NAACP convention returns to Charlotte after nearly 30 years

Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather in Charlotte this weekend for the NAACP's national convention, marking the first time in nearly three decades that the civil rights organization has held its annual meeting in the Queen City.

The convention begins Saturday at the Charlotte Convention Center and runs through July 16, with organizers expecting between 10,000 and 12,000 attendees.

This year's gathering carries added significance as it marks the first time in the NAACP's 116-year history that a sitting president was not invited to address the convention. The organization announced in June that President Donald Trump would not be invited, citing concerns about his policies and leadership.

"Right now, it's clear — Donald Trump is attacking our democracy and our Civil Rights. He believes more in the fascist playbook than the U.S. Constitution. This playbook is radical and un-American," the NAACP said in a statement released in June.

North Carolina NAACP President Deborah Maxwell confirmed the decision during an interview. "He was not invited by the president. The president has made that decision so we will abide by that decision by the president," she said.

The White House responded last month through a spokesperson, saying the NAACP "isn't advancing anything but hate and division."

This year's convention theme is "The Fierce Urgency of Now," which Maxwell said reflects the organization's response to current political challenges.

"It's very important that we come together, mobilize and organize with all the detrimental things that have happened within the political spectrum," Maxwell said.

The convention will focus on mental health issues and government assistance programs. Maxwell cited concerns about recent federal spending cuts that affect Medicaid and SNAP benefits.

"The fight will never stop but it can be a lot better in this state and across the country," Maxwell said.

Maxwell, who has attended the conventions for 15 years, described the gathering as energizing for activists. "It gives you fuel, it rejuvenates you to go back home and continue to fight," she said.

The convention's return to Charlotte represents a significant moment for the city, which has not hosted the national NAACP convention since the mid-1990s.