.
We call on all elected and appointed leaders to govern with transparency, collaboration, and a demonstrable commitment to equity. Black communities deserve leadership that listens, delivers results, and helps close long‑standing gaps in opportunity.
NAACP North Carolina remains committed to principled dialogue, unity, and ensuring that Black communities across our state are not only heard, but served.”