The NAACP NJ State Conference joins the NAACP Atlantic City Chapter, the Fellowship of Churches, the National Action Network and the Interfaith Action Movement in calling for the immediate resignation of Atlantic County Prosecutor Williams Reynolds. In the alternative, should resignation not occur, we call for prompt intervention by the Attorney General of New Jersey and a formal meeting to address these matters.
This call is not about politics or personalities.
It is about justice, integrity and the appropriate use of prosecutorial authority.
Prosecutors are vested with immense discretion and power. That authority must be exercised with restraint, impartiality and fidelity to the rule of law. When prosecutorial actions raise questions of political influence, retaliation or selective enforcement, public confidence in the justice system is placed at risk. The harm in such circumstances extends beyond any individual matter and implicates the health of democratic governance itself.
The NAACP has a long history of opposing abuses of state power, particularly where such actions appear to disproportionately impact Black public servants or undermine trust between communities and the justice system. For more than two years, Mayor Marty Small Sr., Dr. La’Quetta Small and Dr. Constance Days-Chapman — well-known educators and public servants — have been subjected to prolonged public scrutiny, ridicule and reputational harm stemming from prosecutorial actions that, in our view, warrant serious examination.
Based on publicly available information and observable outcomes, these actions raise substantial concerns regarding prosecutorial overreach and the appearance of political motivation, rather than decisions grounded solely in evidence and law. The resulting harm to professional standing, personal lives and community stability is significant. This prolonged prosecutorial campaign has diverted public resources, imposed substantial costs on taxpayers and contributed to instability in city leadership.
Of particular concern is the fact that Atlantic County Prosecutor Reynolds authored and transmitted a formal letter requesting that Commissioner Reverend Collins A. Days Sr. indefinitely recuse himself from voting on matters involving the Prosecutor’s Office, despite the absence of any judicial finding, ethics determination, or evidentiary showing of bias. Commissioner Days is the father of Dr. Days-Chapman and is also the duly elected representative of the First District on the Atlantic County Board of Commissioners.
Any attempt by a prosecutor — especially through written communication — to influence, restrict or discourage an elected official from exercising the full scope of his lawful duties raises serious constitutional and democratic concerns. Commissioner Days was elected by the voters of the First District and possesses both the legal authority and fiduciary obligation to vote on matters before the Board, including those involving the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, unless and until a lawful disqualification is established through appropriate legal or ethics processes.
Efforts to bar or pressure an elected official into non-participation:
Undermine the authority conferred by voters
Effectively silence constituent representation
Risk establishing a dangerous precedent in which prosecutorial offices exert influence over legislative oversight
When viewed collectively, these actions suggest a pattern that merits independent review, including concerns related to:
The use of prosecutorial discretion
Potential witness intimidation or coercion
Political interference
Retaliatory actions impacting Black leadership and their families
These concerns are not presented as conclusions of guilt, but as serious issues requiring transparency, accountability and impartial investigation. They further raise questions regarding whether similarly situated individuals are being treated consistently under the law.
For these reasons, the NAACP NJ State Conference calls for the immediate resignation of Atlantic County Prosecutor Williams Reynolds. Failing that, we urge the Attorney General of New Jersey to exercise supervisory authority and ensure a full and independent investigation by appropriate state or federal authorities into:
The exercise of prosecutorial discretion
Charging and plea practices
Allegations of political interference
Allegations of witness intimidation
Accountability is not optional. It is foundational to public trust.
Justice must be blind, measured and principled; not punitive, performative or political. No prosecutor is beyond scrutiny.
No office is immune from accountability.
The NAACP will continue to advocate for truth, fairness and the protection of our communities.
Justice does not terrorize children.
Justice does not humiliate families.
Justice does not silence elected officials.True justice demands integrity…and integrity demands action.
Always forward,
Richard T. Smith
President, NAACP New Jersey State Conference
Member, NAACP National Board of Directors
