NAACP chapter president warns

NAACP in North Carolina supported comments made by Charlotte branch president Corine Mack after she argued that replacing the city’s outgoing Black mayor with a white politician would be troubling.

Vi Lyles recently announced she would resign before completing her term, with her departure scheduled for June 30. Her decision triggered political debate about who should serve as interim mayor.

The resignation also renewed attention on criticism surrounding Lyles’ response to the 2025 killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally attacked on a city tram. Prosecutors charged Decarlos DeJuan Brown Jr. in the case.

Mack argued that Black political representation is increasingly under pressure nationwide and questioned why some white politicians were seeking the interim position. She warned city leaders that voters would remember their decisions during the next election cycle.

The state NAACP defended the local branch, saying leadership should be judged by policies and actions that improve conditions for Black communities rather than by public criticism alone.

Mack later repeated her position in interviews and on social media, claiming many reactions reflected discomfort with Black communities supporting Black leadership. She also argued that racial inequality remains deeply connected to American political life.

Charlotte has experienced heightened racial and political tensions since Zarutska’s death, particularly after Lyles faced backlash for remarks suggesting homeless individuals are more often victims of crime than offenders.