NATIONAL NEWS – Head of NAACP uninvited to speak at Texas bar after Trump lawsuit filing

Laila Kirkpatrick, Staff Writer

The State Bar of Texas rescinded the speaking invitation offered to NAACP President Derrick Johnson after the civil rights group challenged the executive order signed by President Trump that dismantled the Education Department. Their lawsuit cited new rules for speaking topics that the bar says could be political. Johnson, NAACP president and CEO, was set to speak during the state bar’s annual meeting in June. He said on Wednesday that he was shocked his invitation to speak was rescinded.

In a statement made to the press, he said, “They have decided to censor free speech on notions of being political when it’s not political. He went on to say, “This is the State Bar of Texas. These are lawyers who are sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States. And nothing about our actions is contrary to the very principles that they have sworn to uphold. And so, I find it ironic to say the least that a lawsuit would generate a rescission of the invitation.