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NAACP Providence Branch officers removed by NAACP national. Providence Police report filed.
An Emergency Meeting was held at 6pm on Tuesday night, June 2nd, over ZOOM between the national NAACP office and the membership (only) of the Providence branch of the NAACP.
While we were aware of the impending meeting, the national office held information close to the vest and offered to send us a statement immediately following the meeting. 45 minutes after the meeting began, the NAACP national office sent us their their statement:
Statement on NAACP Providence Branch
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – NAACP Chief of Field, Membership Growth, and Unit Sustainability, Dominik Whitehead, released the following statement regarding the Providence, R.I. Branch.
“Recently, the NAACP has seen a dramatic increase in the attacks on civil rights coming from all levels of government. Our mission is to protect and promote equity, political rights, and social inclusion of Black Americans and other Americans of color. To achieve this mission, we require that all NAACP Units operate according to NAACP Bylaws for Units and all applicable local and federal laws.
“Leadership of the Providence Branch has not complied with NAACP’s bylaws, procedures and legal obligations. In March 2025, the NAACP National Board of Directors placed the branch under administratorship and suspended the president.
Upon further review, the Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to remove all Branch officers in the Providence Branch, effective June 2, 2025. In addition, NAACP’s Office of the General Counsel has filed a police report with the Providence Police Department for further investigation into the former Branch leadership’s actions.
We are committed to working with membership and local stakeholders to continue to move forward during these critical times. To that end, the Branch will remain under the administratorship of the State Conference, with the support of the National Office.
“We don’t discuss the details of internal disciplinary matters, but we can say that we are treating this situation with all due seriousness in accordance with our bylaws, procedures, and legal obligations.
“In the face of our nation’s unprecedented challenges – from the economy to threats on voting rights and more — the NAACP is needed now more than ever. We will continue to support our Branches, Units, and members’ efforts to uphold the mission of the Association across the country.”
About NAACP
The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.
NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF – was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.
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The branch has been effectively non-functional without a physical office, a working website, or elected leadership. The national office has intervened directly, signaling serious concerns and making sweeping changes less than a month ago – our story from then:
We have been following the saga of the NAACP – on what should have been the occasion of their 100th year celebration of success. Here are stories over the last several years:
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THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY
First I want to thank Cliff Wood, Jim Vincent and countless others for their years of faithful stewardship and leadership of the Providence Branch of the NAACP prior to its last four years.
You were and continue to be heroes in the fight for civil liberties.
It is good to see the intervention of the National office to help set right this important organization that it may be restored, so to honor the good work of its long history.