King Salim Khalfani, a veteran civil rights leader who served as executive director of the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP for more than 15 years, has died. He led the state organization from 1998 until 2014.
Khalfani joined the Virginia NAACP in 1990 as director of branch and field activities, according to the Richmond Free Press, and was elevated to executive director eight years later. During his tenure, he helped shape the group’s advocacy efforts across the Commonwealth, guiding it through pivotal debates over voting rights, criminal justice and civil liberties.
Khalfani was a graduate of Virginia Union University, Khalfani began his career at the Richmond Peace Education Center. He was also among the early staff advocates for Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, underscoring a lifelong commitment to justice reform.
