The head of the Louisiana chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference has been suspended indefinitely after initiating an economic boycott that was not authorized by the national organization, the president of the national SCLC tells Daily Report.
SCLC President Charles Steele Jr. says the Rev. Reginald Pitcher of Baton Rouge did not get permission from the national office to recently call for a “selective buying campaign” aimed at the Mall of Louisiana, Cortana Mall and local Wal-Marts.
“We suspended Rev. Pitcher because he has not communicated with the national office at all. When you’re dealing with a national issue or national boycott, you cannot make that decision as a local office,” Steele says.
Pitcher tells Daily Report he doesn’t believe he’s violated any of the SCLC’s policies or procedures.
“I’m totally disappointed,” says Pitcher, who adds he has refused a call from the organization to resign. “I’m heartbroken at just the idea. What I’m doing is the foundation of what the SCLC is about and for him to not support that is puzzling me.”
Pitcher and other religious and community leaders called for the boycott just days after Baton Rouge police officers shot and killed 37-year-old Alton Sterling in front of a North Foster Drive convenience store on July 5. The objective was to pressure the Baton Rouge Area Chamber to lean on local authorities to arrest and charge the police officers who shot and killed Sterling.
Late last week Pitcher told Daily Report the Louisiana SCLC intended to expand the boycott over the weekend of July 22-24 to include Sam’s Club and Costco. When asked about the boycott this weekend, Steele reiterates that no local chapter can call for such a boycott without the national office’s permission.
—Alexandria Burris
