NAACP chapter wants Dolezal hate mail probe to resume
SPOKANE, Wash. — In the wake of the controversy surrounding Rachel Dolezal and her racial identity, the Spokane chapter of the NAACP is asking police to continue the investigation into hate mail sent to Dolezal.
Some of the increased publicity of Dolezal and the Spokane chapter came from accusations that the civil-rights organization had received threatening letters and packages in its post office box starting in February.
On Friday, the Spokane Police Department, which earlier that week had said some of the material didn't have bar codes and other markings consistent with travel through the U.S. mail, announced it was suspending its investigation into the matter until new information comes to light.
Dolezal stepped down as the president of the local chapter Monday amid the allegations from her parents that she misled people about her race.
Dolezal told officers she believed letters received in the NAACP post office box were threats directed at her and her sons.
In a statement released Tuesday, leaders in the Spokane chapter, said:
"In response to recently reported acts of hatred, we call upon the appropriate law enforcement officials and the United States Postal Service (USPS), not to minimize such acts in our community. The Spokane NAACP is requesting that the Spokane Police Department, the USPS and other agencies involved give full disclosure of the findings, conclusions, and ongoing investigations related to the 'Hate Mail' received at the Spokane NAACP mailboxes and related incidents. Further, we call upon law enforcement to actively pursue all three 'Hate Mail' incidences reported."
Spokane police said Dolezal's ethnicity has nothing to do with their investigation.
"A lot of feedback I've been getting was people think that we suspended these cases because it has come out that she's not the race she's reported to be. That is not the case, we take hate crimes very seriously in Spokane," said police officer Teresa Fuller.
Under the malicious harassment law, it only matters what the suspect's perception of someone in a protected group is and that their intent was to place fear in someone else.
Police found a fingerprint on one of the envelopes and entered it into a database. They did not get a match. They said if they do get a match at some point in the future they will look into it.
Organization leaders also said they are grateful for Dolezal's willingness to step aside as the leader of the organization so they can shift their focus to the ongoing work for social justice.
Meanwhile, members of the black community in Spokane said it is important to move beyond the Dolezal controversy.
The NAACP office has been empty in days since the questions about Dolezal's race erupted. The national arm of the organization told the incoming president and the executive board not to talk to the media. In the silence, many people question how the local chapter will come together and move forward.
Kitara McClure, who has been one of Dolezal's most outspoken critics, said Tuesday it is time to put all of this behind them.
City leaders said it will take an organized effort to move forward, involving civil rights organizations, churches and individual community members.
A member of the East Central Community Organization said this opens an opportunity to talk more about equality.
"I think this opens an opportunity for us to collaborate more, to bring the things that are needed to bring equality for everyone," said Betsy Williams.
Contributing: Whitney Ward and Shawn Chitnis, KREM-TV, Spokane, Wash.; Kate Royals, The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion-Ledger.
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