The National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL) is a legal association formed in 1968 with the goal of providing legal representation for Black Power militants. It currently advocates for the complete abolition of the American criminal justice system. Notable clients have included longtime Communist Party USA activist Angela Davis and radical militant Assata Shakur, who was convicted of murder and escaped from prison to Cuba and has been classified as a most wanted terrorist by the FBI. ^{1 2 3}

Founding and History

The National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL) was founded in 1968 in response to increased militancy among advocates of Black Power and Black liberation. In the organization’s own words, it “began to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with rifle-toting revolutionaries.” ⁴

One notable early client was Angela Davis, a radical activist who ran for Vice President for the Communist Party USA ⁵ who was implicated, though ultimately acquitted, when a militant used firearms Davis had purchased to start a shootout during the trial of three Black militants. ⁶

Another notable client was Assata Shakur, also known as Joanne Chesimard. In 1977 Shakur, who had been part of a terrorist group known as the Black Liberation Army, was found guilty of first-degree murder, assault, and armed robbery and sentenced to life in prison. In 1979 she escaped from prison and moved to Cuba, where the FBI believes she currently still resides. The FBI has listed Shakur as being a most wanted terrorist and has offered a reward of up to $1 million for information that leads to her capture. ^{7 8}

The NCBL characterizes both Davis and Shakur as being “committed freedom fighters”. ⁹

In light of the fading of Black militancy, the NCBL expanded its work to include defending affirmative action; international solidarity on behalf of Palestine, Northern Ireland, Cuba, and South Africa, among others; and the rights of indigenous peoples. ¹⁰

Financials

In 2019, the National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL) reported $33,539 in revenue, of which $21,650 was derived from contributions and grants, $4,674 was from program service revenue, and $7,215 was from membership dues. It reported $23,078 in expenses and ended the year with a surplus of $10,461 and net assets of $5,324. ¹¹

Programs

The National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL) divides its work into two portfolios: criminal justice and international affairs. ¹²

Criminal Justice

NCBL advocates for the complete abolition of the criminal justice system in the U.S., including the abolition of prisons and forms of incarceration, defunding police departments, and a cessation of all immigration enforcement and deportations. It similarly calls for the abolition of all laws that it claims target Black activists or criminalize Black liberation activism. Instead, the NCBL works to implement a system that would reallocate law enforcement resources to community development and the provision of sweeping welfare state that would provide housing, food, healthcare, and education. ¹³

International Affairs

NCBL advocates for various international causes. At the organization’s 2020 meeting, it addressed four specific issues: solidarity with Cuba, support for the Palestinian struggle, opposition to U.S. militarization in Africa, and opposition to U.S. territorial possessions, which the presenter characterized as being colonies. ¹⁴

Organization Philosophy

The National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL) is the self-proclaimed legal arm of the movement for Black liberation and embraces the militant and legal struggle against what it considers to be systemic oppression against Black people around the world, as well as all oppression anywhere. It identifies violent clients, some of whom have been convicted of murder and are on the FBI’s most-wanted terrorist list as being “committed freedom fighters.” ^{15 16}

Leadership

The president of the National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL) is Nana Gyamfi. Gyamfi is an attorney, a former professor of pan-African studies at California State University Los Angeles, and is the director of Black Alliance for Just Immigration. ¹⁷

1. “Ncbl History | National Conference of Black Lawyers.” NCBL. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.ncbl.org/about-01-history.
2. National Conference of Black Lawyers. “Ncbl Criminal Justice Section Vision Statement.” NCBL, December 13, 2020. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.ncbl.org/post/210107-ncbl-criminal-justice-section-vision-statement.
3. “Joanne Deborah Chesimard: Most Wanted Terrorist.” FBI. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wanted_terrorists/joanne-deborah-chesimard/download.pdf.
4. “Ncbl History | National Conference of Black Lawyers.” NCBL. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.ncbl.org/about-01-history.
5. Goodman, Walter. “Hall, at 74, Still Seeks Presidency.” New York Times. November 2, 1984. Accessed February 17, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/02/us/hall-at-74-still-seeks-presidency.html.
6.  “Ncbl History | National Conference of Black Lawyers.” NCBL. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.ncbl.org/about-01-history.
7. “Ncbl History | National Conference of Black Lawyers.” NCBL. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.ncbl.org/about-01-history.
8. “Joanne Deborah Chesimard: Most Wanted Terrorist.” FBI. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wanted_terrorists/joanne-deborah-chesimard/download.pdf.
9. “Ncbl History | National Conference of Black Lawyers.” NCBL. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.ncbl.org/about-01-history.
10. “Ncbl History | National Conference of Black Lawyers.” NCBL. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.ncbl.org/about-01-history.
11. National Conference of Black Lawyers, Return of an organization exempt from taxation ( Form 990) Part I, 2019.
12. “Ncbl – Our Work | National Conference of Black Lawyers.” NCBL. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.ncbl.org/our-work.
13. National Conference of Black Lawyers. “Ncbl Criminal Justice Section Vision Statement.” NCBL, December 13, 2020. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.ncbl.org/post/210107-ncbl-criminal-justice-section-vision-statement.
14. National Conference of Black Lawyers. “International Affairs Section.” NCBL, February 14, 2021. https://www.ncbl.org/post/201010-international-affairs-section.
15. “Ncbl History | National Conference of Black Lawyers.” NCBL. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.ncbl.org/about-01-history.
16. “Joanne Deborah Chesimard: Most Wanted Terrorist.” FBI. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wanted_terrorists/joanne-deborah-chesimard/download.pdf.
17. “Ncbl Board of Directors | National Conference of Black Lawyers.” NCBL. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.ncbl.org/about-06-bod.