NAACP official to address questions about her race
SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane NAACP leader Rachel Dolezal says she will speak about the furor over racial identity sparked after her parents said she has falsely portrayed herself as black for years.
KHQ-TV in Spokane re- ported that Dolezal sent a message to NAACP members saying she would address the situation at a Monday night meeting of the group.
“As you probably know by now, there are questions and assumptions swirling in national and global news about my family, my race, my credibility, and the NAACP,” Dolezal’s message said. “I have discussed the situation, including personal matters, with the Executive Committee.
“I support their decision to wait until Monday to make a statement. The Executive team asked that I also release my response statement at the same time, which will be during the 7-9 p.m. monthly membership meeting.”
Dolezal is a 37-year-old artist and activist with dark curly hair and lightbrown skin.
Her parents in Montana have produced pictures of her as a blonde, blue-eyed child to prove that she is white.
The city of Spokane is investigating whether she lied about her ethnicity when she applied to be on the police board.
And police on Friday said they were suspending investigations into racial harassment complaints filed by Dolezal.
“My sons and I would appreciate your thoughts, prayers and support during the interlude,” Dolezal also said in her message.