Black delegates at the Republican National Convention, saying past conventions were "excruciatingly boring," organized a hip-hop party Tuesday night.

Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY Published 6:32 p.m. CT July 20, 2016 Georgia delegate Dale Jackson (left) shares a warm greeting with event host Ashley D. Bell, founder and Republican co-chair of the 20/20 Leaders of America, at Mabel's BBQ at the group's July 19 Code RED party at the Republican National Convention.(Photo: Jarrad Henderson, USA TODAY)

CLEVELAND âÂ Black delegates at the Republican National Convention, sayingÂ previous GOPÂ conventions have been "excruciatingly boring," decided to take matters into their own hands and organized an old-school hip-hopÂ party to liven things up on Tuesday night.

They also used the event to draw attention to the need for criminal justice reform.

âThis is a party for a purpose,ââ said C.J. Jordan, deputy director of politicalÂ  and community affairs for the Republican National Convention. âWe want to bring life to criminal justice reform.ââ

Outside Mabelâs BBQÂ in downtown Cleveland, the party'sÂ organizers lined up to talk to reporters aboutÂ the need for bipartisan criminal justice reform. Republicans hope national convention reflects minority recruitment

Inside, party-goers â black, white, young and old â sipped cocktails andÂ jammed to a DJ.

The party was hosted by the 20/20 Leaders of America, a bipartisan group of activists, politicians and law enforcement officials, intent onÂ getting lawmakers to revamp the criminal justice system.Â The group is also planning a criminal justice panel at the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia next week.

âWeâve been trying to make this issue a priority,ââ said black Republican delegate Ashley Bell, ofÂ Georgia, one of the groupâs founders. âThereâs urgency in making sure America can turn the page from the current mass incarceration system.ââ

Bell said he hopes GOPÂ presidential nomineeÂ Donald Trump willÂ adopt aÂ comprehensive criminal justice reform plan thatÂ includes reducing what reform advocates callÂ the "school-to-prison pipeline" thatÂ disproportionately affectsÂ African Americans.

Congressional lawmakers, includingÂ Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., Â have been pushingÂ bipartisan criminal justice measures. Richmond has made reformÂ a priority.

âHeâs the last hold-out,"Â Bell said of Trump.

Black Republican groups also wereÂ planning related events at the convention, including a town hall Thursday on education, entrepreneurship and criminal justice issues.

Bell, who used to be aÂ Democrat, recalled a lack of of social eventsÂ for black Republicans at the partyâs 2012 convention in Tampa, so he decided, "Iâm just going to bring my own partyÂ to the next convention."

âThis is my effort at trying to give people of color something to do in Cleveland,"Â he said.

It worked. The event attracted young delegates, whites, blacks and even a few Democrats.

âItâs a younger crowd, which is critical for the (Republican) party,"Â said Greg Williams, an at-large delegate from Georgia, who is white. âYou wonât see people come in with walkers."

Williams said the music playedÂ at the party offered a sharp contrast to theÂ Neil Diamond songs played during the convention earlier in the day. A New Edition cut blasted in the background.

âThat shows the diversity of the Republican Party,"Â he said of the music and party.

Eugene Craig, a black Republican delegate from Maryland, called the party the premiere event âto display our black Republican talent."

Craig said heâs disappointed the GOP hasnât showcased âlegacy"Â black RepublicansÂ like Michael Steele, former chairman of the RepublicanÂ National Committee,Â Â or former OklahomaÂ Rep. J.C. Watts or up- and-coming black Republicans like Bell.

âThe (Republican) party has to put proper value on the folks that have been toiling the grapevine for a very long time,"Â he said.

Meanwhile, Craig and other partygoers said itâs important that people know black RepublicansÂ exist and are on a mission.
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