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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on an NAACP economic boycott of North Carolina over the state's conservative policies (all times local):
3:05 p.m.
North Carolina's Democratic governor and a powerful Republican legislative leader are sparring over who's to blame for an NAACP economic boycott of the state.
The NAACP said Friday it was urging organizers of large scale events such as religious conferences and sporting events to avoid the state because of its conservative policies. The NAACP cited a law limiting LGBT protections and fights over voting rights.
North Carolina's Republican Senate leader Phil Berger said that the state's governor should condemn the boycott.
Asked about the boycott, a spokesman for Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, Ford Porter, said that Republican legislative leaders must repeal the law known as House Bill 2 to bring back jobs to the state.
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12:50 p.m.
The NAACP is urging religious conferences, athletic events and musicians to avoid North Carolina as part of a national boycott protesting the state's conservative policies including a law limiting LGBT protections.
The civil rights organization on Friday announced what it called the first steps of a national boycott. The group's national board passed a resolution saying they will not consider North Carolina as the site for future national meetings and urged other groups to take their business elsewhere, too.
The move is to protest conservative policies that also include what the group says are unfairly drawn voting districts.
The resolution says the organization could also consider adding further economic measures such as divesting of North Carolina-related investments.
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4:45 a.m.
The NAACP is announcing plans for an economic boycott of North Carolina to protest laws enacted by the state's conservative General Assembly, including one limiting LGBT protections.
The civil rights group issued a statement saying national President Cornell Brooks will speak Friday at a news conference in Raleigh.
In December, NAACP state leader the Rev. William Barber said he was seeking approval for a national boycott to pressure lawmakers over issues including the law known as House Bill 2. He also cited recent changes to the state elections board and the process for drawing electoral districts.
Previously, the NAACP held a 15-year economic boycott of South Carolina over the flying of the Confederate battle flag on Statehouse grounds. That boycott ended with the flag's removal in 2015.
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