In the age of the Obama presidency, our community has witnessed great progress: the passage of federal hate crimes legislation; the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the implementation of open transgender military service; the Supreme Court upheld marriage equality as the law of the land; and the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Unfortunately, we have also experienced many setbacks: the continued negative impact of the criminal justice system on our communities; the rise of overt racism and nationalist militias; the gutting of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and passage of discriminatory state election laws; and the continued rise of HIV/AIDS in our community. With the conference theme, The Post-Obama Era: What's Next?, this year's #OOTH2016 efforts will be deeply rooted in exploring the triumphs and challenges that we have witnessed during the administration of the first Black President, and work to plot the path forward in a post-Obama era.

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Washington, DC – Today, the Executive Director & CEO of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks, released the following statement:

“As we grieve and pray for the families of Alton Sterling of Baton Rouge, LA, Philando Castile of Falcon Heights, MN, and the five police officers lost to senseless gun violence in Dallas, TX this past week, NBJC acknowledges the pain and suffering many Americans, but specifically Black Americans, are feeling during this time. Our hearts are broken because once again we have to face the reality that being Black in America—more often than most—equates to being accused of suspicion and ill-intent. At the same time, the movement to bring about liberation for Black people continues to be propagated as anti-American and anti-police, when in reality it simply demands we be treated with the dignity and respect accorded to all human beings—one of the most fundamental American values there is.