The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) held its 31st Annual National Equal Justice Awards Dinner, The Moment is Now, on Thursday, November 2nd at Cipriani 42nd Street 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 three truly special individuals who are driven by the same principles of equality and justice that guide our efforts.
The honorees were:
In her remarks, LDF President and Director-Counsel Sherrilyn Ifill addressed the difficulty and urgency of this moment: “Now more than ever, we recognize that the work we do today will shift the tide of history, impacting equality and justice for generations to come. The moment to take action is now.”
“For more than 75 years, the Legal Defense and Educational Fund has worked diligently to challenge issues that go against fundamental civil and human rights,” said Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF). “We are proud to honor John, Howard and Agnes as they are committed to using their voices and platforms to help us in this fight.”
Special thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s National Equal Justice Awards Dinner a night to remember, including honorary chairs Mellody Hobson and George Lucas, co-chairs Angela Vallot and Kim Koopersmith, host Jonathan Capehart, our honorees, donors, attendees, and the entire LDF staff. NEJAD 2017 raised a remarkable $2.8 million to assist LDF in advancing its important mission. For more on this tribute to LDF, please take a look at some of the highlights captured in the videos and photographs below.
“The Moment that we’re currently facing, is a moment where we are forced to face the fragility of what we fought for and what we’ve won.”
The Moment is Now from NAACP_LDF on Vimeo.
John Legend shares not just his artistry, but also his enduring commitment to ending mass incarceration.
John Legend, 31st Annual Equal Justice Award from NAACP_LDF on Vimeo.
Roland Martin interviews John Legend and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Director Sherrilyn Ifill.
John Legend Receives Honor at NAACP LDF Awards
President of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Sherrilyn Ifill explains why the singer is deserving of being honored for his fight against inequality.
NAACP LDF president and director-counsel Sherrilyn Ifill and musician John Legend attend the LDF 31st National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 2, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.)
View more photos from our 31st annual National Equal Justice Awards Dinner
Jordan Schultz, Breanna Schultz, Starbucks chairman, and CEO Howard Schultz, Sheri Schultz, Addison Schultz, and Tal Hirshberg attend the LDF 31st National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 2, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.)
Janai Nelson, Starbucks chairman and CEO Howard Schultz and BET Chairman and CEO Debra Lee attend the LDF 31st National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 2, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.)
LDF board member and 31th National Equal Justice Awards Dinner co-chair Angela Vallot, John Legend, NAACP LDF president and director-counsel Sherrilyn Ifill, and LDF board member and 31st National Equal Justice Awards Dinner co-chair Kim Koopersmith attend the LDF 31th National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 2, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.)
Janai Nelson, Agnes Gund, NAACP LDF president and director-counsel Sherrilyn Ifill, and Darren Walker attend the LDF 31st National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 2, 2017 in New York City.
31st National Equal Justice Awards Dinner Honorary Chair Mellody Hobson, Howard Schultz, and NAACP LDF president and director-counsel Sherrilyn Ifill at the LDF 31st National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 2, 2017, in New York City.
31st National Equal Justice Awards Dinner host Jonathan Capehart at the LDF 31st National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 2, 2017, in New York City.
