Turmoil grips Baltimore City NAACP

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Months after an internal investigation into its leadership, the NAACP’s Baltimore City branch provided an update on its future–while also criticizing the national office’s handling of the case.

“The Baltimore City unit has been under administrative oversight by the national office for the past eleven months,” said the executive committee of the Baltimore City NAACP in a statement released in late July. “During this period, the national office has failed to conduct a credible, comprehensive and conclusive investigation and has repeatedly violated its own constitution and bylaws. At no point has the unit been provided with regular updates regarding the status or progress of the investigation.”

The local branch claimed the inconsistent updates from the national office has significantly impaired their ability to carry out its essential functions and serve its members properly.

The Baltimore City NAACP also announced that the national office has taken over all operations of the branch.

“The national office has removed our authority to schedule any executive or membership meetings for the foreseeable future,” said the executive committee of the Baltimore City NAACP. “Henceforth any communications with you, the members of the NAACP Baltimore City unit regarding the business of our unit will come from the National Office at their discretion.”

The executive committee encouraged members to speak out against what’s happening to the local branch in Baltimore City.

“Our collective commitment to justice, transparency and community service must not be undermined by continued inaction and disregard for the principles upon which this organization was founded,” said the executive committee of the Baltimore City NAACP.

The AFRO reached out several times to the national office for comments on this matter but did not receive a response.

Aside from criticizing the national organization’s handling of the Baltimore City NAACP Chapter, the group also released a statement denying claims from a local news report that the probe has resulted in yearslong suspensions for its top leaders.

“The Baltimore NAACP affirms that no new official actions have been communicated from the national office,” said the Baltimore City NAACP in a statement on July 22. “Members remain in regular communication with Rev. Kobi Little and Joshua Harris, who have not received any investigative findings to support the allegations made against them, nor has our branch been provided with any formal notice of investigative procedures or due process.”

The branch goes on to claim that the accusations made against Little and Harris are “baseless and unsubstantiated.” 

“We look forward to them clearing their names and resuming the vital work they’ve long led with integrity,” said the Baltimore City NAACP.

In addition, the branch also called for the immediate suspension of former president Marvin “Doc” Cheatham for speaking to the media without the NAACP’s authorization.

“Cheatham’s decision to speak to the media—despite explicit instructions from National Board Member and Chapter Administrator Michael Curry that all branch leaders refrain from doing so—represents a clear and direct violation of organizational policy,” said the Baltimore City NAACP. “His repeated actions and public statements have caused irreparable harm to the integrity, unity and public perception of the NAACP and undermine the values and mission of this historic civil rights organization.”

Cheatham, who was a part of the joint complaint that led to the Sept. 16, 2024, immediate suspensions of Rev. Kobi Little and Joshua Harris, pending investigation, responded to the call for his own suspension.

“I’m not afraid because I’m going to tell the truth…they have basically been neglecting us,” Cheatham told the AFRO. “The branch had a fire two years ago, it has not been fixed since then. They did not give minutes to the meetings and they did not give us financial reports. This might be my punishment, but I believe I was right.”