By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO
Credit: AP Photo/Susan Walsh
The NAACP is teaming up with elected officials to empower and celebrate the Black community during its 115th National Convention in Las Vegas this summer.
The civil rights organization recently gave reporters a first look at what to expect for this year’s convention, which will take place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas from July 13 to July 17. This year’s theme is “All In,” reaffirming the organization’s commitment to using creativity, ingenuity and strength to continue the fight for social justice and civil rights.
During the convention, experts and attendees will discuss ways to combat Republican-led attacks to dismantle equality, diversity and inclusion (DEI), voting rights, affirmative action and reproductive rights across the nation. NAACP members told reporters that the goal of the convention is to find ways to mobilize Black voters, to ensure that they use their voice in the election on Nov. 5.
Those slated to attend the gathering will include thought-leaders, entrepreneurs, scholars, influencers, change-makers and the like.
“Our convention must strive to make people aware of the attacks, threats and they must be ready to engage and mobilize to protect our democracy,” said Leon Russell, NAACP chairman.
“This election cycle is…a choice of whether we have a functional democracy or something less than,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson. “It is important for us to see our institution to increase voter participation to protect our democracy.”
U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, (D-Nev-4), who also serves as the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus stated that he is “honored” the convention will be held in his district.
“For more than a century the NAACP has been at the forefront of the most pressing issues facing Black communities around our nation,” said Horsford. “It’s because of the work of the NAACP that communities around our country to achieve their piece of the American dream.”
The NAACP has yet to announce its list of notable speakers for this year’s convention, however the organization teased that it will have some of the most prominent voices hailing from the Black community. Last year’s speakers included Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass-7), Tenn. Rep. Justin Jones, Rome Flynn, actor “Raising Dion,” Jabari Banks, actor “Bel-Air,” and Jasmine Guy, actress “A Different World.”
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