New York, NY
― National Action Network (NAN), founded by Rev. Al Sharpton, celebrated its 25th
annual convention last week in New York City with some of the most
influential voices in American politics, the civil rights
movement, labor, and entertainment. This was the largest and most
well-attended convention in the history of NAN. Highlights of the
convention included Special Plenary Addresses from leading Democratic
presidential candidates Secretary Hillary Clinton on Wednesday
and Senator Bernie Sanders on Thursday.
The convention got underway with a star-studded ribbon cutting ceremony featuring New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and a variety of other state and local elected officials. Numerous members of President Obama’s cabinet addressed delegates in plenary sessions, including Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Small Business Administration Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, and White House Cabinet Secretary Broderick Johnson.
On Thursday night,
the annual Keepers of the Dream awards drew a large crowd to honor
President Obama’s Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. New York Governor
Andrew Cuomo attended the awards. The event was hosted
by Anthony Anderson, actor, writer, and executive producer of ABC’s hit
sitcom, “Black-ish.” Also honored on Thursday evening were Judith
Jamison, Artistic Director Emerita, Alvin Alley American Dance Theater;
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President, Waterkeeper
Alliance, Author and Attorney; Raymond J. McGuire, Global Head,
Corporate and Investment Banking, Citi; Gloria Steinem, Feminist
Activist, Organizer and Writer; and Andrew Young, Chairman, Andrew J.
Young Foundation. Juanita Abernathy, the widow of civil rights
icon Reverend Ralph David Abernathy also delivered remarks.
On Friday, leading
voices in the American labor movement attended the NAN convention.
Additionally, Lin-Manuel Miranda received an award from Rev. Sharpton
recognizing his contributions to the arts through
his smash-hit show Hamilton.
Source: Mercury
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