4 NAACP Leaders Asked to Resign

Four members of the national Board of Directors of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People have been asked to resign because of legal and financial problems.

The N.A.A.C.P.’s executive committee sought the resignations because it was concerned that the organization’s reputation would be damaged if the members continued to serve.

One of the four board members has already departed: the Rev. Henry Lyons, president of the National Baptist Convention USA, who has been under investigation for mishandling church funds. He has denied any wrongdoing.

The three other board members have not resigned: Hazel Dukes of New York, who has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of attempted grand larceny; James Ghee of Virginia, who has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of embezzlement; and Bobby Bivens of California, who was arrested and accused of owing money for child support.

Myrlie Evers-Williams, chairman of the N.A.A.C.P.’s national board, said that the executive committee would, if necessary, take steps to remove the remaining three members from the board.

In its meeting this month, the executive committee also voted to create a special panel in order to review the N.A.A.C.P.’s code of ethics.