Adam’s Mark, NAACP Still Have Their Wires Crossed

ST. LOUIS, MO— It seems Adam’s Mark Hotels & Resorts and the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) are even having trouble agreeing on how to disagree about two-year-old allegations of discrimination by the hotel chain against black guests that have, in turn, prompted the civil rights organization to call for a boycott of the lodging company’s properties. In the wake of a call by NAACP President/CEO Kweisi Mfume for a nationwide boycott of Adam’s Mark, the hotel chain filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Baltimore on July 27 seeking a court injunction to head off proposed picketing of its properties by NAACP members. At the same time, Adam’s Mark President/CEO Fred Kummer claimed he held a phone conversation with Mfume, during which both parties purportedly indicated there would be further dialogue between both sides as a means of “making every effort to find a more productive way to deal with [the]controversy than [through]a protracted battle in court.” Furthermore, Kummer maintained that— at the conclusion of that telephone conversation— Mfume indicated that he would call (him) on Monday, July 30. However, apparently no such phone call was forthcoming; instead, Monday’s turn of events saw the NAACP continue its call for a nationwide boycott of Adam’s Mark. As a result, on July 31, Kummer said: “I am disappointed that Mr. Mfume has declined the initiative for the two of us to discuss how we can resolve the differences between Adam’s Mark and the NAACP. Adam’s Mark is sincere in its desire to avoid a protracted court battle if we can reach a fair agreement. I still hope this can be achieved. Therefore, we will explore every line of communication in the hope that reason will prevail so we can find a rational solution as quickly as possible.” Calls placed to NAACP offices seeking that organization’s view of the situation were not returned at presstime.