National Association of Black Journalists Co-Chair Steps Down After Trump Announces Q&A at Convention

AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

The co-chair of this year’s National Association of Black Journalists convention has stepped down following the news that former President Donald Trump will attend.

In a statement published Monday, the NABJ announced that Trump would participate in a Q&A at the convention Wednesday in Chicago. The session, the statement reads, will “concentrate on the most pressing issues facing the Black community.” It will be moderated by ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott , Fox News host Harris Faulkner , and Semafor reporter Kadia Goba .

The response to Trump’s participation has been mixed, with some criticizing the convention for giving him a platform and other praising for the convention for its willingness to confront him on a variety of issues.

In her own statement announcing her withdrawal from the convention, co-chair Karen Attiah said she was not involved in the decision to include Trump.

“I have decided to step down as co-chair from this year’s #NABJ24 convention in Chicago,” Attiah wrote in a tweet. “To the journalists interviewing Trump, I wish them the best of luck. For everyone else, I’m looking forward to meeting and reconnecting with all of you in the Windy City.

“While my decision was influenced by a variety of factors, I was not involved or consulted with in any way with the decision to platform Trump in such a format.”

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