N.O. NAACP branch prepares to celebrate its centennial anniversary

The New Orleans Branch of the NAACP recently announced its plans to commemorate the 100th anniversary of its founding in the Crescent City. The Centennial Celebration will kick off June 13, 2015 with the theme “The Dream of 1915 Becomes the Reality of 2015.”

On June 13, 2015, the New Orleans Branch of the NAACP will hold its annual Freedom Fund Banquet, celebrating 100 years of service and collective collaboration to ensure political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all people. This 100-year benchmark will continue the successful vision of ensuring a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race. Ensuring rights, privileges and protections granted from the Constitution of the United States for all God’s children who are citizens of the United States to enjoy.

The newly elected president of the New Orleans Branch, retired Orleans Parish Judge Morris Reed, has set into motion the centennial celebration for June 13, at the historic Xavier University where community trailblazers and industrial champions of Civil Rights will be honored during the 100th anniversary.

It was six short years after the national organization of the NAACP began its fight for equality that New Orleans established its own branch to champion the cause. From this marriage, many local battles helped the nation to achieve equality for all people of color. It is with this legacy of social justice, community activism and tenacity that the New Orleans Branch of the NAACP will celebrate its historic milestone.

This article originally published in the May 18, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.