President of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Leon Jenkins resigned Thursday amid the backlash over its since-rescinded plans to give a lifetime achievement award to Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

“The legacy, history and reputation of the NAACP is more important to me than the presidency,” Leon Jenkins said in a brief statement late Thursday.

Leon Jenkins’ resignation comes as a committee of NBC owners met to figure out a way to force Donald Sterling to sell the Clippers

Leon Jenkins said he made his decision to “separate the Los Angeles NAACP and the NAACP from the negative exposure I have caused the NAACP”.

He and his chapter of the national civil rights organization have been under fierce scrutiny since it emerged that it was to have given its highest honor to Donald Sterling, whom the National Basketball Association (NBA) banned for life after he was taped making racially offensive comments.

The NAACP canceled the honor Monday.

Leon Jenkins’ resignation comes as a committee of NBC owners met Thursday to figure out a way to force Donald Sterling to sell the Clippers.

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