Derrick Johnson, national NAACP president and CEO, will serve as guest speaker during the 70th The NAACP East St. Louis Branch Freedom Fund Banquet, 4:30 p.m. Sunday, October 13, 2024, at the Marriott St. Louis Grand 800 Washington Avenue in St. Louis.
Johnson recently brought national attention to the controversial execution of Marcellus Williams. Gov. Mike Parson refused to halt Williams’ execution, along with the respective U.S. and Missouri Supreme Courts, even though there was evidence of his innocence and prosecutorial misconduct.
“Missouri lynched another innocent Black man,” Johnson said following Williams’ execution.
Before the death sentence was upheld, Williams said, “”Taking the life of Marcellus Williams would be an unequivocal statement that when a white woman is killed, a Black man must die. And any Black man will do.”
Under the leadership of Robin Carey Boyd, East St. Louis Branch 3013 is celebrating its 100th Anniversary. She is the first woman to serve as the branch’s president since the 1960s.
The banquet will also include scholarship presentations to students from the Metro East area.
For tickets, please visit www.naacpestl.org. For information, email naacpbranch3013@gmail.com.
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