The NAACP of Tallahassee is coming out against the imminent transfer of the hospital to Florida State University, hinting that “potential legal action” could be on the horizon.

This Thursday, the activist group and community leaders will gather at Bethel AME Church to “address urgent concerns surrounding” the proposed sale of the city-held Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare assets, which city commissioners will be taking “final action” on at a March 11 public hearing.

“This decision will have generational consequences for healthcare access, equity and accountability in Tallahassee and the surrounding region,” NAACP President Marlon Williams-Clark said in a media alert.

Speakers at the event will be discussing the transfer deadline that is set for April 1, along with the “lack of finalized and transparent definitive agreements, potential reductions in indigent care for uninsured and underinsured residents, civil rights implications and healthcare disparities, the City Commission’s prior commitment not to transfer assets without all agreements signed (and) next steps, including potential legal action.”

It remains unclear if a lawsuit is under consideration. A request for comment is pending with Williams-Clark.

The March 11 City Commission vote may be the culmination of an almost-year long, controversial process that has been undergirded by promises of a major upgrade to Tallahassee healthcare. But many in the community have asked the commission to slow the process down to ensure the best possible outcome from the sale of one of the city’s most sizable public investments in a community hospital that lists its total assets at $1.3 billion.

“The community deserves full transparency, enforceable protections and a clear understanding of what residents will receive in exchange for the transfer of public assets,” the NAACP wrote.

Local government watchdog reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: NAACP opposes imminent Tallahassee hospital sale to FSU