In 2024, we stand at a pivotal moment. The fight for civil rights and equality in Columbus, Ohio—and across the nation—is far from over. The challenges may look different, but the need for bold, unified leadership remains the same. That’s why I, Sean Walton, Jr., am not simply running for President of the Columbus NAACP; I am answering a call to serve. This isn’t about me, and it’s not about a title. It’s about us—our collective power, our vision, and the possibilities that lie ahead if we work together with intention and urgency.
The recent push to grow membership within the Columbus NAACP is about so much more than numbers. It's about shifting the culture. Our goal is to move the conversation beyond asking, “Why should I join?” and into asking, “Why are you NOT a member of the Columbus NAACP?” This shift in mindset is critical. It's a shift that brings our community together, mobilizes our resources, and makes the NAACP a home for everyone committed to justice, equity, and change.
We’re not simply building a roster—we’re building a movement. With a robust and active base, we’ll have the power to mobilize and activate our 21 standing committees, which touch every aspect of Black life in Columbus— education, health, criminal justice, economic empowerment, environmental justice, and more. Imagine a movement where thought leaders, change agents, and everyday people stand side by side, working for the collective good. That is the NAACP I envision. That is the NAACP we are building together.
Our strategy is simple but powerful: servant leadership and humility. Our collective Black agenda, crafted from the work of our committees, will be our blueprint for securing a future where everyone can fully exercise their civil and human rights. Whether it’s advocating for equitable education, fighting for criminal justice reform, or addressing health disparities and environmental issues, our mission is clear: to ensure that every aspect of life in Columbus is free from discrimination.
This movement will remain Black-centered, Black-led, and Black-empowering. But it will also recognize that the struggle for justice is shared by many. The experiences of our Brown brothers and sisters, and our New American communities, are intertwined with our own. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated so powerfully in his Letter from Birmingham Jail: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny." These words are just as true today as they were in 1963. As we continue to center the Black experience and struggle, we must also embrace our collective struggle. The future of the NAACP—and our city—depends on our ability to innovate, activate, and collaborate across communities.
Yet, the work ahead is not easy. We cannot be agents of change if we are resistant to change ourselves. We must foster the development of new leaders, just as the NAACP has always done. Some may see the role of President of the Columbus NAACP as one of status or ego. I see it as a duty—to serve, to uplift, and to unite. I view this role in the spirit of servant leadership, as embodied by the great leaders who came before me. Leaders who worked tirelessly, not for recognition, but for the betterment of their communities. Leaders who certainly served in other organizations and in other capacities before leading (or simply collaborating) with the NAACP - because while we may cultivate our talents elsewhere, we must always remember to bring our talents home.
I have founded the Civil Rights Section of the Ohio Association for Justice and helped craft legislation to end Qualified Immunity and to advocate for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act through my work as a board member for the American Association for Justice. I have been honored as the 2020 Graduate of the Last Decade from Capital University Law School and as the 2021 Barrister of the Year from the John Mercer Langston Bar Association. I have served as the President of the Board of Trustees for the Capital University Law School African American Law Alumni Association. I have been honored with a 2023 Poindexter Award from Columbus City Council as they recognized Black resistance. I currently serve on the Axon Ethics & Equity Council, a 15-member independent body of U.S. and U.K. based community leaders, restorative justice advocates, and academics whose expertise is leveraged to enable Axon to responsibly develop and deploy new technologies.
I certainly intend to continue to serve the people through my firm Walton + Brown, where in February 2025 we will celebrate 10 years of quiet (but powerful) legal work and historic results for our clients, and where I have received the Super Lawyers Rising Star award every year from 2018 - 2025. Yet and still, more than anything, I want to ignite a culture where we understand that no matter how far we go, we share a collective responsibility to lend our unique and varied talents and our skills to the movement for racial and social justice.
The NAACP is home. As a former college chapter member, a Silver Life Member since 2015, and as an attorney who has received complaints and represented Columbus NAACP members through referrals from the legal redress committee since 2014 - the NAACP is and will always be my home, and I have been honored to serve, prioritize and amplify the organization throughout my life. And I understand that the honors I have received and the leadership skills I have honed in some of the most impactful organizations in the United States, mean nothing if I don't help take care of home first and foremost.
The true power of the NAACP lies in its people. Under the leadership of our slate, we will empower leaders, who empower more leaders, who empower the people. I believe in the strength of our community, and I believe in our ability to build a movement where we reclaim our voice in the conversation and where everyone’s contribution matters. We will not just transform the Columbus branch; we will set the standard for the entire country. We have the potential to create a blueprint for what is possible when the power of collective action is unleashed.
I humbly ask for your support in this journey. Together, we will build the best NAACP branch in the nation. Together, we will harness the power of our ancestors' struggles, the wisdom of our elders, and the energy of future leaders. This is our moment to rise, and I am ready to serve not only this organization but the tens of thousands of new members who will join us in this vision.
Let’s create a Columbus NAACP that not only answers the call for justice but also leads the charge to secure a future where the mission of the NAACP—started in 1909—is finally seen to completion. This is our time to innovate, to activate, and to collaborate, for the power and possibility of the NAACP in Columbus has never been greater.
In solidarity - and with integrity,
Sean Walton, Jr.
Candidate for President, Columbus Branch of the NAACP
コメント