At the congress titled “Caring for the Dream Under Threat” held in New York, issues such as the right of black people to vote, racial discrimination in the country and police violence were discussed.
In his keynote speech, NAN Founding Chairman, Reverend Al Sharpton, said, “There is no better time than this to address the issues we have always struggled with, such as reforming the criminal justice system, dealing with issues such as the economy, education, crime.” said.
Sharpton emphasized that in order to realize the “dream” of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, which depicts a world without racism, unity and solidarity in the struggle for rights is necessary.
In the hall, which was filled with hundreds of people from the black community and attended by New York Mayor Eric Adams, a session on “the right to vote” was held with Sharpton and the famous black TV and film actor Kerry Washington.
One of the most striking programs among the programs that lasted throughout the day was the panel where family members of black people who lost their lives as a result of police violence in the USA in recent years spoke.
Row Vaughn Wells, mother of Tire Nichols, who was beaten to death by police in Tennessee earlier this year, emphasized the need to reform police practices.
Anne Wells said: “We will continue to fight racism and ensure that these tragedies do not happen to another Tire, Ahmaud Arbery or Trayvon Martin.” used the phrase.
In the US state of Tennessee, 29-year-old Tire Nichols was taken out of his car by the police on January 7, on the grounds that he was “reckless driving”, and was badly beaten during the detention process. The black teenager, who was taken to the hospital, died 3 days later due to excessive bleeding.
In the panel, moderated by civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, the family members of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner and Amir Locke, whose deaths were caused by police violence, besides Tire Nichols’ mother, also took part in the panel.
In addition to prominent representatives of the black community, many high-ranking officials from the Biden administration are expected to attend the congress, especially US Vice President Kamala Harris and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.