WASHINGTON -- Falcons quarterback Michael Vick "is not a

victim" and should be held responsible for his actions involving a

dogfighting ring in Virginia, the national president of the NAACP

said Thursday.

"He absolutely must account for what he has done," Dennis

Courtland Hayes, interim president and CEO of the National

Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said in an

interview with The Associated Press. He had earlier given similar

comments to NBC's "Today" show.

But Hayes cautioned against condemning the Atlanta star too

quickly.

"It's real clear that Mr. Vick himself would acknowledge that

he has made a mistake," Hayes said. "I think there is reason to

believe in his redemption."

Hayes' comments came a day after the head of the NAACP's Atlanta

chapter said Vick should be allowed to return to football after the

case is resolved.

"As a society, we should aid in his rehabilitation and welcome

a new Michael Vick back into the community without a permanent loss

of his career in football," Atlanta NAACP President R.L. White

said.

Hayes said White and others who have come to Vick's defense are

expressing an overarching frustration with disparities in the

criminal justice system.

"People need to understand the backdrop as some in the

African-American community make their expressions of support,"

Hayes said. "That backdrop includes anger and distrust with the

criminal justice system that disproportionately pays attention to

African-Americans and Hispanics.

"While no dog deserves to be mistreated, the backdrop includes

the perception among some African-Americans that the criminal

justice system treats them like animals and that nobody seems

willing to do anything about the disparity."

Hayes, who said the national group did not have an official

position on the case, said he didn't want to speculate about

whether Vick was being treated differently because he is black.

"He may in fact be being treated better than some

African-Americans and Hispanics who don't have the resources and

financial means that he has," Hayes said. "On the other hand,

there might be some of a different race or different ethnicity who

might be treated a bit differently."

On Monday, Vick said through a lawyer that he will plead guilty

to a federal charge of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce

in aid of unlawful activities and conspiracy to sponsor a dog in an

animal fighting venture.

Three Vick associates have pleaded guilty to the conspiracy

charge and say Vick provided virtually all the gambling and

operating funds for the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting

enterprise. Two of them also said Vick participated in executing at

least eight underperforming dogs, raising the possibility of the

animal cruelty charges.