One leader rescinds call for boycott of Giants, another leader does not

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 20: Charles Johnson and Ann Johnson attend the New York Philharmonic's Opening Gala: New York, Meet Jaap at David Geffen Hall on September 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for the New York Philharmonic) less NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 20: Charles Johnson and Ann Johnson attend the New York Philharmonic's Opening Gala: New York, Meet Jaap at David Geffen Hall on September 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike ... more Photo: Mike Coppola / Getty Images Photo: Mike Coppola / Getty Images Image 1 of / 38 Caption Close One leader rescinds call for boycott of Giants, another leader does not 1 / 38 Back to Gallery

One of the Bay Area civil-rights leaders who on Monday called for a boycott of the Giants reversed course Tuesday after Charles B. Johnson, the team’s largest shareholder, said he was asking for an oft-criticized political donation to be returned.

Another leader who called for a boycott until Johnson has divested from the Giants said he was less moved by the owner’s actions Tuesday.

The Rev. Amos Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP chapter, rescinded his call for a boycott, which a day earlier he said he would do if Johnson sought his donation back from U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. Johnson and his wife, Ann, contributed $5,400 on Nov. 20 to the campaign of Hyde-Smith, a Republican who won a runoff election Tuesday against Democrat Mike Espy.

On Tuesday, Brown said, “I’m a man of principle and good will. The gentleman has acknowledged that he misstepped. The ball was fumbled. But now we’re going to retrieve it together. I know it’s a different sport. But we’re going to retrieve this ball and make a touchdown for justice and racial understanding.”

Recommended Video:

Furthermore, Brown said he will speak to Johnson by phone Thursday on a call arranged by Giants President and CEO Larry Baer.

However, Oakland-based civil-rights attorney John Burris, who initially called for a boycott, said he was not completely mollified by Johnson’s statement and was not ready to suggest fans rush back to the Giants.

“The issue hit me in a very profound way,” Burris said. “As far as my long-term position, it hasn’t changed.

“I’m pleased that (Johnson) made the request. I wonder how genuine it is in light of the fact the issue had become public a while ago, and he should have made the request returning the money before the election. It’s a little late, but I respect the fact that he’s done it.”

Johnson issued a statement from himself and wife Ann, through attorney Joe Cotchett on Tuesday, that read:

“I would like to provide important context related to my political donation to Cindy Hyde-Smith. I was not aware of the controversy surrounding Hyde-Smith when I made the donation. I strongly condemn any form of racism and I have asked for my contribution to be returned.

“My political donations are my own personal donations, which have no affiliation with the Giants or any other company.”

Johnson and his wife each donated the maximum $2,700 to the Hyde-Smith campaign. Cotchett said Johnson dictated a letter seeking the refund Tuesday morning and had it sent.

Nearly a dozen companies, including Major League Baseball, already had asked the Hyde-Smith campaign to return donations after comments from the candidate on the stump came to light.

She said she would be in the front row of a “public hanging” if one supporter asked her to come. She also suggested it would be good to suppress votes at certain Mississippi colleges.

Hyde-Smith later said those comments were meant to be jokes and apologized to “anyone that was offended.”

This was Johnson’s second statement following a campaign contribution. He also issued one in October after he donated to a political action committee called Black Americans for the President’s Agenda that financed a racist radio ad in an Arkansas congressional race.

Cotchett said Johnson got that $1,000 returned.

Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: hschulman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hankschulman