NAACP Asks Athletes and Fans to Join the Fight for Voting Rights

July 17, 2026

The NAACP has launched the Out of Bounds Campaign in response to Supreme Court decisions weakening voting rights protections, specifically targeting eight Southern states engaged in redistricting efforts. The campaign urges Black athletes, their families, and fans to boycott flagship public universities generating over $100 million annually in states including Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, and South Carolina. NAACP President Derrick Johnson criticized these institutions for profiting from Black athletes while remaining silent as their states diminish Black voting power through redistricting.

Who is affected

Black athletes at flagship public universities in eight Southern states (Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Texas, and Georgia)
Families of Black athletes
Black fans and alumni
Flagship public universities generating more than $100 million in annual revenue
Black communities in the affected states experiencing diluted voting power

What action is being taken

The NAACP is calling upon Black athletes, families, and fans to withhold financial support from targeted universities
The Out of Bounds Campaign is currently in effect across the eight Southern states

Why it matters

This campaign highlights the contradiction between universities profiting substantially from Black athletic talent while remaining silent as their state governments undermine Black political power through redistricting. It represents a strategic effort to leverage the economic value Black athletes bring to college sports programs as a tool to pressure states into protecting voting rights and ensuring fair political representation for Black communities.

What's next

The campaign will remain in effect until targeted states:
Adopt state-level voting rights protections
Repeal maps that dilute Black voting power
Restore congressional and judicial districts that reflect the Black population's actual strength
Commit to transparent and community-centered redistricting processes

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