MIAMI, FL - A civil rights group protested outside the offices of the National Hurricane Center today over what it claims is a disparity in the organization's storm naming process. The National African-American Coalition of People staged the protest due to what it sees as "an elitist, bigoted practice that favors whites and Hispanics". The group plans to continue acts of civil disobedience and to boycott the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration until the process is changed.
"Names like Hanna, Kyle and Edouard do not fully represent the diversity of the American people." said NAACP Executive Director Isaiah Herman. "African-Americans should be represented as well - after all, many of these hurricanes actually come from Africa."
The Hurricane Center denies that African-American names are purposely excluded from the list. "We try to be as diverse as possible." said Kyle Joplin, the center's deputy director, who is white. "As a matter of fact, Chantal is on the list for 2013, and next year we have Joaquin, like that Florida basketball player."
Among the NAACP's demands are that 31% of the hurricane names reflect African-American culture, and that an NAACP member be given a seat on the naming committee. In addition, African-American names would be limited to storms that do not make landfall. "We believe storms that cause mass destruction and human suffering should still be named after white people." said Herman.
The group has submitted a storm name list to the Hurricane Center for immediate consideration: Artrus, Beyoncé, C4, Dwantrell, Eldrick, Florina, G'Money, HerWanda, Isaiah, Jai'helen, Kerrwinn, LaQuisha, Mgambe, Namika, Oprah, Portrell, Rai'Shawn, Serena, Tyrell, Venus, and Walter.
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