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NAACP brings 2015 confab to Philly

The organization will hold its 106th annual national convention in Philadelphia next month after a turbulent year in the U.S.

ALL HELL BROKE loose in the United States just a few weeks after the NAACP held its annual national convention in Las Vegas last year.

The shooting of Michael Brown by police in Ferguson, Mo., led to volatile protests over his death. Then came other shootings of unarmed black men, controversial verdicts and violent protests in North Charleston, S.C.; Cleveland and Baltimore.

In Philadelphia, the Dec. 15, 2014, shooting death of Brandon Tate-Brown during a traffic stop in the Mayfair section sparked protests and violent confrontations.

Next month, the NAACP comes to Philly for its 106th convention, with a theme of "Pursuing Liberty in the Face of Injustice."

"It's coming at a critical time in America," Rodney Muhammad, president of the NAACP Philadelphia branch, told the Daily News. "We're at some crossroads here in this country."

The convention will take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center July 11 through 15 with a morning-till-night schedule of panelists, guest speakers, awards ceremonies and receptions. Mayor Nutter is among the confirmed guest speakers, and Muhammad said all of the 2016 presidential hopefuls will get invitations.

"We're hoping Hillary Clinton comes," Muhammad said. "I think Rand Paul would show up. He seems to be real daring and I think he would come."

An NAACP national spokeswoman could not confirm whether President Obama was extended an invite.

Local activist Asa Khalif, president of the Philly-based Racial Unity USA, was skeptical that the NAACP would make room for local groups and the "Black Lives Matter" movement that had such a strong presence in Baltimore and Ferguson. He also wasn't happy that the convention was being held in Center City.

"We're going to make our presence known," he said yesterday.

In addition to the convention, the NAACP's Youth & College Division will take part in an Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics competition beginning July 8 that will include 26 categories.

For more information about the convention, visit naacpconvention.org.