'They’re like savages': NAACP leader suspended for accusing migrants of rape, blames AI after video leaks

The president of the Illinois NAACP was suspended after a leaked video of a conference call emerged showed her calling illegal immigrants "savages" who are "raping people."

Teresa Haley was on a Zoom call with other NAACP leaders in her state when she began to discuss what she believed was a lack of concern for addicted and homeless black people, while all the focus was going to the migrant population.

The video was obtained by WLS-TV and showed Haley saying, "These immigrants who come over here, they’ve been raping people, they’ve been breaking into homes, they’re like savages as well. They don’t speak the language and they look at us like we’re crazy."

"Black people have been on the streets forever and ever, and nobody cares, because they say that we’re drug addicts, we’ve got mental health issues," Haley also said, according to CNN.

"It’s the N-A-A-C-P. What do those letters mean to you? What does it really stand for? Yes, we can stand up for other people, but what are we doing for our own?" she reportedly added.

Haley was initially reached by phone while on vacation in Dubai and denied making the comments. When confronted with the video, Haley reportedly claimed it could be a fake.

"With AI, anything is possible," she allegedly claimed.

Days later, Haley issued an apology.

"First and foremost, I express my sincere apologies to anyone who may have been hurt or offended by my comments. I love and value all members of our communities — including immigrants," Haley said, per Fox News. "I have worked tirelessly to advocate for the underserved and the voiceless. I remain focused on denouncing injustices, racism, and discrimination," Haley opined.

The leader added that she is "empathetic" to every person's plight and remains an advocate for "injustices, racism, and discrimination."

DuPage County, Illinois, NAACP President Michael Childress claimed that Haley's comments were taken out of context.

However, Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) called Haley's words "reprehensible remarks" and "extraordinarily inappropriate." The governor also said that he thinks people should recognize that "immigrants to this country are all around us."

Meanwhile, the NAACP said that it stood firm in its "commitment to advancing racial justice and cultivating a society where human dignity is respected," a national spokesperson told CNN.

The group added that Haley was indeed suspended on December 13, 2023.

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