National Action Network

National Action Network
source
Name	National Action Network
Type	Nonprofit civil rights organization
Founded	0 1991
Founder	Al Sharpton
Location	New York City, New York, U.S.
Key people	Al Sharpton (President), Dominique Sharpton (Board Member)
Focus	Civil rights, social justice, political advocacy
Website	nationalactionnetwork.net

National Action Network

The National Action Network (NAN) is a prominent civil rights organization founded in 1991 by Al Sharpton. Headquartered in Harlem, New York City, it is one of the leading grassroots advocacy groups in the United States, focusing on issues of social justice, racial equality, and political empowerment for African American and other marginalized communities. NAN plays a significant role in the modern continuation of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, utilizing direct action, political lobbying, and media engagement to address systemic inequality and police brutality.

History and founding

The National Action Network was established in 1991 by Al Sharpton, a Baptist minister and civil rights activist who had been a prominent figure in New York City politics and protest movements since the 1980s. Sharpton's activism was heavily influenced by earlier leaders like Jesse Jackson and the operational models of groups such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). The founding of NAN was partly a response to specific incidents of racial injustice in New York, including the 1989 mayoral election and the Crown Heights unrest. From its inception, NAN sought to combine the tradition of street protest exemplified by figures like Martin Luther King Jr. with a modern focus on corporate accountability and voter mobilization. Its early headquarters were established at the historic House of Justice in Harlem, symbolizing its roots in the community.

Leadership and organizational structure

NAN is led by its founder and president, Al Sharpton, who serves as its primary spokesperson and strategic leader. The organization has a national board of directors that includes members of Sharpton's family, such as his daughter Dominique Sharpton, and other civil rights advocates. Structurally, NAN operates through a network of over 100 chapters across the United States, with significant presence in major cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, and Los Angeles. Each chapter is typically led by a local minister or community leader, reflecting the organization's strong ties to the African American church tradition. This decentralized model allows for coordinated national campaigns while addressing local issues. Key operational divisions within NAN focus on areas including youth outreach, voter protection, and media communications.

Key campaigns and political activism

NAN has been involved in numerous high-profile campaigns centered on police brutality, voting rights, and economic justice. A defining early campaign was the advocacy for justice following the 1999 killing of Amadou Diallo, an unarmed Guinean immigrant, by New York City Police Department officers. In the 21st century, NAN became a central organizing force in the Movement for Black Lives, leading protests and organizing national rallies after the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and George Floyd. The organization's annual national convention in Washington, D.C., serves as a major platform for Democratic Party leaders and policy announcements. NAN also runs sustained initiatives like its "Occupy the Vote" campaign to combat voter suppression and increase political participation in communities of color.

Relationship to broader civil rights movement

NAN positions itself as a direct descendant and modern incarnation of the classical Civil Rights Movement. Al Sharpton often invokes the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and maintains a close, though sometimes complex, relationship with older organizations like the NAACP and the National Urban League. NAN's tactics—including nonviolent direct action, economic boycotts, and national marches—are consciously modeled on the SCLC. However, NAN is distinguished by its adept use of cable news media and its focus on contemporary issues like mass incarceration, stand-your-ground laws, and reparations. It often collaborates with a newer generation of activists and groups, serving as a bridge between legacy movement structures and more decentralized social movements.

Policy positions and advocacy

The organization advocates for a progressive policy agenda focused on racial and social justice. Core legislative priorities have included the passage of federal laws to combat racial profiling, reform police practices, and restore key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. NAN has been a vocal supporter of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. On economic issues, it campaigns for a higher federal minimum wage, student loan debt forgiveness, and the United States. Rights Act of the United States. NAN's Rights Act (United States. The National Action Network|Democratic Party|Democratic Party (United States. The organization also advocates for a vocal supporter of the United States. The organization's United States. The organization's rights. States. It has been a vocal supporter of the United States. The organization's rights. States. The organization's United States. The organization has been a vocal supporter of States. The organization's Act of the United States. The organization also supporter of the United States. The organization also supporter of the United States. The organization also been a vocal supporter of the United States. The organization also supporter of the United States. The organization also supporter the United. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The organization also supporter the United. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The.. The. The The. The. The. The. The. The. The. The The The The The The. The The The The. The. The. The The The The. The The The. The. The The The The.