2020 presidential candidates line
up for action at NAN Convention
Rev. Al Sharpton, right,
shows Democratic
presidential candidate
Sen. Kamala Harris,
D-Calif., a photo of a
previous lunch meeting
between Sharpton and
Barack Obama at Sylvia’s
Restaurant in the
Harlem neighborhood
of New York, Thursday,
Feb. 21, 2019. Associated
Press / Bebeto Matthews, Pool
Caribbean L BQ ife, April 5–11, 2019 9
By Vinette K. Pryce
New Yorkers will
have an opportunity to
meet, question and confer
with 11 presidential
candidates from April 3
to April 6 when the 26th
annual National Action
Network’s convention
convene at the Times
Square Sheraton Hotel.
NAN’s annual convention
is historically
one of the largest Civil
Rights conferences in
the country and will
address the pressing
political issues facing
Black and brown communities
in 2019. In
addition, it will be the
largest single gathering
of presidential hopefuls
before the Democratic
debates this summer
– with all but three
declared candidates
scheduled to address
the convention.
Already confirmed
for attendance are Sens.
Kamala Harris of California,
Cory Booker of
New Jersey, Elizabeth
Warren of Massachusetts,
Kirsten Gillibrand
of New York, Amy
Klobuchar of Minnesota,
Bernie Sanders of
Vermont, Nancy Pelosi,
House Minority speaker,
Stacey Abrams of
Georgia, John Delaney
of Maryland, Eric Holder,
former attorney general,
Beto O’Rourke of
Texas, NY Mayor Bill de
Blasio and an impressive
speaker’s list.
Presided by Rev.
Alfred Sharpton who
ran for the country’s
top spot in 2004, the
NAN gathering is reputed
to be a must-stop
event for any potential
hopeful.
“I think that in ’04
the country was running
away from blackness,
including a lot of
Blacks in the political
space. And I think that
in my campaign and
those similar to me had
to pay the price to make
the country have to run
toward blackness and
make comfortable in
their own skin,” Sharpton
said.
His annual confab
coincides with the anniversary
of the assassination
of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr, and is
a free, public forum for
debates and panel discussions
that invites
politicians, clergy, labor,
celebrated citizens, students
and members of
the national activist
organization to decide
an action plan involving
disfranchised and
underserved citizens.
Reportedly, more
than 10,000 participants
congregate throughout
the period in order to
participate in issue-oriented
debates surrounding
mass incarceration,
immigration, police
brutality, political
debates, prison reforms,
housing, education,
employment and other
matters.
As in previous years,
a mostly moderate,
progressive and liberal
Democratic representation
will outline
plans for winning the
party’s nomination and
ultimately the White
House.
The fully stacked
agenda includes a discussion
with Dr. David
Blight, Yale University
historian, about slavery
and freedom 400 years
after captured Africans
were brought to these
shores along with conversations
surrounding
the “Role of progressive
thought in the age of
Trump.”
A dinner gala will
honor significant individuals
during a private
event. Those named as
honorees include actor
Robert DeNiro, singer
Mary J. Blige, public
relations consultant
Ken Sunshine and radio
personality Tom Joyner.
That award presentation
will be hosted by
actor Anthony Anderson.
Slated for a live
stream broadcasts with
highlights reported
on C-Span, this year’s
meeting will again focus
on gleaning proposals
from those most concerned
with issues surrounding
Civil Rights
and civil liberties.
Probably the most
anticipated speaker
will be Congresswoman
Alexandria Ocasio-
Cortez who is regarded
to be the lightning rod
new-comer member
of the House of Representations
and since
her inauguration three
months ago has steadily
issued blistering rebuke
of President Donald
Trump and members of
the Republican party.
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
Associated Press / Charlie Neibergall