An Article 10 complaint against Monroe NAACP President Rev. Cliff Thomas will be finalized this week, according to branch member Marie Brown, escalating tensions that have gripped the civil rights organization in recent months.
Brown confirmed that the required signatures have already been collected and that the paperwork will be submitted to the national NAACP office by Friday, September 26, 2025. If accepted, the complaint could trigger a formal hearing process that may lead to Thomas’ removal as branch president.
The complaint arises from a controversial incident in August, when Thomas called police to arrest Rev. Aston Depaul Stubbs, a fellow member who had spoken out against his leadership during a branch meeting. Stubbs has insisted his words were a pledge of opposition, not a physical threat. Thomas, however, interpreted the remarks as threatening and pressed charges.
Brown said that decision crossed the line. “The arrest of a member simply for opposing the president’s actions is unacceptable. That’s not how this organization should operate,” she told the Free Press.
Rev. Thomas told Monroe Police Rev. Stubbs threatened his life. In addition, to filing charges against Rev. Stubbs, he also placed a peace bond on him barring them from coming with 100 feet of each other.
Vice President Don Hopkins, who is leading the petition drive, has also criticized Thomas for bypassing the branch’s executive board on key issues. These include calling for the removal of Richwood’s police chief without board approval and inserting the branch into a private domestic dispute that board members determined was not a civil rights matter.
Article 10 in Context
The NAACP’s Article 10 procedure is a rarely used but powerful mechanism for internal accountability. It allows members to petition for the removal of officers who they believe have violated the organization’s constitution, by-laws, or mission. If the national office finds the complaint credible, it may order a hearing, during which evidence is presented and both sides are heard. Possible outcomes range from dismissal of the complaint to removal of the officer from leadership.
In Monroe, Article 10 complaints are almost unheard of. Thomas is only the second branch president in the city’s history to face such charges, underscoring the seriousness of the current conflict.
What Comes Next
Once the Article 10 complaint is filed, the national NAACP will conduct a preliminary review.
Thomas will be notified and given the opportunity to respond. If the national office determines there is sufficient cause, it may appoint a hearing panel or send investigators to gather testimony.
In the meantime, the dispute has left the local branch divided. Some members support Thomas’ bold, outspoken style, while others say his unilateral decisions have undermined the unity and credibility of the organization.
