Today, Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), issued the following statement in response to the election of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
“Congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, two lifelong public servants who now move on to the challenge of leading a country in the midst of a global pandemic. This is an historic electoral moment for our country as Vice President-elect Harris becomes the first woman, the first Black person, and the first Indian American to serve in this capacity. She is also the first graduate of an Historically Black College and University to serve as Vice President.
“This has been a difficult time for our nation, especially in Black communities as this summer and fall have been witness to increased police violence and the disproportionate toll of COVID-19 on people’s lives, long-term health, housing, and employment. During this election season, we have seen repeated incidents of voter intimidation, voter suppression, and, most recently, attempts to intimidate ballot counters.
“Indeed, there is a great deal of work ahead. Racial injustice and inequality in voting, housing, education, and criminal justice are urgent issues that will require robust federal action. LDF looks forward to opening a dialogue with the new Administration on these and other issues of importance, and working to develop a plan to address the urgent needs of our communities.”
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Founded in 1940, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization. LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or LDF.
