Spokane NAACP president falsely portrays herself as black, family says

SPOKANE, WA (KTRK) -- A prominent civil rights activist has been accused of falsely portraying herself as African-American by her own family.

Rachel Dolezal, the president of the NAACP chapter in Spokane, is accused of falsely identifying herself as black on a city application to serve on a citizen police ombudsman commission

Public records, including Dolezal's birth certificate, list her biological parents as Ruthanne and Lawrence Dolezal of Montana. The Dolezals told ABC affiliate KXLY-TV Thursday that Rachel is their biological daughter and that they are both white. Photos of Dolezal as a teenager also appear to show her as white.

On the NAACP Spokane Facebook page, a picture was posted earlier this year showing Dolezal and an African-American man, who she identifies as her father in the post. When asked about the photo, she grew defensive and refused to answer.

"Ma'am, I was wondering if your dad really is an African-American man," KXLY reporter Jeff Humphrey asked.

"I don't know what you're implying. I don't understand the question," Dolezal answered.

"Are your parents white?" Humphrey then asks.

Dolezal then removes her microphone and walking away from the camera.

Dolezal's own family says she has misrepresented major portions of her life. They claim she's actually German and Czech. Her mother, Ruthanne Dolezal, says she has a simple message for her daughter: "Honesty is the best policy."

The City of Spokane is reportedly investigating the allegations and whether she violated the city's code of ethics in her application to serve on the citizen police ombudsman commission.