The NAACP launched the "Out of Bounds" campaign on Tuesday, calling on Black student-athletes to withhold commitments from universities in states that have weakened voting rights following a Supreme Court decision.
The Supreme Court ruled in June that the use of race to draw two majority-Black congressional districts in Louisiana was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Since then, Tennessee split its sole majority-Black congressional district into three districts, and Louisiana passed legislation to eliminate one of its two majority-minority districts.
Campaign Targets SEC Universities
The NAACP's campaign targets universities primarily within the NCAA's Southeastern Conference in Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, and Georgia. The organization is urging recruits to not commit to these schools and is asking fans and alumni to redirect financial support to historically Black colleges and universities. The NAACP also demands adoption of state-level voting rights acts.
Leadership Statement
Derrick Johnson, NAACP National President and CEO, said in a statement that the NAACP opposes institutions that remain silent while states reduce Black communities' voting power.
Conference Response
The Southeastern Conference did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The conference previously addressed racial justice issues, such as warning Mississippi about hosting championships unless it changed its state flag, which included the Confederate battle emblem.