The NAACP has launched a new campaign urging Black student-athletes to boycott several Southern universities following a recent Supreme Court of the United States ruling that weakened parts of the Voting Rights Act.
The campaign, called “Out of Bounds,” encourages Black athletes to avoid committing to colleges in states where lawmakers have redrawn voting maps that critics say reduce Black political representation.
According to the NAACP, the targeted states include:
| States Mentioned | Major Universities Highlighted |
|---|---|
| Alabama | University of Alabama |
| Texas | University of Texas at Austin |
| Georgia | University of Georgia |
| Mississippi | University of Mississippi |
| Tennessee | SEC schools in the state |
| Louisiana | SEC schools in the state |
| Florida | SEC schools in the state |
| South Carolina | SEC schools in the state |
The controversy began after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in a Louisiana redistricting case known as the Callais decision. The ruling found that using race to create two majority-Black congressional districts in Louisiana was unconstitutional.
Voting rights groups argue the decision could weaken Black voting power across Southern states. Soon after the ruling:
- Tennessee lawmakers redrew the state’s only majority-Black congressional district
- Louisiana senators advanced legislation that may reduce majority-minority districts
- Protesters gathered in places like Selma and Montgomery to oppose the ruling
NAACP President Derrick Johnson said schools benefiting from Black athletes should not stay silent while Black voting rights are being challenged.
The organization is also encouraging fans and alumni to financially support historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) instead of the universities listed in the campaign.
Several political leaders reacted quickly.
Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority Leader, supported the campaign and compared it to past actions by famous Black athletes such as:
- Jackie Robinson
- Bill Russell
- Muhammad Ali
Jeffries said athletes should “look elsewhere” until the voting maps are changed.
Meanwhile, Raphael Warnock, a Democratic senator from Georgia, said everyone has a role in protecting democracy but did not directly endorse a boycott.
On the other side, Alan Wilson, South Carolina’s attorney general and a Republican candidate for governor, criticized the campaign. He argued that student-athletes should not be used for political purposes over disagreement with a court ruling.
The debate has also spread online, with supporters arguing that athletic programs bring huge financial benefits to universities. Some believe that if top Black athletes choose different schools, universities and business leaders may pressure lawmakers to reconsider voting maps.
Comedian D.L. Hughley said in a recent interview that if elite athletes stopped attending schools in states like Tennessee and Louisiana, major sports networks and university leaders would begin serious discussions about the issue.
The campaign mainly focuses on schools in the Southeastern Conference, commonly known as the SEC.
The SEC has previously spoken out on racial issues. In 2020, then-commissioner Greg Sankey warned that Mississippi could lose championship events if it did not remove the Confederate emblem from its state flag. Mississippi later adopted a new flag that year.
