Local NAACP Head Ousted for Attempted Assault on Member

The president of the Carson/Torrance branch of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People has been removed from office for attempting to hit another member of the group.

Marvin Clayton, 53, was informed of his immediate removal in a May 24 letter from William H. Penn, a director in the NAACP’S national office in Baltimore. Clayton, who admitted this week that he lost his temper and tried to hit Executive Committee member Joe Alford, said he would abide by the decision.

“If that’s the feeling of the national office, I’ll just yield,” Clayton said. “If they feel someone else can do it better, so be it.”

Penn would not comment on the letter, which directed Clayton to turn over the branch’s records to the group’s first vice president, Shirley Scott.

Clayton, who works in the community development department of the Friendship Children’s Center in Carson, also owns a private security firm. He said that in 1978 he helped found the Carson chapter, which has grown to 200 members. It is one of 72 NAACP chapters in California.

Citing the national organization’s rules against members talking to the news media, none of the local members contacted this week would comment on the matter.

However, a copy of Penn’s letter obtained by The Times said a complaint filed against Clayton accused him of misappropriating funds from the branch, refusing to operate within the group’s bylaws, improperly recruiting members and “attempting an assault upon another member of the Carson/Torrance branch during an executive committee meeting.”

The attempted assault was the basis for Clayton’s removal, the letter said. The letter did not address the other charges.

Clayton said Alford accused him of using chapter money for personal reasons. During an argument over the allegations during a Dec. 9, 1993, committee meeting, Clayton said he lost his temper and tried to grab Alford, but was restrained by other members.

“It was more verbal than anything,” he said.

After a complaint was filed with the national office, Penn traveled to Carson to hear arguments from both sides. The national board of the NAACP later voted to remove Clayton from office.

Clayton said the fact that he didn’t actually hit Alford is grounds for appeal, but he will not pursue it because he is too busy with other activities.

“I intended to hurt him . . . but I didn’t,” Clayton said. “That’s my whole point.”

He said the other accusations against him were not valid. Clayton said he would retain his membership and support the group’s goals.

“It’s very important that (an) NAACP chapter exist in the city of Carson--whoever is president,” Clayton said.