A group of black publishers has canceled a planned Januaryconference in South Carolina where Rep. Joe Wilson is a representativeand joined an economic boycott of the state started by the state NAACPin protest of the confederate flag flying from the State House grounds.
A group of black newspaper publishers on Friday charged Republican Rep. Joe Wilson with racism for yelling, “You lie,” at President Obama during his nationally televised address to a joint session of Congress.
TheNational Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) has canceled a plannedJanuary conference in South Carolina, where Wilson is a representative,and joined an economic boycott of the Palmetto State started 10 yearsago by the state NAACP in protest of the confederate flag waving fromthe Statehouse grounds.
Wilson shouted his accusationWednesday night in response to Obama saying that his health care reformplan would not cover illegal immigrants. Wilson, who drew sharpcriticism from both sides of the political fence for the breach indecorum, immediately apologized to Obama and the president accepted.But House Democrats are pressing Wilson to apologize on the House flooror face disciplinary action.
The latest fallout from Wilson’s outburst, however, is the first time race has been injected into the controversy.
“AsAfrican-American newspaper publishers we stand in solidarity with theNAACP and fully support the economic boycott of South Carolina,” NNPAChairman Danny J. Bakewell Sr. said. “Rep. Wilson’s remarks wereracist, disrespectful, and a disingenuous violation — not only ofPresident Obama — but to the institution of the presidency and onlysolidified our position and the importance in not spending blackdollars where black people are not respected.
“The continued public and blatantdisrespect of President Barack Obama by members of Congress will not berewarded with our dollars nor will a state that continues to upholdAmerica’s shameful past by flying the Confederate flag,” he added.
Wilson’s office could not be reached for comment Friday.
Established 69 years ago, the NNPA includes 200 black community newspapers across the country.
TheNAACP boycott has reportedly had mixed results, with some saying it hascut into tourism and affected state beaches, restaurants and motels,among other businesses, and others saying it has only hurt black-ownedbusinesses in the state.
In July, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced it would not hold its post-season baseball tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in deference to the NAACP boycott.