Supreme Court is election priority, NAACP chairman Julian Bond says

BALTIMORE — Saying one more conservative vote on the Supreme Court could bring a setback for civil rights advocacy, NAACP Chairman Julian Bond implored 2,000 delegates to the group's convention to use their voting franchise this November.

Bond, who leads the 64-member NAACP national board, also said in a speech Sunday night that the group will continue its boycott against South Carolina even though the flag has been lowered from the statehouse dome.

"Where else on the face of the earth do the losers get to fly their flag as if they had won?" Bond asked.

Bond's speech served as the official start of the NAACP's 91st annual convention.

Under the convention banner "Race to Vote," more than NAACP 10,000 members are expected to attend the weeklong meeting.

Presidential politics will take center stage at the conference, when Republican Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore speak Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

Though the group can not endorse candidates, Bond said the act of voting is an important responsibility and that not voting could have dire consequences for civil rights supporters this year.

Bond noted that 5-4 decisions have prevailed in several key high court rulings and said "in 65 percent of these cases, the right wing-position carried the day."

"Your one vote could translate into two, three or even four votes on the Supreme Court, determining whether the court will be a refuge for civil rights or a dumping ground," Bond said.

Bond added that the next president's appointments will decide whether the next cabinet "will look like America or will look like a hockey team."

"Health care, education, economic opportunity, gun control, fairness for Africa, all these matter," Bond said. "All these will bear the imprint of the next president."

On the flag issue, Bond said the NAACP will keep in place its economic boycott in South Carolina even though many lawmakers there feel the issue is behind them.

"There will be no compromise on this issue. The NAACP boycott will continue until the flag is removed from a place of honor and put in its rightful place as an artifact of history," Bond said.

The national NAACP last year called for nationwide boycott of tourism, athletic contests, cultural events and film-making in South Carolina to pressure lawmakers to remove the flag from at the statehouse dome.