Awards bring 3-day NAACP event to close

Moving.

That's how Glancey Thomas, a member of the New Hanover County NAACP, summed up this week's 64th annual State NAACP Convention.

"It's been moving for me," she said. "I hope it gives us a renewed vision."

More than 200 NAACP members, local businesses and community supporters gathered at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside on Saturday during the convention's Freedom Awards Banquet.

National NAACP Interim President and CEO Dennis Courtland Hayes was to be the event's keynote speaker but hadn't taken the stage at press time.

The night was filled with food, laughs and awards as the state conference recognized individual branches and churches for their accomplishments during the last year.

It also was a time of giving.

Unexpectedly, N.C. NAACP President William Barber asked members to collect money and checks to help the legal defense of a Wilson County man, James Johnson, who is facing trial for the 2004 murder of Brittany Willis. Johnson, who was at the banquet, was freed on bail last month after serving more than three years in jail without his case going to trial.

The N.C. NAACP led efforts to have Johnson freed, calling his jailing unjust because of the lack of physical evidence. The organization is pushing for the state bar to strengthen rules governing prosecutors and wants Johnson's case dropped.

Saturday's banquet was the official close to the state NAACP's convention. More than 1,000 people were estimated to attend the three-day meeting.

Wilma McGregory, a member of the Harnett County NAACP, said she will leave the convention focused on recruiting new members.

"You need every black person in the state of North Carolina to get a membership," she said. "We need all the members we can get." Statewide, the NAACP has about 20,000 members.

Harold Beatty, president of the New Hanover County NAACP, said he hopes people leave "refreshed, informed and motivated."

"Now it's time for us to go into our communities and create new activists," he said during his closing remarks at the banquet. "We have much work to do as we continue to fight for equal justice and equal rights for all."

Angela Mack: 343-2009

angie.mack@starnewsonline.com