CHICAGO (WLS) — On Monday, thousands of people gathered at McCormick Place for the NAACP National Convention.
This year’s theme, “We the People,” was highlighted in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s speech at the convention.
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“This is not just a phrase in the constitution. This is a reminder that democracy has always depended on the people and our willingness to fight for it, defend it and expand it,” Johnson said.
The 117-year-old organization is in the process of expanding. More and more people are joining the fight for civil rights.
“What I find particularly interesting is that the number of people joining is definitely interracial; so we have as many whites and other people joining us as there are African Americans and blacks,” said Evanston North Shore NAACP Rev. Michael Nabors.
“I think the need is only increasing at the moment based on what’s happening nationally. What’s happening at the national level is actually happening at the local level: people are having problems. People are having problems,” said Garland Pruitt of Oklahoma City.
Club members are also seeing more young people getting involved.
“I’m glad they come up and say, ‘Hey, we need to do something.’ You know? So they keep him alive. They keep the dream alive as we speak,” said Janet Mason of Hawaii.
Calvin Bell is a 24-year-old Ph.D. student at Northwestern University and serves as a youth competition judge at the ACT-SO convention. He is among a new wave of members joining the NAACP.
“You’ve seen students use social media in a variety of ways … to amplify (social issues) and bring attention to them,” Bell said.
Wesley Scully is president of the Michigan City branch. But it’s a family affair as he attends the event with his 6-year-old grandson.
“I am fighting for the rights, life and future of my grandchildren. You know, they deserve the opportunity to get a good job, despite DEI and all that. And also, being in America, they deserve freedom,” Scully said.
The five-day convention continues through Wednesday at McCormick Place.
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