NAACP: Sterling Will Not Be Awarded Lifetime Achievement Honor
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The NAACP will not honor Clippers owner Donald Sterling with a lifetime achievement award, its interim president and CEO said Sunday.
Lorraine C. Miller addressed racist remarks Sterling allegedly made during a recorded conversation in a statement on the civil rights organization's website.
COMPLETE COVERAGE: CLIPPERS OWNER CONTROVERSY
In response to the controversy, Miller said plans to bestow the award to Sterling had been cancelled.
"Let me make it clear, the NAACP will not be honoring Mr. Sterling at the upcoming Los Angeles branch event and we have strongly urged our Los Angeles unit to take the necessary steps to rescind the previous award they bestowed on him," she said.
"The remarks attributed to Mr. Sterling are outrageous and remind us that racism is alive and well at every socioeconomic level. With the election of President Obama, many were sold the idea that the United States would be instantly transformed into a post racial society and racism would be eviscerated. People who bought that idea were sold wolf tickets," Miller continued in part, urging others to speak out against discrimination.
NAACP Chairman of the Board of Directors Roslyn M. Brock echoed Miller's comments, vowing that the "NAACP will remain vigilant in pointing out and fighting against racism in all its forms to ensure it does not infect the next generation of Americans."
The president of the NAACP chapter in Los Angeles, Leon Jenkins, is scheduled to address the controversy at a news conference at 10 a.m. Monday at Fox Hills Mall in Culver City.
Sterling's award was scheduled to be bestowed at the organization's 100th anniversary gala banquet on May 15.
The statement came as the Clippers entered the court for a pregame warm-up Sunday wearing their shirts inside-out.
Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters at a practice before the team faced Golden State: "As far as the comments, we're not happy with them."
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