NAACP Launches Town Halls To Mobilize Black Voters Ahead Of 2026 Midterms

Photo: Arturo Holmes / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Images The NAACP is launching a series of nationwide town halls aimed at mobilizing Black voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, per CBS News. On Tuesday (August 19), the NAACP kicked off its town hall series in New Jersey with appearances from Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Rep. LaMonica McIver, and other local leaders. Both were charged following a protest outside a Newark ICE detention center in May. The NAACP said the town halls will focus on the local impact of federal policies, while also boosting grassroots voter engagement through outreach, volunteer recruitment, and community organizing. “It may still seem far away, but the 2026 midterm elections will determine whether our democracy still holds on or whether the people surrender their power to a king,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson said in a statement. “So, from our perspective, as the NAACP, it’s clear: we’ve got to start organizing early.” Johnson cited President Donald Trump’s rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, aggressive immigration raids, and budget cuts to Medicaid and food assistance as “attacks on democracy.” “We’ve got to strengthen community, recruit volunteers, inform each other about Donald Trump’s oppressive policies,...