NAACP for Evers!

The board chairperson of America's oldest civil rights organization has long counted on AFSCME.

 "As long as there is breath in my body and no mat-ter how long it takes, I will never let up on the challenges facing all Americans," de-clared Myrlie Evers-Williams, chairperson of the National Board of the NAACP.

Evers-Williams told the delegates in her Tuesday address, "There are those of us who have climbed over the bodies and slid in the blood-all in the name of winning social justice for everyone."

In 1963, her first husband, NAACP activist Medgar Evers was murdered in the doorway of their home in Jackson, Miss. It took 31 years to bring his killer to justice.

Inspiring life. She remarried and shortly after her election last year to the leadership of the NAACP was widowed again. Her husband, Walter Edward Williams-also a civil rights activist-was instrumental and supportive of her decision to seek the position she holds today.

New Jersey Local 2303, Council 71 member William Elam, who served as a sergeant-at-arms for the sixth time, described Evers-Williams' speech as one of the most inspiring of the Convention. "It's amazing that she has maintained her sanity despite the setbacks in her personal life," said Elam.

AFSCME Sec.-Treas. William Lucy introduced Evers-Williams as a "great lady" who has fought for civil rights for many years-often with AFSCME by her side.

Leading. Lucy said that in a recent telephone conversation with Evers-Williams, she asked him if she should run for a second term as chairperson. Lucy's response: "If you will run and lead, we [AFSCME] will follow."

In a gesture of support for the NAACP, AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee and Lucy presented Evers-Williams with a check for $25,000.

By Venida RaMar Marshall