NAACP Calls for End to Employer Sanctions

Despite opposition from a vocal minority who briefly disrupted the NAACP’s national convention, the civil rights group Wednesday approved a resolution calling for a repeal of penalties against employers who hire illegal immigrant workers.

The vote gives a major boost to the drive to abolish employer sanctions and helps salve wounds that have developed in the relationship between the NAACP and Latino groups.

Earlier this year, Latino groups had threatened to withdraw from a key civil rights coalition if the NAACP did not back repeal of the sanctions, a key provision of the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act.

Some blacks argue that illegal immigration contributes to high unemployment among blacks. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and other Latino groups argue, however, that the sanctions provision has fostered widespread discrimination against all Latino workers, regardless of their immigration status.

The NAACP’s move came after an angry debate at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Most of the opposition was voiced by delegates from Southern California, where the impact of illegal immigration has been strongly felt.

One San Fernando Valley delegate moved that the resolution be tabled until a study of “the high unemployment among black Americans” could be completed.

That motion was defeated 279 to 175. Larry Steele, the NAACP official presiding over the meeting, then called a vote on the employer sanctions resolution. “No discussion against,” he announced, hurriedly calling for a vote on the resolution. “Motion carries, resolution adopted,” he said.

Feeling that they had been denied a chance to debate the issue, several delegates began shouting “No!” Their cries soon grew into a loud chant. After more than a minute, Steele agreed to allow discussion.

“We used (the sanctions) to keep undocumented aliens from taking the food from black children,” said Charles B. Johnson of the Pasadena NAACP branch. “If you withdraw those sanctions, then you open the door and you flood this state with a multitude of undocumented aliens who will take the jobs of blacks and other minorities.”

About half a dozen speakers came out against the resolution, while only one--Joseph Duff, president of the Los Angeles branch of the NAACP--publicly defended it.

With passage of the resolution in doubt, NAACP Executive Director Benjamin Hooks, who had given personal assurances to Latino leaders that it would be adopted, stepped to the microphone to address the delegates.

“I urge you to vote for this resolution,” Hooks said. Because a recent General Accounting Office report had shown that the employer sanctions had contributed to workplace discrimination, Hooks said, the civil rights organization had little choice but to call for their repeal.

The resolution was then approved by about a 3-1 margin.

Raul Yzaguirre, president of the National Council of La Raza, one of two Latino organizations leading the fight against employer sanctions, said he was “elated” to hear of the NAACP vote.

“We had a commitment from the NAACP leadership that this was going to happen,” Yzaguirre said. “This means we can have real solidarity with the NAACP on civil rights issues. It will initiate a new era of mutual cooperation.”

Antonia Hernandez of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund said her organization would work to dispel the “misconception that Latino immigration causes job displacement.”

In other developments at the convention, which ends today, Rev. Jesse Jackson called on President Bush to host a summit meeting with U.S. civil rights leaders aimed at hammering out a domestic economic aid policy. Times staff writer Sam Fulwood III contributed to this story.