FILE A COMPLAINT

FILE A COMPLAINT


The Missouri NAACP is made up of dedicated volunteers committed to equal opportunity and justice for all. The NAACP makes every effort to provide some degree of assistance to its members and the black and brown community in Missouri.



Completing this form does not constitute filing an official complaint with a legal authority. Information in this form will only be used to assist you concerning this complaint. It is not intended to be construed as an offer or agreement to provide legal services.

Criteria for Case Acceptance: The National NAACP Legal Department enforces the following guidelines in deterring acceptance of cases for litigation by the NAACP. The Legal Department would like to accept every meritorious request for assistance. However, the reality of limited resources and personnel dictate that only the strongest cases are to be accepted in order to ensure justice and equality for all.


  1. The case must  help to establish a new legal precedent or protect an existing precedent, to the benefit of communities of color.
  2. The case must be able to achieve a broad remedy thereby benefiting significant number of people of color. This is best achieved through a class action case.
  3. The violation of a fundamental or constitutional right must be involved.
  4. The violation is one which may go unredressed or the injured parties will obtain ineffective assistance of counsel absent the intervention by the NAACP.
  5. The local branch or state conference must be able to give moral and/or financial support to the case.
  6. Litigation must be the only means available to achieve relief.


Answer all questions and be as specific as possible.


If you are a member, please provide your membership number. If you are not a member, please consider joining today!

Contact Us

Section 1: Contact Information


Be sure to give your full name, address, email and phone. If you do not have a phone, give a phone number where you can be reached.



Section 2: Basis for Complaint


Please check the box or boxes that indicate what you believe to be the cause and type of the discrimination. If Other, please state what violation of your civil rights has occurred.



Section 3: Description of the Incident


Include anyone you believe was involved in the act of discrimination. Be as detailed as possible in your description of the events. 

For example: Were you fired? Did you fail to get a promotion? Did the company refuse to hire you? Did the union or employment agency refuse to refer you to a job? Who discriminated against you? Why do you believe it was because of your race, color, religion, national origin, sex or gender, age, or familial status?


Who discriminated against you?

Did anyone else witness the incident?


Section 4: Steps Taken


Please provide any information about steps you have taken to resolve the issue. If you have consulted an attorney, provide their contact information. If you have filed a complaint or Informal Resolution Request (IRR) with a state or local human relations/rights commission, Federal government, union, or other governmental agency, provide the details and outcome of that process.



Section 5: Release and Waiver


By submitting this form, I affirm that I understand it and agree with the following statements.


  1. I have submitted to Missouri State Conference of the NAACP a Complaint of Discrimination.
  2. I understand the NAACP is not a law firm and does not provide legal services. Some of the members and volunteers I speak to about this complaint are lawyers, they represent the NAACP and not me personally. Filing this complaint does not create an attorney client relationship with the NAACP or any of its members or volunteers.
  3. I understand that the NAACP is a private, nonprofit, volunteer-lead organization. It is not a government agency. Filing a complaint with the NAACP is not the same as filing a complaint with an administrative agency or filing a suit in a complaint with an administrative agency or filing a law suit in a court of law. Whatever rights I have to file a complaint with an administrative agency or to file a civil lawsuit are completely unaffected by whether or not I have filed my complaint with the NAACP.
  4. There may be a deadline for me to file a complaint or lawsuit with a government agency or court. If I do not file my complaint or lawsuit by that time, I may have no right to a recovery from any harm from the respondent. Filing this complaint with the NAACP does not meet or delay that deadline.
  5. I have authorized the NAACP (1) to investigate my complaint; (2) to attempt to resolve my complaint; and (3) if there is no resolution, to provide me at least three referrals of lawyers who may consider representing me in litigation or other proceedings related to the complaint. I understand that the NAACP in no way guarantees the competency, professionalism or fitness of the lawyers whose names have been provided.
  6. I will provide the NAACP copies (not originals) of whatever documents I have to support the complaint. If I request in writing that some of the material be held in confidence, the NAACP will hold it in confidence. Otherwise, the NAACP may share lit with the Respondent or with state or federal anti­discrimination agencies.
  7. If the NAACP attempts to resolve my complaint, I will keep them informed of the status of the issue including whether I retain legal counsel, file other complaints, or resolve the complaint on my own.
  8. The NAACP will receive no funds from any monetary compensation provided to me as part of a resolution whether or not the NAACP was involved in resolving the complaint.
  9. I understand that if the NAACP refers me to a private attorney, I am not required to retain that attorney and the attorney is not required to offer legal representation to me. I understand that any legal representation that is offered to me is not guaranteed to be free, but may be on, whatever terms the attorney and I agree on. I also understand that the referred private attorney does not represent or act as an agent of the NAACP, nor is the NAACP in any way offering to pay for the attorney’s services.
  10. I release and hold harmless the NAACP, its officers, directors, employees, agents, personal actions and actions, cause and causes of action, suits, debts, dues, sums of money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills, specialties, covenants, contracts, controversies, agreement, promises, variances, trespasses, damages, judgments, executions, claims and demands whosoever, in law in equity, which I ever had, may have in the future, or which any of my personal representatives, successors, heirs or assigns hereafter can, shall or may have against the NAACP, upon or by reason to the NAACP's handling of my Complaint of Discrimination.

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