Baltimore, MD — On September 26, 2019, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson issued a letter to Reverend Curtis Gatewood, member of the NAACP Alamance County North Carolina branch, notifying Reverend Gatewood that his membership in the NAACP is immediately suspended pending a hearing into allegations that he sexually harassed a former NAACP North Carolina chapter employee.

As a more than 110-year-old organization dedicated to equality of rights for all persons, the NAACP takes all allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct seriously. Reverend Gatewood was directed to immediately cease holding himself out as a member of the Association. Because candidates for State Conference Office must be members in good standing with the organization, he is also ineligible to run for office unless his membership is restored. Given that this matter concerns an internal disciplinary proceeding, the NAACP will have no further comment.

See the full letter of suspension.