NAACP to Investigate Stops by Pickens Sheriff

The S.C. NAACP says it is investigating traffic stops conducted by the Pickens County Sheriff's office after Sheriff Rick Clark refused to lower the department's American flag to honor the passing of former South African president Nelson Mandela.

"What happens to young people, particularly African-American males, when they are stopped in Pickens County," S.C. NAACP president Lonnie Randolph asked during a news conference on Thursday to announce plans for the 2014 King Day at the Dome Rally. "A fish wouldn't get in trouble if he kept his mouth shut. He opened his mouth, and we are going to look into it."

Clark made national headilnes when he posted on his Facebook page that he would not lower the American Flag at the Pickens County Sheriff's Department because Mandela was not an American citizen.

Clark said he would pull the statistics Thursday to answer Randolph's questions.

"I think we're going to have some positive numbers," he said.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2013/12/19/3167605/buzz-sc-naacp-says-it-is-investigating.html#storylink=cpy