Triumph Awards Celebrates Rev. Sharpton’s 70th Birthday

NEW YORK – The National Action Network (NAN) celebrated the 70th birthday of its Founder and President, Rev. Al Sharpton, as part of the organization’s Triumph Awards at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The annual awards ceremony recognized luminaries in arts, culture, and activism who use their platform to advance change and social justice.

“I was touched to celebrate this milestone birthday with our honorees, our leaders here in New York, and the entire National Action Network family,” said Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of NAN. “This year’s honorees represent a spectrum of leaders who use their art as a form of advocacy to make our nation fairer. I hope in this crucial time, when the health of democracy and justice are on the ballot, these honorees inspired everyone in the room to go out and preserve our future this fall.”

The Triumph Awards celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to social, racial and economic justice. In the backdrop of pressing civil rights concerns and an election that will determine the fate of our democracy, this year’s ceremony takes on an even more critical role as the nation grapples with violent hate crimes against Black, Brown, Jewish, and AAPI Americans; legislation targeting LGBTQ+ rights; and attacks against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and other equity initiatives.

Rev. Sharpton and NAN’s 2024 honorees are being recognized for their steadfast efforts in standing up for civil rights. The 2024 honorees included:
• Grammy Award-winning musician Gladys Knight
• Actor, Producer, Director Robert De Niro
• Grammy Award-winning musician Wynton Marsalis
• Advocate and philanthropist Carolyn “Cookie” Mason

Rev. Sharpton and NAN’s advocacy was feted by New York’s top leaders including Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Vice President Kamala Harris, who earlier this year marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge alongside Rev. Sharpton, delivered a special video message to commemorate Rev. Sharpton’s birthday. That followed remarks by Assistant to the President, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of Public Engagement Steven Benjamin, who read a letter from President Biden to Rev. Sharpton.

The Triumph Awards also served as an activation for NAN’s ongoing, non-partisan Get Out the Vote effort ahead of the 2024 elections. Just days earlier, Rev. Sharpton led a bus tour from the NAN House of Justice in Harlem to Philadelphia with more than five dozen people – including Korey Wise and New York City Council Member Yusef Salaam, both of the Exonerated 5. While there, they spoke to voters on the importance of turning out on November 5th as well of the perils of not showing up.

About National Action Network (NAN)
National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency, and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality, or gender.