The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) held its 32nd Annual National Equal Justice Awards Dinner, Justice Equality Democracy, on Thursday, November 1st at The Ziegfeld Theater in New York City. In addition to paying tribute to the tremendous work LDF has done in the past year to defend civil rights, we celebrated truly special individuals who are driven by the same principles of equality and justice that guide our efforts.
Quoting LDF founder, Thurgood Marshall, the evening’s theme addressed the difficulty and urgency of this moment:
“It’s a democracy if we can keep it. And in order to keep it you can’t stand still. You must move. And if you don’t move, they’ll run over you.”
Special thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s National Equal Justice Awards Dinner a night to remember, including honorary chairs Kenneth and Andrea Frazier, and Robyn and Tony Coles, co-chairs Angela Vallot and Kim Koopersmith, host Jacque Reid, our honorees, donors, attendees, and the entire LDF staff. For more on this tribute to LDF, please take a look at some of the highlights captured in the videos and photographs below.
“Our job is to position LDF to do work that is as transformative in the 21st century
as we were in 20th century.”
Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel,
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: LDF President and Director-Counsel Sherrilyn Ifill speaks onstage at the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: (L-R) Kim Koopersmith, Angela Vallot, and Honorees Dr. P. Roy Vagelos and Diana Vagelos attend the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: Honorary Chairs, Kenneth and Andrea Frazier attend the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: (L-R) Angela Vallot, LDF President and Director Counsel, Sherrilyn Ifill, Kim Koopersmith, and LDF Associate Director Counsel, Janai Nelson attend the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: (L-R) Michelle Clemon, Honoree U.W. Clemon, and Barbara Clemon attend the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: (L-R) Honorees Dr. P. Roy Vagelos, Diana Vagelos, Bryan Stevenson and LDF President Sherrilyn Ifill attend the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: (L-R) Andrea Frazier, Kenneth Frazier, Diana Vagelos, Robyn Coles, and Dr. P. Roy Vagelos attend the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: (L-R) Andrea Frazier, Kenneth Frazier, Diana Vagelos, Robyn Coles, and Dr. P. Roy Vagelos attend the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, Former LDF President and Director Counsel Elaine Jones, Current LDF President and Director Counsel Sherrilyn Iffil, LDF Associate Director Counsel Janai Nelson, Former LDF President and Director Counsel Ted Shaw, and guests attend the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: Renee Elise Goldsberry performs onstage at the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: Gerald Adolph speaks onstage during the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: Honoree U.W. Clemon speaks onstage at the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: Reverend Winnie Varghese speaks onstage at the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: Honoree Marian Wright Edelman speaks onstage at the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: Honorees Dr. P. Roy Vagelos and Diana Vagelos speak onstage at the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: (L-R) Christie Desir, Ta-Nehisi Coates and Jacque Reid attend the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: Honoree Bryan Stevenson speaks onstage at the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: R. Keith Walton speaks onstage during the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: Kenneth Frazier and Robyn Coles speak onstage at the NAACP LDF 32nd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
