NEW YORK - Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN), who last month stood by former Harvard President Claudine Gay as she came under relentless attacks from hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman, will add another layer to his support of her on Thursday.

Rev. Sharpton’s NAN will picket outside of Mr. Ackman’s Manhattan office over his pressure campaign that forced Dr. Gay’s resignation on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

“President Gay’s resignation is about more than a person or a single incident,” Mr. Sharpton said in a news release. “This is an attack on every Black woman in this country who’s put a crack in the glass ceiling. It’s an assault on the health, strength, and future of diversity, equity, and inclusion – at a time when corporate America is trying to back out of billions of dollars in commitments. Most of all, this was the result of Bill Ackman’s relentless campaign against President Gay, not because of her leadership or credentials but because he felt she was a DEI hire.

“The National Action Network will show Ackman that his attacks on DEI, President Gay, and Black Americans have consequences,” Rev. Sharpton added. “This Thursday, our team will picket outside of his office so New Yorkers, his investors, and corporate America can see Bill Ackman for who he is. If he doesn’t think Black Americans belong in the C-Suite, the Ivy League, or any other hallowed halls, we’ll make ourselves at home outside his office.”