100 Edgewood Avenue, NE, Suite 1610, Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Rev. Dr. Francys Johnson, President Georgia NAACP

PRESS RELEASE August 25, 2015 Contact: Demetrius Fisher E: info@naacpga.org P: (404) 577-8977

NAACP REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE REMOVAL OF VESTIGES OF CODEDERACY

Fight over Flag expands to failures of the School District

The NAACP's resolve to remove hateful symbols and vestiges of the confederacy including the confederate battle emblem and the racist tune "Dixie" from the Effingham County High School remains solid in the face of news that the Effingham County Board of Education has decided to keep the Rebel nickname.

"This fight is about more than the flag; it's about the failure of the school system to engage parents, listen to the community, and to put the common good over allegiance to a heritage of hate" said Francys Johnson, State President of the Georgia NAACP and Statesboro Attorney.

In a standing room only meeting, the NAACP met on last night and agreed to address the School District’s failure of nearly 20% percent of white students and nearly 40%percent of African American students, according to Georgia Department of Education graduation statistics. "Superintendent Shearhouse is desperately trying to nip this in the bud because what he describes as a system where every student is successful is as untruthful as his attempt to reconcile the confederate swastika and the racist tune "Dixie" with a heritage of pride" said Leroy Lloyd, local Branch President.

"There is anti-diversity climate that is pervasive. As a result the system is less diverse than other systems its size; has worst academic outcomes and less parental involvement for African Americans" said Johnson.

Responding to a reports of harassment since the initial request from the NAACP, Mr. Lloyd admonished the School District or Boosters to not retaliate against the children of parents who signed petitions for removal of the symbols. "Anyone threatened or harassed, any student questioned about the symbols should report it to the NAACP immediately" said Lloyd.

Johnson questions the timing of news from Shearhouse and if the Board may have violated open meeting rules since the decision came between meetings. "It appears that the Superintendent has made up his mind that nothing will change and the 'good old boy' system will remain in full effect in Effingham County" said Johnson.

"We will see if SACS, the school accreditation agency, agrees with the school's hypocrisy of having a policies it does not enforce prohibiting the Confederate emblem on student shirts, cars and school events such as games" said Johnson. "This is far from over and we are not going quietly in the night! Parents are outraged and may pull their children from band and the playing fields" concluded Lloyd.

Founded in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. The Georgia NAACP has had an unbroken presence in Georgia since 1917. The Georgia NAACP maintains a network of branches throughout Georgia, from cities to small rural counties. The Georgia NAACP has been the most effective and consistent advocates for civil and human rights in Georgia. The NAACP’s half-million adult and youth members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

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