By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO 

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), one of America’s oldest civil rights institutions, has suspended both the president and treasurer of the organization’s Maryland State Conference.

Members of both the NAACP’s Maryland State Conference and Baltimore City Branch are now under administrative oversight by the organization’s national office. The news came after national leadership suspended Joshua Harris (left) and Rev. Kobi Little from their roles as vice president and president, respectively, in the NAACP offices for both the Maryland State Conference and the Baltimore City Branch.
Credit: AFRO Photo / Tashi McQueen

In a letter dated Monday, Sept. 9, National NAACP President Derrick Johnson suspended both the Rev. Kobi Little, president, and Joshua Harris, treasurer.

Rev. Little and Harris also hold the roles of president and vice president, respectively, within the Baltimore Branch of the NAACP. 

Both the Maryland State Conference and Baltimore City Branch have been placed under administrative oversight by the national office of the NAACP.  

Harris confirmed the suspension with the AFRO at a gathering for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Sept. 12.

Faith Blackburn, vice president of the Maryland Chapter of the NAACP will serve as president of the NAACP’s Maryland State Chapter pending internal investigation.

Rev. Little offered the following statement:

“We are proud of the work that we have done to usher in a new generation of leadership and activism in the NAACP.  Sometimes change efforts incur backlash. This is one of those moments.  We are grateful to our supporters and partners for joining us to make meaningful contributions to our community.”

The AFRO reached out to National NAACP President Derrick Johnson for comment, but did not receive an immediate response. 

The length of the suspension and investigation has not been disclosed.  

Community leaders in Baltimore City recently expressed displeasure with the performance of Rev. Little and Harris, writing in an email shared with the AFRO that “There are so many issues that the Baltimore City Branch could take a stand on and they’ve done nothing. The people of this city have lost respect or have no knowledge of the NAACP.”

Others questioned how money was being managed, and cited a lack of treasury reports and meeting notes as a point of concern.

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