New, younger members join NAACP as Chicago hosts national convention

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Thousands were at McCormick Place for the National NAACP Convention on Monday.

This year's theme "We The People" was noted in Mayor Brandon Johnson's address at the convention.

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"It is not just simply a phrase in the constitution. It's a reminder that democracy has always depended on the people and our willingness to fight for it, to protect it and to expand it," Johnson said.

The 117-year-old organization is in the process of expanding. More people are joining in the civil rights.

"What I find to be particularly interesting is that, uh, the numbers of folks joining are definitely interracial; so we have as many white and others joining as African Americans and Blacks," NAACP Evanston North Shore Rev. Michael Nabors said.

"I think the need is increased at this particular point just based on what's happening at the national level. Same thing that's happening at the national level is actually happening at the local level, folks are having issues. Folks are having problems," said Garland Pruitt of Oklahoma City.

Members are also seeing more younger adults getting involved.

"I'm glad that they're stepping up and saying, 'Hey, we gotta do something.' You know? So they're keeping it alive. They keeping the dream, as we say, alive," said Janet Mason of Hawaii.

Calvin Bell is a 24-year-old Ph.D. student at Northwestern and is a judging a youth competition at the convention called ACT-SO. He is among the new wave of attendees joining with the NAACP.

"You've seen students take into social media in various ways...to amplify [ social issues ] and bring awareness to them," Bell said.

Wesley Scully is president of the Michigan City branch. But it is a family affair as he is attending with his 6-year-old grandson.

"I'm fighting for the rights and the life and the future of my grandchildren. You know, they deserve to be able to get a good job despite DEI and all that stuff. And also, being in America, they deserve to be free," Scully said.

The five-day convention continues through Wednesday at McCormick Place.