The 42nd chief executive of the United States of America, William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton, will lend his presence to provide Opening Session remarks to the delegates and other participants of this year’s historic annual convention of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

Former President Clinton will be the primary speaker at SCLC’s 50th Anniversary-Convention, being held in Atlanta, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, on Aug. 3-8, 2007, and the Convention’s Opening Session, on Monday, August 6th, at 9am.

“All roads are forming to come together as one for social justice and equality for all God’s children as we prepare to welcome President Clinton to our annual Convention,” states SCLC President/CEO Charles Steele, Jr.

Although a complete list of local and national participants will be announced and outlined at an upcoming news/press conference next week, former President Clinton, Senator Barack Obama (unconfirmed), Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (unconfirmed) and others will lead this year’s anniversary-Convention events, with the theme, “After 50 Years: Join Us in Living, Fulfilling and Perpetuating the Dream”. Anniversary-Convention events include a march/ribbon-cutting ceremony into SCLC’s new International Headquarters (320 Auburn Avenue, NE.), “50 Years Reflections: Conversation with Civil Rights Leaders,” a Healthcare Luncheon with (prospective) speaker Garth Graham, assistant secretary of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., the SCLC and SCLC/Women’s Awards Galas, and various youth, collegiate and other panels and forums.

This year’s 50th Anniversary-Convention honorary co-chairs are Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and former U.N. Ambassador/former SCLC Executive Director/former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young.

SCLC, founded in February, 1957 by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery and other clergy “to redeem the soul of America,” is a nonprofit and interfaith, social advocacy organization committed to nonviolence to achieve social, economic and political justice.