Wave Staff Report
LOS ANGELES — The 37th annual NAACP California Hawaii State Convention will take place Oct. 24-27 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott.
Those attending the convention will engage in workshops, plenary sessions, and panel discussions aimed at addressing the most pressing challenges facing Black communities today, including health, education, voter empowerment, LGBTQIA+ rights, labor, and more.
This year’s convention will celebrate the collective power and progress of the Black community, a state NAACP spokesperson said.
Key Speakers at the convention will include Leon W. Russell, chairman of the NAACP Board; Derrick Johnson, NAACP president and CEO; U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters; California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond; former Assembly Speaker and San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown; and Yvonne Wheeler, president, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.
“Los Angeles has significant roots in the civil rights movement, from the Watts Riots of 1965 to the Black power movements of the 60s and 70s,” said Rick Callender, president of the NAACP California and Hawaii State Conference. “The NAACP Los Angeles Branch, one of the earliest branches in the western United States, has been at the forefront of these pivotal movements.
“We are thrilled to bring all of our branches together in the city of angels for this important convention. As we approach the critical 2024 election, our commitment to being ‘All In’ on the fight for civil rights and social justice is more important than ever. Together, we can and will defeat hate and bigotry.”
Among the key components of the convention is a conversation with national NAACP Board of Directors Chairman Leon W. Russell and California Black Media Executive Director Regina Wilson, exploring the implications of Project 2025 and its impact on the Black community. That will be heled from 10:45 to 11:35 a.m. Oct. 25.
From 3:40 to 4:30 p.m. will be a session examining the key issues and measures on the Nov. 5 ballot, allowing those in attendance to make informed decisions at the polls.
National Join President Derrick Johnson and Callender will hold a fireside discussion from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 26 on the future of the NAACP, key issues facing the Black community and the fight for justice and equality.
“As we approach a pivotal election, it’s more important than ever for the NAACP to unite and confront the urgent threats facing our communities,” Callender said. “The policies outlined in Project 2025 would set back decades of progress, and our convention in Los Angeles will be a powerful platform to mobilize for justice, protect our rights, and ensure that Black voices are heard loud and clear.”
“Right now, millions of Black Americans are grappling with the devastating impacts of a socioeconomic climate they did not create,” Johnson added. “Make no mistake, this election is not a choice between two candidates. It is a choice between our past and our future.
“The NAACP refuses to go back. I look forward to an engaging conversation with our California-Hawaii State Conference as we unpack the plans set against us, and devise a path toward the future we deserve.”
