Rev. Al Sharpton, NAACP President Derrick Johnson and other members of the NAACP discussed the details of their meeting with President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. In a two hour meeting, the group discussed racial equity in America and how to ease racial tensions in the country. Following the meeting, members of the National Urban League, NAACP and National Action Network opened up about the meeting.
“Today, we heard the president-elect reaffirm his commitment to racial justice, and we underscored that our job as historic civil rights leaders is to, one, help him and, number two, to hold him accountable," National Urban League CEO Marc Morial said.
“I think it was a very candid meeting, very blunt and we did not in any way pull any punches. In the things that I raised, I said he must not take light that he is succeeding the most racist, negative administration in memory," Rev. Al Sharpton said.
One of the more notable suggestions brought forth during the meeting came from the NAACP. The civil rights group advocated for a racial equity adviser being included in the Biden administration.
“Modeled after the Climate Envoy for National Security, the National Advisor on Racial Justice, Equity and Advancement would be charged with centralizing bold, visionary thinking and strategy on racial justice within the White House and fostering the development of holistic measures throughout government to tackle the pervasive problem of systemic racism as never before,” the NAACP stated.
In addition to advocating for a racial equity adviser, Sherrilyn Ifill of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund praised Biden and Harris for their commitment to addressing racial injustice. She also noted that their meeting with Biden and Harris was a notable improvement from their interactions with President Donald Trump.
“President-elect Biden was patient and listening to our concerns and thoughtful in outlining his response. He committed to following up with each of us and to maintain a working relationship with Black leaders. Under the Trump administration, Black people have been silenced, marginalized and ignored," Ifill said.
“This meeting was intended to make clear that racial justice must be at the center of the Biden and Harris administrations.”
Members of the participating civil rights organizations have said that they will meet quarterly to provide updates regarding their dealings with the Biden-Harris administration.
Photo Credit: Getty Images