WASHINGTON — The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is deeply alarmed by reports concerning the deteriorating living conditions, prolonged deployment, declining morale, and serious mental health challenges facing thousands of Sailors and Marines serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).

Recent reporting indicates that the USS Abraham Lincoln has now been deployed for approximately 265 days, after departing San Diego on November 21, 2025. The carrier’s deployment, originally expected to conclude months ago, has reportedly been extended twice. During this extraordinary period, the crew has experienced only two brief port calls, with reports documenting a period of more than 200 consecutive days without a meaningful port visit.

More disturbing are accounts from service members and their families describing moldy showers, broken toilets and laundry facilities, extended periods without hot water, shortages of basic hygiene products, inadequate meals, disrupted mail service, excessive working hours, and worsening mental health conditions.

Multiple news organizations have also reported incidents involving Sailors who allegedly attempted to go overboard. While Navy officials have disputed reports suggesting an increase in suicidal behavior, the accounts coming from Sailors and military families demand immediate attention, transparency, and independent review.

Our service members are not expendable.

The NAACP views the treatment and well-being of America’s service members as a fundamental issue of civil rights, human dignity, equal treatment, and national responsibility. Black Americans have served in every major American conflict while historically fighting a second battle for dignity, equality, adequate medical treatment, recognition, and fair treatment within the Armed Forces.

That history matters today.

Black Sailors, other Sailors of color, women, and members of historically marginalized communities are among the nearly 5,000 Sailors and Marines serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The NAACP is deeply concerned about how prolonged isolation, inadequate living conditions, shortages of necessities, operational exhaustion, and barriers to adequate mental health care may affect these populations.

The federal government has an obligation not simply to send America’s sons and daughters into harm’s way, but to safeguard their health, dignity, and well-being while they serve.

The NAACP has fought for generations for equality of treatment and opportunity within the United States Armed Forces. Our advocacy helped advance the principles ultimately embodied in President Harry S. Truman’s Executive Order 9981, which declared equality of treatment and opportunity in the Armed Forces regardless of race, color, religion, or national origin.

Those principles cannot stop at recruitment.

Equality in military service must also mean equal access to safe living conditions, adequate nutrition, sanitation, medical and mental health care, rest, communication with family, and leadership that recognizes the humanity of the people carrying out the mission.

A Navy Veteran’s Perspective

NAACP Life Member, Dr. Antwanisha Williamson, Chair of the California-Hawaii State Conference NAACP Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committee and a U.S. Navy combat veteran, understands the consequences of prolonged operations at sea firsthand.

In 2003, while serving aboard the USS Carl Vinson, Dr. Williamson and her fellow Sailors completed a nine-month deployment that included more than 100 consecutive days at sea. She recalls shortages of food and basic consumable necessities, including toilet paper, along with significant deterioration in crew morale and serious mental health challenges among service members.

“I have lived a version of what these Sailors are experiencing. After more than 100 consecutive days at sea, we saw what isolation, exhaustion, shortages, uncertainty, and separation from family could do to people. We watched morale deteriorate. We watched people struggle mentally. And we were at sea for a fraction of the uninterrupted period these Sailors have reportedly endured.

“These are not numbers on a deployment schedule. These are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, spouses, and human beings who raised their hands and swore an oath to defend this country. Their willingness to serve does not give our government permission to disregard their basic needs or their humanity.

“I want every Sailor and Marine aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, especially our Black service members and other service members of color, to know this: we see you, we hear your families, and the NAACP will continue fighting for you.“

Civil Rights and Military Readiness Are Not Competing Priorities

Protecting service members is not inconsistent with military readiness. Protecting service members is essential to military readiness.

A Sailor who is chronically exhausted, inadequately nourished, isolated from family, unable to access basic necessities, or experiencing an untreated mental health crisis cannot reasonably be expected to maintain peak operational readiness indefinitely.

This is particularly concerning during active military operations, when the United States depends upon highly trained service members to make consequential decisions under extraordinary pressure.

The NAACP therefore rejects any suggestion that raising concerns about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln undermines the military mission. Demanding safe conditions, adequate resources, mental health support, and accountable leadership strengthens our Armed Forces.

NAACP Calls for Immediate Federal Action

The NAACP calls upon Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Department of the Navy leadership, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, congressional Armed Services leadership, and the Administration to take immediate action.

We call for:

1. Immediate operational relief for the Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, including implementation of the earliest safe rotation and return plan possible.
2. A comprehensive independent investigation into reported food, water, sanitation, hygiene, maintenance, mail, staffing, workload, and mental health conditions aboard the carrier.
3. An immediate mental health assessment and surge of confidential mental health resources, with protections to ensure that service members can seek help without unnecessary stigma, retaliation, or fear that asking for help will automatically destroy their military careers.
4. A demographic and equity review examining whether Black service members, other service members of color, women, junior enlisted personnel, and other potentially vulnerable populations have experienced disparate effects in access to resources, medical and mental health services, disciplinary responses, assignments, or opportunities for relief.
5. Transparent communication with military families, who should not have to depend upon news reports and informal communications to understand the health and safety conditions facing their loved ones.
6. Congressional oversight of extended naval deployments, including examination of maximum deployment lengths, consecutive days at sea, port-call requirements, mental health safeguards, logistical sustainability, and command accountability.
7. Protection against retaliation for Sailors, Marines, family members, whistleblowers, or others who report unsafe conditions or seek mental health treatment.

We Cannot Ask Them to Defend Freedom While Ignoring Their Own Rights

For more than a century, the NAACP has fought to ensure that Black Americans and other marginalized communities receive the rights, dignity, protection, and opportunity promised by this nation. That commitment has always included the men and women who wear America’s uniform.

Black service members have fought in every American war, often while confronting discrimination within the very institutions they served.

Our nation cannot celebrate their patriotism while remaining silent when service members report that their basic physical and psychological needs are not being met.

The NAACP stands with the Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. We stand with their spouses, their children, their parents, and every military family waiting for someone they love to come home.

Service is a sacrifice. It should never require the sacrifice of basic human dignity.

We call upon federal and Navy leadership to act with urgency.

Relieve these Sailors. Investigate these conditions. Protect their mental health. Support their families. And bring them home safely.

The strength of America’s military will never be measured solely by the ships we deploy, the weapons we possess, or the missions we accomplish.

It will also be measured by how this nation treats the people we ask to carry out those missions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 17, 2026

Contact: communications@naacpnet.org 

WASHINGTON — The NAACP’s Office of General Counsel today announced that it is joining the legal team surrounding the death of Nolan Wells, a young Black man who died under circumstances that remain insufficiently explained.  
 

“We’re taking up this fight to search for truth and to demand transparency concerning the tragic death of Nolan Wells,” said Kristen Clarke, General Counsel of the NAACP. “Our investigation will be victim-focused, community-based and sensitive to the ongoing pain felt by Nolan Wells’ family and his community. Drawing on the Association’s long history of pushing for full and fair investigations when Black lives are lost under suspicious circumstances, we will bring additional investigative and legal resources to bear and ensure that no stone is left unturned in the quest for truth and accountability for Nolan’s family.” 

For more than a century, the NAACP has challenged systems that fail to fully investigate and account for the deaths of Black people, particularly when early explanations leave families and communities with more questions than answers. The Association’s legal work has consistently centered on ensuring that law enforcement and government officials exercise the full force of their authority to uncover the truth and deliver justice. 

“The world is watching, and Nolan Wells’ family deserves a thorough accounting of what happened,” said Derrick Johnson, President & CEO of the NAACP. “Too often, the deaths of young Black people are dismissed, downplayed, or inadequately investigated unless we demand answers. Our involvement in this case is part of our ongoing commitment to make sure those answers are pursued with urgency and respect for Black lives.” 
 

As part of its role, the NAACP’s Office of General Counsel will work alongside the Wells legal team, which includes civil rights attorney Ben Crump, to press for comprehensive fact-finding, advocate for transparency from relevant authorities, and support efforts to ensure that Nolan’s family receives the information and accountability they are due. 

At the 117th NAACP National Convention in Chicago last month, Nolan Wells’ family, the NAACP, and attorney Crump announced the results of an independent autopsy.

The autopsy’s findings that Nolan Wells’ manner of death remains undetermined underscores the importance of a thorough and transparent investigation. 
 

That concern is not unique to this case. According to the CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System published in 2022, Black males experienced the highest rate of deaths classified as being of undetermined intent among males, at 5.8 deaths per 100,000 population. This troubling disparity highlights why unanswered questions surrounding deaths involving young Black men cannot be met with silence or delay, and why families deserve complete transparency and accountability from those charged with investigating them. 
 

As the search for answers continues, the NAACP Office of General Counsel remains committed to pursuing every available avenue to uncover the truth surrounding Nolan Wells’ death. The Association will stand with Wells’ family in demanding transparency, accountability, and a complete investigation, while continuing its long-standing fight to ensure that no Black life is overlooked, or dismissed. 

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The NAACP applauded the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in Watson v. Republican National Committee to protect mail-in voting access, affirming the rights of millions of Americans who rely on absentee and mail ballots to participate in our democracy and make their voices heard.  
 

The ruling represents a critical victory for voters across the country, particularly Black voters, seniors, rural communities, military personnel stationed overseas, and individuals with disabilities who disproportionately depend on mail-in voting to make their voices heard. 
 

“Good news rarely comes out of this Supreme Court, but today’s ruling is a win for our democracy,” said Derrick Johnson, President & CEO of the NAACP. “Your vote still matters, otherwise, those in power, like Donald Trump, wouldn’t be trying so hard to silence you at every turn. These rare victories should energize everyone to show up at the polls this November and vote, because if we do, we can and we will stop this tyrannical administration.” 
 

The case came amid growing national concern over attempts to limit or block access to mail-in voting. Efforts that NAACP and other civil rights groups warned would disproportionately disenfranchise marginalized communities. Voting by mail has long served as a critical tool to expand participation in elections, ensuring that individuals who cannot vote in person still have an opportunity to engage in the democratic process. 
 

While this is a victory for voters, the NAACP emphasized that the fight to protect voting rights is far from over. Across the country, state legislatures – particularly in the South – continue to introduce policies that limit access to the ballot, from restrictive identification requirements to redistricting efforts that dilute Black voting strength. 
 

Most recently, the NAACP sued President Trump to fight his Executive Order to limit mail-in ballots to an approved list of absentee voters. The Association will continue its commitment to defending every American’s right to vote — in person, by mail, or by any lawful means — and to ensuring that elections remain free, fair, and accessible to all. To learn more about NAACP’s fight to protect the right to vote, visit naacp.org/vote.  
 

WASHINGTON — The NAACP welcomes the United States Supreme Court’s decision affirming the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment. 
 

In upholding more than a century of legal precedent, the Court reaffirmed a foundational principle of American democracy: that all persons born on U.S. soil are citizens, regardless of their parentage. 
 

“Trump’s attempted assault on the 14th Amendment was dealt a major blow today. This decision is a powerful affirmation of the Constitution and the enduring promise of equality it represents,” said Derrick Johnson, President & CEO of the NAACP. “For over 150 years, the Fourteenth Amendment has guaranteed citizenship to everyone born in this country. Today, the Court rightly rejected efforts to undermine that core protection and instead upheld a principle that is essential to our democracy.” 
 

The NAACP emphasized that the principle of birthright citizenship was enshrined in the aftermath of the Civil War to ensure that formerly enslaved people and their descendants would be recognized as full citizens. The Court’s decision preserves that legacy and reinforces the Constitution’s commitment to equal protection under the law. 
 

While celebrating the decision, the NAACP will monitor ongoing efforts to challenge civil and human rights. The Association will remain vigilant and committed to defending the progress we have made and advancing justice for all. 
 

The NAACP reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civil rights and ensuring that the Constitution’s promises are fully realized for every community across the nation. 
 

Contact: NAACP, communications@naacpnet.org 
Public Citizen Litigation Group, obaddar@citizen.org  
LDF, media@naacpldf.org 
 

WASHINGTON — Today, a federal judge issued an order blocking procedures proposed by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to limit mail-in voting for certain voters. The order came in response to a successful motion filed by Public Citizen Litigation Group and the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), on behalf of the NAACP, to enforce a 2021 settlement agreement in which USPS committed to prioritizing the timely delivery of election mail, including mail-in ballots, without exception.

On June 2, as directed by an Executive Order issued by President Trump on March 31, USPS published a proposed rule under which it would refuse to deliver mail-in ballots to voters if state or local election officials did not provide certain information to USPS and use a certain envelope design. In granting the NAACP’s motion, the court agreed that the proposed procedures would violate the settlement agreement and prohibited USPS from implementing the proposed procedures. 

“This ruling is a critical step in protecting the rights of voters who rely on the timely delivery of mail-in ballots to participate in our democracy,” said Anthony P. Ashton, Senior Associate General Counsel, NAACP. “The proposed USPS changes would have created unnecessary and unlawful barriers, in direct violation of the USPS’s mandate to prioritize election mail. Those barriers could have disproportionately harmed Black voters, who are more likely to rely on mail voting due to longstanding inequities in access. Put simply, the use of mail-in voting helps reduce voter intimidation at the polls and election day dirty tricks. This decision makes clear that access to the ballot cannot be tied to arbitrary requirements. The NAACP will continue to hold this government accountable when it attempts to undermine fair and equal access to the electoral process.”

“The court today correctly recognized that USPS’s plan to create roadblocks to mail-in voting was inconsistent with its commitment to timely deliver election mail,” said Allison Zieve, director of Public Citizen Litigation Group. “USPS’s plan was unwise, unlawful, and a threat to the millions of voters who rely on mailed ballots to participate in our democracy.”

“Today’s decision recognizes that USPS cannot disregard its legal obligation to timely deliver mail-in ballots to all voters,” said Sam Spital, Associate Director-Counsel of LDF. “We are glad that the court blocked a blatant attempt to renege on this commitment through a proposed rule that ran the risk of undermining the fairness of our national elections, creating particular dangers for Black voters. LDF will continue to defend our democracy and combat unlawful restrictions of the right to vote.” 

Read more about the NAACP v. USPS case here. A short Q&A about this case and others challenging the USPS election proposed is here.

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About NAACP 
 

The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities. 
 

June 9, 2026 

Contacts:  
communications@naacpnet.org  

The NAACP, NAACP Tennessee State Conference, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and LDF file motion for preliminary injunction before a three judge panel in federal court on behalf of impacted voters 
 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The NAACP and the NAACP Tennessee State Conference and impacted voters, along with co-counsels the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and LDF, have filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to block Tennessee’s newly enacted congressional map, which dismantles the state’s only majority-Black district and unlawfully dilutes Black voting power. The filing is available here. 
 

The motion asks the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee to halt implementation of the map before the 2026 elections, arguing that the plan was enacted with discriminatory intent in violation of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. 
 

“Let’s be clear: this map is not about fairness, it’s about fear,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP. “Tennessee lawmakers saw Black political power and made a calculated decision to dismantle it. They rigged the system and diluted our community’s voting power. We will not allow officials to cheat and silence our voices. We’ll fight this injustice in every courtroom necessary.” 
 

Last month, Tennessee lawmakers rushed through legislation that eliminated Congressional District 9, a Memphis-based district that has served as the state’s only majority-Black district for decades. Within days of the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, the legislature carried out a special session that led to the dismantling of Congressional District 9 by cracking the Black population across three districts.
  

“We’re fighting for our communities, our neighborhoods, and our voices,” said Gloria Sweet-Love, President of the Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP. “In Memphis and across Shelby County, we’ve built generations of advocacy, organizing, and civic power. This intentionally discriminatory map seeks to break that apart by dividing us and weakening our voice at the ballot box. We’re calling on the courts to stop this map before elections, before it can harm our communities.”  
 

The filing details how lawmakers ignored clear warnings that the plan would harm Black voters, used questionable and inconsistent explanations for their actions, and departed sharply from traditional redistricting standards in a rushed and opaque process.  
 

“Make no mistake, what we are seeing in Tennessee and across the South is an undeniable effort to strip Black voters of their power and their voice,” said Kristen Clarke, General Counsel of the NAACP. “The evidence here shows a calculated and intentional effort to dismantle a longstanding majority-Black district through a rushed, opaque process. A preliminary injunction ahead of elections is necessary to ensure that elections proceed under a lawful and constitutional map.” 
 

“Tennessee’s congressional map continues a troubling pattern of stifling Black political power and fracturing communities that have long organized to make their voices heard,” said Shaylyn Cochran, deputy executive director at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “Our complaint underscores the serious and ongoing harm voters face under this map, and we will continue to fight until Black voters in Tennessee are both able and empowered to make their voices heard. This is not a ‘nice to have.’ It is the cornerstone of our democracy.” 
 

The motion demonstrates that Black voting power in Memphis and Shelby County has been fractured, making it more difficult to elect candidates of their choice. It further shows that race played a central role in the map’s configuration, despite lawmakers’ claims to the contrary. 
 

“Targeting Black voters by intentionally severing their communities into three districts to entrench white political power is both shameful and illegal,” said Kathryn Sadasivan, Counsel at the Legal Defense Fund. “Black voters deserve fair representation in government, and they have suffered decades of intentional and blatant discrimination at the hands of those who oppose a free and fair multiracial democracy. Tennessee legislators turned their backs on Black voters and abandoned their core responsibility to protect their constituents when enacting this map. The court must not follow in their footsteps.” 
 

The NAACP’s motion underscores that without immediate court intervention, Black voters will suffer irreparable harm, including the loss of fair representation in upcoming elections — harm that cannot be undone after ballots are cast. The motion is filed on behalf of civil rights and social justice organizations including the National Urban League.  
 

“Memphis has paid too high a price for the right to vote to have its power carved up behind closed doors,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League. “The Memphis Urban League’s complaint speaks directly to the question of whether our democracy will honor equal protection and the Voting Rights Act, or tolerate modern-day vote dilution. We stand with the Memphis Urban League and the people of Memphis in demanding maps that reflect communities, not discrimination.” 
 

This latest action in Tennessee is part of NAACP’s broader effort to challenge discriminatory redistricting practices nationwide and to defend the fundamental right to vote. For more information, visit www.naacp.org. The filing is available here. 
 

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