More than a year after local residents established a chapter of the NAACP, president Aaron Bogen said much progress has been made and that it is on to its next task.

The local chapter’s newest task, he said, is looking into discrimination of minorities against the state and county levels.

Bogen said since the inception of the chapter, he has received more than 50 complaints from individuals who have had the proper qualifications for the jobs.

The local chapter has been in contact with the ACLU and the NAACP legal counsel and has received their support.

Bogen is asking that anyone who feels they have been discriminated upon to contact the local chapter of the NAACP.

“We are looking for equal rights here,” he said. “Right now everything isn’t equal. It’s a buddy-buddy clique system. We are going to fight for freedom. This has to stop. There is too much of it going on. People shouldn’t have to leave town to get good jobs.”

Among the alleged complaints, Bogen said, there have been a mixture of men and women, and they have included preachers and deacons.

Bogen did compliment the cities of Andalusia and Opp for their efforts in making sure that minorities were hired.

Additionally, Bogen said many of the issues that have come to a head in Opp, specifically road blocks and other issues, had worked themselves out.

“We have worked through issues with Opp Police Department and the city of Opp and the mayor’s office,” he said. “The city of Opp is doing their part.”

Previously, Bogen had addressed the city council about too many road blocks in District 4, and in May, he alleged that police were targeting the crowd at May Day on Hardin Street.

However, Bogen said then it wasn’t the OPD who was targeting them, it was the Drug Task Force, ABC and the sheriff’s department.

Bogen said anyone with concerns can contact him at 334-764-2071.