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The NAACP is Calling for Athletes to Help Fight for Voting Rights

June 10, 2026

The NAACP has initiated the "Out of Bounds" campaign targeting public universities in eight Southern states in response to recent congressional redistricting efforts that allegedly diminish Black voting power. The campaign specifically focuses on flagship universities generating over $100 million annually in states including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and others, urging athletes to use their platform to challenge these redistricting changes. Louisiana's recent map redrawing eliminated two predominantly Black districts and forced two Black former district leaders to compete against each other.

Who is affected

  • Black voters in eight Southern states (Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Texas, and Georgia)
  • Black athletes at flagship public universities in these states
  • Former Louisiana district leaders Tony Carter and Castro Fields
  • Predominantly Black communities that have been redistricted
  • Fans, alumni, and donors of targeted university athletic programs
  • Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs)

What action is being taken

  • The NAACP is calling on athletes to hold Southern states accountable
  • The NAACP launched the "Out of Bounds" campaign on May 19
  • The campaign is targeting public universities in eight Southern states
  • The campaign is asking fans, alumni, and donors to stop buying tickets, merchandise, and licensed apparel from targeted programs and divert funds to HBCUs

Why it matters

  • This matters because congressional redistricting in these Southern states is allegedly erasing Black political representation and voting power that communities have historically fought to secure. The congressional map changes directly impact Black communities' ability to elect representatives who reflect their interests and concerns. By leveraging the economic power of college athletics—an industry that Black athletes have helped build into a highly profitable enterprise—the NAACP aims to create financial pressure on states to reconsider redistricting decisions that disenfranchise Black voters.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint