It is the black-tie event for prominent African Americans, and this year the parents of Michael Brown Jr., the unarmed black teenager killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, are scheduled to attend the closing gala of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual conference in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Rep., Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, has invited Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown Sr. to be guests at his table for the Saturday night gala. Clay says he invited Brown’s parents to the gala to give them a chance to sit down, relax and reflect on their several days in Washington.
While in Washington, McSpadden and Brown met with black lawmakers at the conference. On Thursday, they appeared, along with the Rev. Al Sharpton, at the National Press Club, to urge justice in the case.
The four-day conference brings together thousands of well-known black leaders from politics, business, academia and community organizations along with everyday Americans who make the trip to Washington to be part of the annual event.
Along with numerous town halls, the annual conference, now in its 44th year, conducts debates and panel discussions on a wide range of topics. Brown's shooting and the unrest that has followed have been mentioned frequently as examples of the need to advance federal and state legislation banning racial profiling.
President Barack Obama is also scheduled to attend Saturday night’s invitation-only event.
