Between tears Monday, Baltimore NAACP President Marvin “Doc” Cheatham Sr. condemned the hate crime that left him covered with white powder during an anthrax scare Friday.
“We at the Baltimore chapter of the NAACP will not be intimidated,” Cheatham said during a news conference. ” … It gives us more fire, not less.”
At the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People?s Baltimore headquarters, Cheatham recounted the terror that gripped him Friday when he opened the mail to find himself covered in white powder that he first believed was anthrax but later discovered was boric acid, a substance only toxic if consumed.
After opening the letter from Baton Rouge, La., one of the first calls he made was to his home.
“I wanted to be able to say ?goodbye,? ” he said.
As he waited for authorities to come to the scene, an emotional Cheatham said he began to think of his own funeral.
“I?d like to be buried in a blue suit,” he said.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore City Police and the U.S. Postal Service are investigating the incident, which he said occurred at the chapter headquarters.
FBI agents told Cheatham the envelope contained a racist letter that was not directed specifically at him or the city branch of the civil rights organization.
Cheatham said the incident is evidence that the struggle against racism is still alive.
“There are those who suggest the NAACP is no longer relevant,” he said. “We beg to differ. If that was true, we would not be having this discussion today.”
He called on elected officials to condemn the act and the Baltimore City Police Department to release other incidents of hate crimes about which the public is unaware. A hate crime is a racist incident that also includes a crime, such as vandalism or assault.
A spokesman for Baltimore City Police Department said that data was not immediately available.
New York City and Norfolk, Va., also received letters, which contained a white powdery substance, a spokesman for the FBI said.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
AT A GLANCE
Hate-related incidents as of 2004:
» Anne Arundel County: 65
» Baltimore City: 29
» Baltimore County: 111
» Carroll County: 14
» Harford County: 37
» Howard County: 52
Source: Maryland State Police?s most recent report
