The Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP will hold a general body meeting on Monday, Nov. 16, at Little Rock AME Zion Church (401 N. McDowell Street).
This will be the group’s first meeting since its reorganization and the election of its new president, the Rev. Kojo Nantambu.
The meeting will mark the official kick-off of the NAACP membership drive and a “Faith Leaders for Justice” prayer vigil. Religious leaders from various denominations will be there.
During the meeting, religious leaders will complete their NAACP membership forms to show their support for the group. Branch officials say the first items on the agenda are addressing inequities within the school system and allegations of discrimination within the employment and contracting communities.
The support of religious leaders is key to getting the movement started, said Nantambu.
“Our history shows that the civil rights movement was led by our religious leaders and the church,” he said. “However, in recent years, religious leaders have taken a sideline view of participation in the struggle for total freedom and liberation. Consequently, our struggle has sputtered and all but died in the last twenty years.
“We are going back to tradition and calling the religious leaders to take a stand with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Branch of the NAACP,” he added. “We don’t just need them. We need everyone’s help in the fight to eliminate racial hatred and discrimination by ensuring political, educational, social and economic equality for all persons.”
Membership forms will be available for those who wish to join.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. The prayer vigil will be held at the start of the session.
