More than 150 NAACP members in Maryland signed a letter alleging financial misconduct and “bullying” by two top local leaders who were suspended this week by the national civil rights organization.

The three-page letter, dated July 24 and obtained by The Baltimore Banner, accuses the Rev. Kobi Little, the president of the Baltimore NAACP and head of the NAACP Maryland State Conference, and Joshua Harris, vice president of the Baltimore chapter and treasurer for the state conference of improperly spending conference funds without approval and without providing details to “even justify expenditures.”

For example, the conference’s bank balance on Jan. 8, 2024, was $202,114.93. The balance as of May 31, 2024, was $122,077.99.

The letter states that for the “first time in the history of our state unit,” the president and 1st vice president presented a budget of $282,000 that allocated $60,000 per year to the president and $12,000 to each vice president. The group alleges that there has been no accounting for officers’ expenditures or a treasurer’s report since the election of officers nearly a year ago.

“If we continue on this path, the MSC will be deep in debt before the end of 2024,” the letter states.

The letter also called for the removal of Assistant Secretary Anwar Young and Assistant Treasurer Shawnna Stringfellow.

Little and Harris were both suspended this week by the National NAACP, which did not explain why it was taking the action. “We are engaged in the internal process and as such we don’t have any further comment at this time,” Little said, adding that they had not seen the letter.

Young and Stringfellow did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A request for comment from National President Derrick Johnson was not immediately returned.

“The Maryland State Conference cannot endure this atmosphere without the consequences becoming irreparable,” the letter states. “Due to the willful behavior of current leaders, the reputation and trust in the NAACP are being damaged at the local, state, and national levels. Baltimore and Maryland have long been beacons of hope in the civil rights struggles in this country.“

The letter said that “immediate action is necessary” and called for the suspension of the four officers.

The members also requested an audit of the Maryland State Conference finances, a reorganization and an administrator to work with the conference.

“The state organization is being conducted as a dictatorship – ruled by the president, vice presidents and executive director,” the letter reads, adding that the officers and executive director who control the finances of the state conference are all members of the Baltimore City Branch.

The letter also alleges that Little refuses to carry motions that have been seconded, refuses to approve meeting agendas and refuses to let members add anything to the agenda.

“Except for a couple members, the executive committee rubber stamps the officers’ actions without question,” the letter states.

“The current MSC officers are displaying bullying behavior,” the letter reads.

The letter says Little “spends twenty to thirty minutes of each meeting talking about how bad the last administration was,” “how people are not supportive of ‘his’ administration.”

The members also claim that Little consistently talks about “unity, transparency and accountability.”

“Unity to him means accepting everything he, vice presidents, and treasurer present without questions,” the letter adds.

The group alleges that the board’s secretary has been excluded from participating in everything from meetings to reviewing expenses. She is “often locked out of most operations,” including seeing officers’ expenses, the letter noted.

One time, the group alleges, the board’s assistant secretary [Young] signed a travel reimbursement voucher in the amount of $30,470 without the secretary’s knowledge.

“The secretary doesn’t receive copies of contracts/leases signed by the president and 1st vice president. She is not allowed to view meeting recordings. In short, the autocratic conduct of state leaders is negatively impacting participation at the local unit level.”

Ryan Coleman, president of the Randallstown NAACP, first learned of the suspension of Little and Harris on Tuesday after inquiring with the national office about the status of the July 24 letter.

“There were some questions about improprieties. They were concerned with money, meetings and an assortment of things,” he said. “I didn’t know if they were true, but I was concerned.”

Coleman, who signed the letter, said he has not heard the length of the suspension or any additional details.

“I was disappointed and concerned. I didn’t want this to affect any of the good work the Randallstown or national NAACP was doing. I was concerned about that,” said Coleman, who has been president of the Randallstown chapter for the past six years.