Today: White House Will Bring Together Civil Rights Activists Past and Present
President Obama is set to meet with leaders from Black Lives Matter and the Civil Rights movement.
By Kenrya Rankin Feb 18, 2016
In the middle of a Black History Month that seems to be full of iconic moments, the White House has announced one more: Today, President Barack Obama will bring together old and new guard civil rights activists to examine issues that continue to loom massive over the Black community. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and First Lady Michelle Obama will also participate in the conversation.
An administration official described the meeting to BuzzFeed News: “On Thursday afternoon, President Obama will meet with a group of civil rights leaders prior to the annual White House Black History Month reception to discuss a range of issues including the Administration’s efforts on criminal justice reform, building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve and the president’s priorities during his final year in office.”
Per the list released by the White House, attendees will include:
- Aislinn Pulley, Co-Founder and Lead Organizer with Black Lives Matter Chicago
- Al Sharpton, Founder and President of the National Action Network
- Ben Crump, President of the National Bar Association
- Brittany Packnett, Member of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, Co-Founder of We The Protestors and Campaign Zero
- C.T. Vivian, Civil Rights Leader and Author
- Carlos Clanton, President of the National Urban League Young Professionals
- Cornell Brooks, President of the NAACP
- Deray Mckesson, Co-Founder of We the Protestors and Campaign Zero
- Deshaunya Ware, Student Leader of Concerned Student 1950 at University of Missouri
- John Lewis, United States Representative (D-GA)
- Marc Morial, President of the National Urban League
- Mary Patricia Hector, National Youth Director of the National Action Network
- Melanie Campbell, President of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
- Rashad Robinson, Executive Director of Color of Change
- Sherrilyn Ifill, President of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund
- Stephen Green, National Director of the NAACP Youth and College Division
- Wade Henderson, President of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights