NAACP Launches Boycott Campaign Over Redistricting in Southern States

The NAACP has begun a campaign called "Out of Bounds" that calls on Black athletes, fans, and donors to boycott college football programs in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and South Carolina. The campaign links the boycott to disputes over congressional redistricting in those states.

The organization has not issued similar calls regarding redistricting efforts in other states.

Background on the Campaign The NAACP states that the targeted states redrew district maps following Supreme Court decisions that limited the use of race in drawing lines. The group has criticized the new maps as unfair. The organization has also opposed legislation that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote. It argues such requirements restrict access to the ballot.

A former Indiana attorney general and lifetime NAACP member wrote that the boycott effort uses college football for partisan purposes. The commentary said the campaign singles out Republican-led states while remaining silent on map changes in Democratic-led states.

The same commentary noted that the NAACP historically opposed racial classifications in voting and representation. It argued that the current positions on districts and voter requirements depart from that earlier stance.