BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo NAACP is reaching out to local elected leaders, warning them not to support any efforts that misrepresent President Millard Fillmore.

Fillmore is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetary.

As president he signed the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850. It allowed escaped slaves to be recaptured and brought back to their owners.

Frank Mesiah, the president of the Buffalo branch of the NAACP, said that needs to be publicized, not just Fillmore's accomplishments. He says there are groups looking for resources to grow Fillmore's legacy locally.

"We're saying do not give any kind of resources or provide anything that would support Millard Fillmore unless you tell his full story involved and maintaining racism and maintaining slavery in this country," said Mesiah.

Several things bear Fillmore's name in Western New York. He grew up here and had a law practice in East Aurora.