Blog

By Gerald Griggs, Past President of the Georgia NAACP

After a remarkable journey, my term as President of the Georgia NAACP has officially come to an end. Serving this incredible organization has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Over the past several years, I have had the privilege of working alongside dedicated members, courageous leaders, and passionate advocates who share a deep commitment to justice, equality, and civil rights. Together, we have faced tremendous challenges, celebrated historic victories, and built a stronger foundation for the future of our movement in Georgia.

Throughout my presidency, the Georgia NAACP continued its long legacy of fighting for civil rights and social justice. We stood on the front lines to protect voting rights, fought against voter suppression, and demanded fairness in every corner of our state. From the courtroom to the Capitol steps, our work was guided by a simple but powerful mission — to ensure that every Georgian’s voice is heard, every right is respected, and every person is treated with dignity.

I am incredibly proud of the progress we made in the areas of voting rights and elections. During my term, we successfully won a Georgia Supreme Court case blocking a restrictive ballot-counting rule, filed a lawsuit challenging voter purging provisions in Senate Bill 189, and opposed efforts to cancel digital voter registrations. We also filed a federal lawsuit against racial gerrymandering in Meriwether County and led major voter mobilization efforts that helped re-elect Georgia’s first African American U.S. Senator. These victories reaffirmed our commitment to protecting democracy and strengthening Black voter participation across the state.

Beyond the ballot box, we continued to lead in the fight for social justice and accountability. The Georgia NAACP stood with families seeking police transparency, responded to incidents of racial intolerance and hate, and spoke out against authoritarianism at the 2025 “No Kings” rally in Atlanta. Under my leadership, our state conference earned national recognition by winning the prestigious Thalheimer Award at the 2025 NAACP National Convention — a testament to the tireless work of our members and local branches.

Our efforts also extended into healthcare and community wellness. In June 2024, we signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding with UnitedHealthcare of Georgia to expand healthcare access and equity. This partnership led to mobile healthcare events, town halls, and the graduation of a new class of medical professionals from the Alpha Institute — individuals now serving Georgia’s underserved communities. These initiatives reflected our belief that civil rights are not just political rights, but also the right to live healthy, dignified lives.

Along the way, I was humbled to receive recognition for our collective work — being re-elected to a second term in 2023, named the “2024 Man of Empowerment” by the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, and honored with proclamations from several Georgia cities as well as a State Resolution from the Georgia General Assembly. These acknowledgments belong to everyone who labored beside me in the fight for equality.

As I close this chapter, I remain deeply grateful to every member, leader, and supporter who stood with me through every challenge and victory. Your faith and commitment have fueled our progress and proven that when we stand together, change is possible. While my term as president has come to an end, my dedication to the mission of the NAACP has not. The work continues — and so does my commitment to the people of Georgia.
Thank you for trusting me to lead, for standing with me, and for believing in the power of justice. The journey doesn’t end here. It simply moves forward — toward a brighter, fairer, and more equitable Georgia for us all.

With gratitude and resolve,
Gerald Griggs
Past President, Georgia NAACP