—Barrington Williams, B1Daily

A coalition of Black American organizers and grassroots activists is mobilizing a major protest against the National Action Network (NAN), accusing the civil rights organization of failing its community and acting as little more than a Democratic Party front group.

The planned demonstration comes just days after NAN leader Rev. Al Sharpton sparked outrage by dismissing young voters as “stupid” during a heated exchange at a recent public forum.

The confrontation, which circulated widely on social media, showed Sharpton clashing with a young voter who questioned NAN’s effectiveness in addressing systemic issues like police brutality, economic inequality, and voter suppression. Critics say the moment exposed a growing disconnect between NAN’s leadership and the very communities it claims to represent.

The discussion started with the ‘Black Alpha Network’ live stream where he insinuated that if NAN had become defunct, then it was time to make a statement against them.

Clearly other young voters agree.

“NAN has become a fundraising arm for Democratic politicians while delivering little real change for Black folks,” said Marcus Greene, a community organizer involved in planning the protest. “We see them showing up for photo ops but not for policy wins. Meanwhile, Black communities are still fighting the same battles we were decades ago.”

Protest organizers argue that NAN has prioritized political access over grassroots mobilization, often aligning itself with establishment figures while ignoring more radical demands from younger activists. Some point to NAN’s muted response to recent police killings and its reluctance to endorse broader economic justice policies, like student debt cancellation or reparations, as evidence of its compromised stance.

The backlash highlights a generational and ideological rift within Black political organizing, with younger activists increasingly rejecting traditional civil rights groups they view as out of touch. “We need organizations that aren’t afraid to challenge power, not ones that cozy up to it,” said Tasha Williams, a 24-year-old activist helping to coordinate the demonstration.

NAN has yet to respond publicly to the planned protest, but Sharpton’s recent remarks have only fueled the anger. His dismissal of young voters—many of whom were instrumental in recent progressive electoral victories—has been seen as a final straw for those who feel NAN no longer speaks for them.

The protest is expected to draw hundreds to NAN’s headquarters in the coming weeks, with organizers vowing to keep pressure on the group until it either changes course or makes way for new leadership.

“Accountability is overdue,” Greene said. “If NAN won’t fight for us, we’ll fight against it.”

—Barrington Williams, B1Daily