DETROIT – Plans have been announced for the upcoming 67th Annual Detroit Branch NAACP Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner.
Prior to the dinner, The Freedom Institute for Economic, Social Justice, and People Empowerment will showcase a series of events leading up to the NAACP’s Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner. This is the 110th anniversary since the founding of the Detroit Branch NAACP. It was in 1912 that Detroit received its charter to operate as a local branch. Several Black leaders came together to establish the Detroit Branch NAACP.
The theme for this year’s annual event is, “Freedom is Expensive, But Tyranny is Unaffordable”.
“As we face the onslaught of voter suppression, the marginalization of people and minorities throughout the nation, the recent, we believe, execution style murder of Patrick Lyoya on the part of a Grand Rapids police officer still demands the need for police reform, war in Ukraine and elsewhere, the need to fight to preserve our freedom and our democracy remains paramount, said Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of Detroit branch NAACP. “Right here in the state of Michigan we are facing an attack on freedom and our right to vote with the introduction of 39 bills, “the blind 39,” by Republican legislators seeking to suppress, delay, confuse and intimidate. We will not be deterred. We encourage everyone to Take Their Soles To The Polls And Vote.”
The civil rights organization also announced recipients of the Ida B. Wells Freedom and Justice Award for Honorable Judge Cynthia Diane Stephens, recently retired from the Michigan Court of Appeals. State Representative Sarah Anthony will receive one of the Great Expectation awards for the work she has done in the legislature with introducing the Crown Act to protect women of color from discrimination and cultural prejudice. The second Great Expectation Award will be presented to Christian Smalls of New York who recently organized, for the first time in its history, Amazon workers into the Amazon Labor Union.
Gary Torgow, Chairman of Huntington National Bank, will receive the James Weldon Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award. The organization says his philanthropy and positive entrepreneurship throughout this metropolitan area is legendary.
The Detroit branch NAACP announced winners of the 32nd Annual Art and Essay Contest, What Civil Rights Means To Me, will share their work with the public which can be viewed on Saturday April 23, 12-5pm, at the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art. This contest was started by Ms. Mary Blackman and is now chaired by Detroit Public Schools Community District Board President Ms. Angelique Peterson Mayberry.
Coming to celebrate with the NAACP for its anniversary and in the fight for freedom will be several Hollywood actors and actresses. Ms. Elise Neal of the Black Hamptons, Ms. Annie Llonzeh of Chicago Fire, Mr. Lamman Rucker, star of Greenleaf, Chris Spencer, comedian, writer, director, creator of Kevin Hart’s Real Husbands of Hollywood, Scott Evans, host of Access Hollywood, Tobias Truvillion, of Equal Standard and Empire, and of course, Ms. Angela Yee of the Breakfast Club radio show.
Leading up to the annual dinner will be Freedom Weekend. A Faith Leaders Breakfast, featuring one of Americas most foremost and prolific pastors, Rev. Dr. Freddie Haynes, III, pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. Speaking at the Labor Leaders Lunch will be Christian Smalls. He will discuss how they organized, what they did in this David vs. Goliath situation. For those looking for jobs, please note that Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!, a job fair offering employment on site and beyond will occur on Thursday, April 28, 9 am-2 pm. A special Youth Career Night dealing with college, academic, skill trades, and higher education follows from 5-7pm and is open to all youth. These events will occur at Fellowship Chapel, located at 7707 W. Outer. They are free and open to the public, but you must register at FREEINSTITUTE.ORG or call (313) 347-2834.
The 67th Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner will be held, Sunday May 1st at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit.
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