Telegram - Serving Metropolitan Detroit Since 1944

DETROIT– Good Afternoon. We are pleased to announce plans for the upcoming 67thAnnual Detroit Branch NAACP Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner. I would also like to announce prior to the dinner we will enjoy through The Freedom Institute for Economic, Social Justice, and People Empowerment 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. They included the Rev. William Osby, first President of the Detroit Branch where general meetings were held at St. Matthews Episcopal Church located on St. Antoine and Elizabeth. Rev. Robert Bradby Sr. was elected president later on and meetings were held at the Historic Second Baptist Church, the oldest Black church located on Monroe Street in Greektown. We lift up Father Richard Bagnall and Benjamin Willoughby Lambert. Thanks to them and others the Detroit Branch continues to remain the flagship branch of our organization.

Our theme for this year 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. 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.

We are pleased to announce our very important award recipients for this year. Receiving the Ida B. Wells Freedom and Justice Award will be the Honorable Judge Cynthia Diane Stephens, recently retired from the Michigan Court of Appeals. State Representative Sarah Anthony will receive one of our 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. Our second Great Expectation Award will be presented to Mr. Christian Smalls of New York who recently organized, for the first time in its history, Amazon workers into the Amazon Labor Union. This is historic. We are pleased to announce Mr. Gary Torgow, Chairman of Huntington National Bank, will receive the James Weldon Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award. His philanthropy and positive entrepreneurship throughout this metropolitan area is legendary.

We remain committed to our youth and their involvement in the NAACP. Winners of the 32ndAnnual 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.

This will be a star-studded weekend. We invite you to join us on the Red Carpet, a special Red Carpet walk for all those attending the dinner from 4-5pm at the Huntington Place. We are pleased to announce coming in to celebrate with the NAACP for our 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. As you can see this will take this event to an even higher level. We encourage everyone to get involved and get their tickets now.

Leading up to this will be Freedom Weekend. We are pleased to announce for our 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 our 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.

As you can see, we have something for everyone. It will be a weekend where we keep our minds stayed on freedom and justice.

To get involved with the NAACP Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner you can go to detroitnaacp.org or go to 313-871-2087.

Looking forward to Freedom Weekend.