Local NAACP delegates missing Obama's speech

The group of six local NAACP delegates returned were returning to Gainesville Thursday evening and were going to miss the appearance of President Barack Obama at the national convention in New York City.

Obama was originally scheduled to speak to the group of 5,000 delegates on Thursday morning. However, the time was changed to 7 p.m., which was during the group's closing banquet.

The local delegation was scheduled to board a 7:30 p.m. flight back to Gainesville after spending the week in the birthplace of the NAACP to mark the centennial of the organization.

Evelyn Foxx, vice president of the Alachua County branch, said everyone was upset about missing Obama. Foxx was in attendance during the 2008 NAACP convention when then-U.S. Sen. Obama addressed the group on the campaign trail. She also attended the Democratic National Convention in Denver last summer and the inauguration in January.

"I am really disappointed for all of the youth members who will not get a chance to see him because the location will only hold 1,500 people. So that and the change in time leaves a lot of people out."

She said the number of people attending the convention - reportedly the largest group in recent years - made navigating to various venues difficult at best.

Loretta Pompey Jenkins, president of the Marion County Branch of the NAACP, headed to get in line at the security checkpoint for the evening session at 3 p.m. Thursday. Although not looking forward to the four-hour wait before the 7 p.m. start time, she said, "that's what happens when it's the president of the United States."

Foxx said the overall convention was exciting - "especially to feel the energy of the centennial." Conference speakers such as Andrew Young and Colin Powell stood out to her during the week.

Most poignant for Foxx was a statement made during a session on Wednesday that, "as we reflect on the 100 years of the NAACP, we have gained the freedom. Now we have to work on the equality for the next 100 years."