NAACP in NYC: See Who's Coming to the 100th Anniversary Celebration

The excitement of flashing cameras and a room full of waiting journalist were on hand on a rainy morning in New York City at Cooper Union School for a big announcement by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. The pair arrived to announce that President Barack Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder, Former Secretary of State Colin Powell and a stable of civil rights leaders will come together to celebrate the NAACP’s 100th Anniversary Celebration on July 11-16 at the New York Hilton.The convention is projected to generate $7.2 million that will make it the largest this year.

“My father sent a check to the NAACP every year,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “He was a broke man, so I asked him why and he said because the NAACP was fighting against discrimination and that is fighting for us all.”

Jealous, several other NAACP representatives and New York City officials were also there to announce the projects associated with next year’s agenda. “This is a celebration for all of the residents of New York and all of Americans across this country,” said NAACP Vice Chairman Roslyn Brock. “We want everyone to be a member of the NAACP. We are coming home and want you to join us.”—Shavon S. Greene