Hillary Clinton — the former State Secretary and twice-failed candidate for president — has decided against running for president.
Instead, Clinton is focusing on other gigs — like teaching self-help courses, co-authoring thriller novels, and now the New York Democrat will headline the list of speakers at the NAACP’s National Convention in Boston later this month.
“Each year, NAACP members and friends gather at the Convention in a shared space that has proven vital for our collective growth and advocacy,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Now more than ever, this sacred convening is crucial to our continued fight for the preservation of democracy. We are excited to bring vitality and vibrance to our roots in Boston, home of the Association’s first chartered branch.”
The list of speakers includes mostly entertainers, like soul singer Danielle Ponder and Black-ish actor Marcus Scribner.
Clinton isn’t the only politician on the bill. She’ll appear alongside state Rep. Justin Jones and U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley.
Pressley won her first House election in 2018 as part of the freshman class including New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Corez, and she represents a nearby district in Massachusetts. Jones hails from Tennessee, and he achieved national attention in April after leading a protest resulting in his expulsion from the statehouse.
Observers expressed polarized reactions to Clinton’s speaking slot. “Omg can’t she just go away,” one person tweeted.
Clinton faced booing and jeering during a speaking gig in Northern Ireland last year. She once supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and yet she accepted a gig in Northern Ireland, a region devastated by “The Troubles.”
Regarding the itinerary, the NAACP said in a statement, “Through workshops, plenary sessions, and panel discussions, we will forge a path forward on the most pressing issues facing Black communities today, including voter suppression, student debt, affirmative action, police brutality and reproductive rights.”
The organization went on to thank its sponsors — including Bain Capital, the private equity firm that once employed former Governors Mitt Romney and Deval Patrick.
“We extend a very special thank you to each of our key sponsors who help to make the National Convention possible; Mass Mutual, State Street, Sanofi, Bain Capital, Boston Building Trades, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Delta Airlines, and Verizon,” the statement said.
The convention is set to include a block party, a scientific Olympics competition, and a festival of short films.
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The Horn editorial team