FOR PLANNING PURPOSES CONTACT:

Luke Foreman, lforeman@skdknick.com, (203) 803-8778

FOR INTERVIEW REQUEST CONTACT:

Marc Banks, dbanks@naacpnet.org, (410) 580-5701

Politicians, activists, performers to appear in virtual programming on 57th anniversary of March on Washington

Washington — Today, the 2020 Virtual March on Washington kicks off its programming, which will feature prominent members of Congress, activists, actors, and musicians. The virtual programming takes place the evening before civil rights leaders and families of Black men and women who died at the hands of law enforcement attend the in-person march on August 28th. Speakers are expected to call for police accountability reform and mobilize voters ahead of the November elections. It can be viewed live online at 2020march.com.

WHO: The event will be hosted by April Ryan and will feature remarks from NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Cory Booker, actor Mahershala Ali, Stacey Abrams, and more.

WHAT: The 2020 Virtual March on Washington is part of a series of events led by the NAACP, National Action Network, and a coalition of civil rights partners—including Martin Luther King, III, and the families of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor — to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington.

WHEN: The event will start at 8pm ET, times below are for planning purposes only.

  • 8:10 pm: Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO
  • 8:18 pm: Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14)
  • 8:20 pm: Rev. Al Sharpton
  • 8:22 pm: Mahershala Ali, actor and activist
  • 8:24 pm: Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)
  • 8:27 pm: Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League
  • 8:34 pm: Sherilynn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF)
  • 8:37 pm: David Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition
  • 8:39 pm: Vanita Gupta, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
  • 8:47 pm: Speaker Nancy Pelosi
  • 8:50 pm: Jamal Bryant, pastor
  • 8:51 pm: Sylvia Garcia (TX-29)
  • 8:54 pm: Performance from Lisa Ramey
  • 8:57 pm: Teresa Younger, President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women
  • 9:00 pm: Roxanne Taylor, filmmaker
  • 9:01 pm: Sheryl Underwood, comedian and actress
  • 9:03 pm: Stacey Abrams, New York Times bestselling author and voting rights activist
  • 10:11 pm: Performance from Macy Gray

WHERE: It can be viewed live online at 2020march.com.

The 2020 Virtual March on Washington will set forth a bold new Black agenda — advocating for comprehensive police accountability reform, economic empowerment, and equitable access to health care, education, and the voting booths. For more information, visit 2020march.com.

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ABOUT THE NAACP

Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. The NAACP is a c4 organization (contributions are not tax-deductible), and we have a partner c3 organization known as the NAACP Empowerment Programs (contributions are fully tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS).

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund — also referred to as the NAACP-LDF was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization and shares our commitment to equal rights.