Newspaper Association Cancels Conference in South Carolina Over 'You Lie' Remark

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), also known as the [1]Black Press of America, which is a non-partisan 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization, has decided to show its disapproval of South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson’s “You Lie” remarks by canceling a convention in the state.

“Rep. Wilson’s remarks were racist, disrespectful and a disingenuous violation – not only of President Obama – but to the institution of the presidency and only solidified our position and the importance in not spending Black dollars where Black people are not respected,” NNPA Chairman Danny J. Bakewell Sr. [2]said in a statement.

The conference was scheduled for January according [2]to Fox News. Bakewell said the 69-year-old organization, which includes 200 black community newspapers across the country, would exercise its ability to harm the state economically.

“The continued public and blatant disrespect of President Barack Obama by members of Congress will not be rewarded with our dollars nor will a state that continues to uphold America's shameful past by flying the Confederate flag,” Bakewell added.

According [3]to the U.S. Census Bureau, South Carolina has one of the largest African-American populations by percentage in the country. And, the state falso aces [4]a higher than average jobless rate of 11.8 percent, according to data released by the state’s Employment Security Commission. So, the move by the NNPA could directly hurt blacks, even though it is intended to do the opposite.