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66th
Annual
‘Fight
For
Freedom
Fund
Dinner'
– Don’t
Rest on
Your
Freedom!
DETROIT
– After
nearly
two
years of
COVID-19,
we are
pleased
to begin
a new
journey
along
the
march
towards
freedom
and
equity
at one
of the
nation’s
most
iconic
civil
rights
events
called
the
Detroit
NAACP
Fight
For
Freedom
Fund
Dinner.
It is
scheduled
for
Sunday,
October
3, at 5
pm, at
the TCF
Center.
Due to
the
current
situation
of
COVID-19,
we will
not
enjoy
the
regular
10,000
guests
at our
event.
We are
following
all
protocols
according
to the
state
and
national
health
standards
for this
assembly.
However,
we will
still
enjoy a
1st
class
event
and one
to
remember
for all
who
attend.
Our
theme
for this
year is
Don’t
Rest On
Your
Freedom.
It comes
amidst
the
attack
on our
democracy
by
people
from
within
our
nation.
We have
witnessed
the
introduction
of over
400
voter
suppression
bills
and the
adoption
of laws
in over
18
states
to
reduce
and take
back the
vote of
Blacks,
browns,
young
people,
women,
and
seniors.
We must
stand up
and
speak
out. The
NAACP is
needed
now more
than
ever
before
is not
just a
cliché
to be
uttered;
it is a
reality
to be
activated.
In the
words of
Congressman
John R.
Lewis,
‘’we all
must
engage
in some
good
trouble.”
Our
nation
and our
future
depend
on our
activism
in these
very
critical
times.
The
state of
Michigan
is not
exempt
from the
tyranny
of voter
suppression
bills,
with the
“blind
39” that
have
been
introduced
in the
Senate.
There is
even an
attempt
to
conduct
a
petition
drive
called
Pure
Michigan
Vote, a
so-called
“secure
Michigan
vote” to
go
around
the
Governor
of the
state of
Michigan
who has
indicated
she will
not
support
voter
suppression
of any
form in
her
administration.
Some
would
rather
end
democracy
as we
know it
and
begin
authoritarianism
so they
can
dictate
it. They
disregard
the very
lives
and the
voices
of the
people
who may
no
longer
be able
to
celebrate
it. This
we must
never
allow.
In the
words of
Dr.
Martin
L. King
Jr., “we
know
through
painful
experience
that
freedom
is never
voluntarily
given by
the
oppressor,
it must
be
demanded
by the
oppressed.”
In that
regard,
we are
pleased
to
announce
the
special
guests
and
awardees
for this
historic
event.
We will
present
two
Great
Expectation
Awards.
The
first
awardee
will be
Detroit
Police
Officer
Bryant
L.
George.
Officer
George
is the
founder
and
operator
of the
Game
Game
Mobile
and More
LLC. He
goes
around
the city
motivating
and
advocating
positive
leadership
for
youth
throughout
the
community.
He uses
his Game
Game
Mobile
to drive
inspiration
home to
young
people
in the
local
neighborhoods.
He is an
active
participant
in the
Police
Athletic
League
and a
professional
entrepreneur
while
serving
as a
member
of
Detroit’s
finest.
Our
second
Great
Expectation
Award
will be
presented
to Ms.
Arian S.
Reed of
Atlanta,
Co-Founder
and
General
Partner
of the
Fearless
Fund.
Ms. Reed
has
motivated
thousands
of women
of color
across
the
country
with
motivation
and
self-determination.
She has
led them
with
investments
in and
corporations
throughout
America,
including
Walt
Disney,
Universal,
Sony
Pictures,
and
more.
We are
pleased
to
announce
our WEB.
Du Bois
Freedom
and
Justice
Award
recipient
will be
Attorney
John E.
Johnson
Jr. Esq.
Atty
Johnson
is the
new
Executive
Director
of the
Michigan
Department
of Civil
Rights,
former
Executive
Director
of the
Detroit
NAACP,
former
Executive
Director
of the
Michigan
Legislative
Black
Caucus,
Deputy
Executive
Director
of the
Legal
Aid and
Defenders
Association
and
Corporation
Counsel
of the
city of
Detroit.
The Ida
B. Wells
Freedom
and
Justice
Award
will be
presented
to the
honorable
Congresswoman
Joyce M.
Beatty,
Chair of
The
Congressional
Black
Caucus.
Congresswoman
Beatty
represents
the 3rd
district
of
Columbus,
Ohio.
She has
been an
influential
voice to
protect
voting
rights,
resulting
in her
being
arrested
at the
nation’s
capital
fighting
for
democracy.
She is a
leading
voice
for
advancing
the ‘For
The
People
Voting
Rights
Act’ and
the John
Lewis
Voting
Rights
Advancement
Act.
This is
particularly
important
for
Michigan
and the
nation
as we
face the
struggle
to
secure
and
expand
voting
rights
for all
Americans.
As our
country
prepares
for
infrastructure
development,
following
the
devastation
of
hurricane
Ida in
the
southeast,
fires
and
drought
in the
northwest,
and even
flooding
in the
midwest,
community
re-development
must be
a
priority.
We in
Detroit
must
certainly
Build
Back
Better.
We are
excited
to
welcome
Secretary
of HUD
Marcia
Fudge to
serve as
our
keynote
speaker.
Secretary
Fudge,
former
Representative
of
Ohio’s
11th
district,
is also
a past
Chair of
the
Congressional
Black
Caucus.
She is a
fierce
advocate
for fair
housing
and
expanded
housing
for
Americans
across
the
country.
She has
been a
voice
for
civil
and
human
rights.
She
believes
in the
promises
of
America
to
provide
opportunity
and
inclusion
for all
its
citizens.
We
look
forward
to this
tremendous
alignment
of stars
in this
era,
sometimes
shaded
with
more
darkness
than
light
and more
fear
than
hope.
This
comeback
dinner
will be
one to
remember.
I want
to thank
all of
our
sponsors
who
continue
to
support
Detroit’s
jewel of
civil
rights.
We are
inspired
to
continue
the work
as
supported
by our
Senior
Corporate
Chair
Mr. Gary
Torgow,
Executive
Chairman
of the
Huntington
Bank,
and Mr.
Ray
Curry,
International
President
of The
United
Auto
Workers,
serving
as our
Senior
Community
Chair.
Advertise With Us:
Certified Minority Business Enterprise
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