Las Vegas NAACP calls for resignation of official who made derogatory remark about King Day

Jet, Feb 23, 1998

The Las Vegas Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People recently denounced the vice president of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association.

The official, Dan Holley, allegedly used disparaging remarks regarding the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. USA Today reports that Holley referred to the holiday as "Martin Luther Coon" day while he addressed a police academy cadet class.

A statement issued by the NAACP read, "We believe that the verbal reprimand and six-hour sensitivity training issued to Dan Holley is insufficient and does not send a strong message within the Police Union and Department that this type of behavior is unacceptable."

Holley reportedly apologized and said the comment was "a slip of the tongue." But the NAACP said the apology "is unacceptable and is as offensive as the original statement."

Las Vegas' NAACP, joined by the president of the Idaho-Nevada and Utah Tri-State Conference and NAACP National Board Member Jeanetta Williams, called for the resignation of Holley.