Chicago — The 117th NAACP National Convention centered on the theme “We the People,” emphasizing the fundamental importance of voting rights, civic participation, and protecting American democracy. Throughout the week, delegates, advocates, and civil rights leaders underscored the urgency of strong civil rights leadership at a time of ongoing challenges to voting access, reaffirming the NAACP’s commitment to ensuring every eligible voter can fully participate in the democratic process.
In early July, a major development was revealed as the NAACP unveiled a $20 million “Get Out the Vote” initiative ahead of the November midterm elections. The investment represents one of the largest voter mobilization efforts in the organization’s history and reflects growing concern over challenges to voting access, including recent Supreme Court decisions, ongoing legal disputes over the Voting Rights Act, and continued battles over racial gerrymandering in several Southern states.
The convention also served as a forum for addressing pressing national issues through advocacy, policy development, and community organizing, reinforcing the NAACP’s longstanding commitment to protecting civil rights, expanding democracy, and advancing equity for future generations.