The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) held its 33rd Annual National Equal Justice Awards Dinner (NEJAD), Justice Above All, on Thursday, November 7th at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

In 2019, LDF honored three individuals who have had revolutionary impact on the civil rights landscape and who are driven by the same principles of equality and justice that guide our efforts. In addition, we reflected on the tremendous gains that LDF has won in the last year.

NEJAD 2019: Justice Above All

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Sherrilyn Ifill, Lupita Nyong'o, Cicely Tyson, B. Michael, and Janai Nelson attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Sherrilyn Ifill, Lupita Nyong'o, Cicely Tyson, B. Michael, and Janai Nelson attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Lupita Nyong'o speaks onstage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Lupita Nyong'o speaks onstage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Lupita Nyong'o attends the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Lupita Nyong'o attends the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Sherrilyn Ifill, Lupita Nyong'o, and Nina Shaw attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Sherrilyn Ifill, Lupita Nyong'o, and Nina Shaw attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Nina Shaw speaks onstage to accept the National Equal Justice Award during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Nina Shaw speaks onstage to accept the National Equal Justice Award during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Lupita Nyong'o and Cicely Tyson embrace at the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Lupita Nyong'o and Cicely Tyson embrace at the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Ray Chew and Gloria perform onstage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Ray Chew and Gloria perform onstage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Lupita Nyong'o and Cicely Tyson embrace at the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Lupita Nyong'o and Cicely Tyson embrace at the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: B. Michael and Cicely Tyson and Blair Imani attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: B. Michael and Cicely Tyson and Blair Imani attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Janai Nelson and Sherrilyn Ifill attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Janai Nelson and Sherrilyn Ifill attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Dapper Dan and Sherrilyn Ifill attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Dapper Dan and Sherrilyn Ifill attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: (L-R) Cicely Tyson, Ken Chenault, and B. Michael attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: (L-R) Cicely Tyson, Ken Chenault, and B. Michael attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Michelle Ebanks, Cori Murray, Lupita Nyong'o and Nina Shaw attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Michelle Ebanks, Cori Murray, Lupita Nyong'o and Nina Shaw attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Sherrilyn IFill, Ivo Knobloch, Angela Vallot, Katherine Vallot-Basker, and Jim Basker attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Sherrilyn IFill, Ivo Knobloch, Angela Vallot, Katherine Vallot-Basker, and Jim Basker attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Jonathan Capehart hosts the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Jonathan Capehart hosts the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Gerald Adolph, David Mills and Sherrilyn Ifill speak on stage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Gerald Adolph, David Mills and Sherrilyn Ifill speak on stage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Tonya Lewis Lee, Midwin Charles, Jonathan Capehart and Crystal McCrary attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Tonya Lewis Lee, Midwin Charles, Jonathan Capehart and Crystal McCrary attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
Blair Imani, social media correspondent, interviews Sherrilyn IFill on the NEJAD red carpet
Blair Imani, social media correspondent, interviews Sherrilyn IFill on the NEJAD red carpet
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Danielle Prescod and Gabrielle Prescod attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Danielle Prescod and Gabrielle Prescod attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Cicely Tyson, Gina Belafonte, B. Michael and Maria Belafonte attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Cicely Tyson, Gina Belafonte, B. Michael and Maria Belafonte attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Charles Phillips and Sherrilyn Ifill (R) attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Charles Phillips and Sherrilyn Ifill (R) attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Nina Shaw speaks onstage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Nina Shaw speaks onstage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Sherrilyn Ifill, Elaine Jones, Theodore "Ted" Shaw, and Billye Suber Aaron attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Sherrilyn Ifill, Elaine Jones, Theodore "Ted" Shaw, and Billye Suber Aaron attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Kenneth Chenault speaks onstage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Kenneth Chenault speaks onstage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Lupita Nyong'o speaks onstage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Lupita Nyong'o speaks onstage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Sherrilyn Ifill speaks onstage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Sherrilyn Ifill speaks onstage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Jonathan Capehart and Wes Moore attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Jonathan Capehart and Wes Moore attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Cori Murray and Michelle Ebanks attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Cori Murray and Michelle Ebanks attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Angela Vallot and Kim Koopersmith speak during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Angela Vallot and Kim Koopersmith speak during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Janai Nelson and Dapper Dan attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Janai Nelson and Dapper Dan attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Ken Chenault and Sherrilyn Ifill attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Ken Chenault and Sherrilyn Ifill attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Ray Chew performs in stage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Ray Chew performs in stage during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Cicely Tyson speaks on stage to accept the National Equal Justice Award on behalf of Harry Belafonte during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Cicely Tyson speaks on stage to accept the National Equal Justice Award on behalf of Harry Belafonte during the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Gerald Adolph, David Mills and Theodore "Ted" Shaw attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07: Gerald Adolph, David Mills and Theodore "Ted" Shaw attend the NAACP LDF 33rd National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for NAACP LDF)

Special thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s National Equal Justice Awards Dinner a night to remember, including dinner chairs Kim Koopersmith and Angela Vallot, host Jonathan Capehart, our honorees, donors, attendees, and the entire Legal Defense Fund staff. 

For more on this year’s celebration of LDF’s work and legacy, please take a look at the year-in-review and honoree tribute videos below.

LDF 2019 Year-in-Review Video

National Equal Justice Award
2019 Honorees

To read the honorees’ complete biographies, click here.

Learn More About NEJAD
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