The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will holds its 97th annual convention this week at the Washington Convention Center.
The convention, which hasn’t visited the District in nearly 20 years, will bring several thousand people to the city. It will focus on several issues affecting blacks such as building support to extend the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
“African-Americans have made great strides in this country, but there are still civil rights battles to be fought. The attempt by some members of Congress to stall a vote on extending the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is just one example of why the NAACP must continue to exist and prosper,” Bruce S. Gordon, NAACP President and CEO, said in a statement.
Mayor Anthony Williams welcomed the many delegates and visitors to the District for the convention, which will begin Friday.
“The theme for this year’s conference, ‘Voting Our Values, Valuing Our Vote’ is particularly significant here in Washington where we lack a vote that is our right as American citizens,” Williams said in a statement.
The convention will also hold workshops to boost black voter participation, the effects of HIV/AIDS on American blacks and other educational seminars.
NAACP Diversity Job Fair
An annual job fair will be held in the Information Exchange Center during the conference and is free to the public. Employment opportunities in sales, health care, finance, computer engineering and more will be offered. For information, call 410-580-5780.
