DETROIT – Thousands gathered on Sunday for the 71st annual NAACP Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner at Huntington Place. A long list of distinguished guests spoke and several people were honored.
The theme of the night was centered on “liberty or oppression – the choice is ours.”
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“Never too young to fight for us to be free and for all of us to have all of our rights,” Naomi Simpson said.
No matter how young, or grown, the night was impactful for many.
“And for us to be here is just a wonderful time,” Dwayne Gill said. “Everybody here for one purpose - is to make sure that everybody is treated the same and there’s equal justice under the law.”
The evening was packed with important figures, including keynote speaker and top Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries.
“We are young, we are older, we are men, we are women, we are citizens, we are dreamers. Out of many, we are one - that’s what makes America a great country,” Jeffries said.
New York Attorney General Letitia James spoke too.
“If a six year Ruby Bridges can find the courage to walk through an angry, screaming mob, just to get to school, so can we,” James said.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senator Elissa Slotkin and Mayor Mary Sheffield spoke as well.
Several awards were given out and the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Jesse Jackson Sr. was honored throughout the night.
The Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, the NAACP Detroit branch president, also spoke throughout the night.
“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair,” Anthony said.
“To have Dr. Anthony as the leader of this branch, means a lot,” Gill said. “Detroiters are always fighters. We always stand up against oppression. We are always the ones on the forefront of making sure we get the rights we deserve.”
Several leaders expressed their concern about Saturday’s night’s shooting incident at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner.
Local 4 asked about the level of security at Sunday’s event and Anthony said it was sufficient.