Recommitment to Leadership Conference on Civil Rights

WHEREAS, the Leadership Conference was co-founded in 1950 by Roy Wilkins, Executive Secretary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, to implement President Truman's Commission on Civil Rights' report to secure these rights; and

WHEREAS, at the founding of the Leadership Conference segregation was sanctioned by law and equality was a distant dream; and

WHEREAS, the Leadership Conference was an integral part of the Civil Rights Movement and pushed for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, 1960 and 1964; the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968; and

WHEREAS, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People historically participated in the activities of the Leadership Conference and also provided the Leadership Conference with some of its brightest leaders, namely Roy Wilkins and Dr. Benjamin Hooks; and

WHEREAS, the cause that the Leadership Conference has advanced for the last five decades – an America true to its promise of equal justice, equal opportunity and mutual respect, directly correlates with the primary focus of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – the protection and enhancement of the civil rights of African-Americans and other minorities; and

WHEREAS, the Leadership Conference's agenda of fighting discrimination in all of its forms, improving inter-group relations, and promoting the full participation of every American in every facet of our nation's life is reflective of the goals and mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and

WHEREAS, the civil rights community faces new challenges in the struggle for civil rights and social justice and still requires vigilance by the widest coalition of conscious groups and individuals; and

WHEREAS, the issues that both the Leadership Conference and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People strongly advocate for include: equity in education, enforcement of civil rights laws, qualified and diverse judiciary, equal opportunity in employment and housing, equity in our criminal justice system, federal policies against hate crimes, racial profiling, and police misconduct.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will rededicate its resources, efforts and membership to unit the forces of these organizations; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People shall support all efforts of the Leadership Conference.