NAACP launches boycott campaign targeting public universities in 7 states

The NAACP has launched a campaign calling on Black athletes and fans to boycott the athletic programs of public universities in several Southern states, citing concerns over voting rights. The "Out of Bounds" initiative, announced Tuesday, urges prospective athletes, their families, alumni, and supporters to withhold athletic and financial support from major public universities in states the civil rights organization says have moved to limit Black voting representation.

The campaign specifically targets Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and South Carolina. The NAACP argues that the flagship universities in these states, whose athletic programs are highly reliant on Black talent, should protect Black political interests. A widespread boycott could significantly deplete rosters for prominent football and basketball programs within the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which generate hundreds of millions in annual revenue.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson stated that Black athletes have helped build some of the most profitable college athletic programs in America. He argued that these athletes should not be asked to generate...