NAACP Los Angeles President Leon Jenkins has resigned Thursday over the controversy surrounding his relationship with disgraced Los Angeles Clipper owner Donald Sterling.
NAACP Interim President and CEO Lorraine C. Miller accepted Jenkins’ resignation.
Also read: Donald Sterling Fallout: LA NAACP President’s Sketchy Past Revealed Amid Calls for Suspension
In his resignation letter, Jenkins said, “Please be advised that the legacy, history and reputation of the NAACP is more important to me than the presidency. In order to separate the Los Angeles NAACP and the NAACP from the negative exposure I have caused the NAACP, I respectfully resign my position as President of the Los Angeles NAACP.”
In a release, the NAACP stated that they are “developing guidelines for its branches to help them in their award selection process.”
Also read: Los Angeles NAACP Under Fire for Donald Sterling Relationship
Jenkins and the Los Angeles NAACP have come under fire in recent days over their lukewarm response to Sterling’s leaked racist rant. The organization has also accepted money from Sterling in the past and were planning to honor him with a lifetime achievement award this month. The organization rescinded that award after the tape was made public.