Thousands of NAACP leaders, delegates, activists, youths and supporters are attending the 106th Convention of the NAACP in Philadelphia from July 11-15.
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization.

The venerable civil rights group is still the organization that many African Americans and other minorities go to when it comes to fighting discrimination, police brutality, voter suppression and other social injustices.
Remaining true to its mission, this year’s convention will run under the theme “Pursuing Liberty in the Face of Injustice.” The NAACP will focus on building a broad based agenda around voting rights, criminal justice reform, health equity, economic opportunity and education equality ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
President Barack Obama will address the annual convention on Tuesday, July 14 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
“We are honored to welcome President Obama back to our NAACP national convention,” said NAACP Chairman Roslyn M. Brock. “Our members are looking forward to President Obama delivering a powerful message that reinforces our commitment to being champions for civil and human rights in the 21st century.”
This is the second time Obama will address the NAACP’s national convention as president of the United States.
“President Barack Obama, having spoken eloquently of grace to a grieving nation in a moment of crisis in Charleston, will now address the social and economic challenges of our time in the hometown of American freedom – Philadelphia,” said NAACP President and CEO Cornell William Brooks.
“President Obama has been on the forefront of transformative change from civil rights to human rights over his term and in recent days. We in the nation eagerly anticipate his vision and plans for the difficult work ahead,” Brooks said.
Another highlight of the annual convention is the NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) in which African-American high school students from across the country will demonstrate their skill and compete in 29 categories of competition in the sciences, humanities, business, and performing and visual arts. More than 300,000 young people have participated in the program since its inception.
To the leaders and members who will be participating in this important annual conference: Welcome to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love and the birthplace of America. We hope you enjoy your stay and have a good and productive meeting.