Statement by Wade Henderson on the Legacy of Charles Mathias, Jr.

“The Leadership Conference joins the nation today in mourning the loss of former Maryland Senator Charles Mathias, Jr., one of the great senators of the 20th century, and we extend the deepest condolences to the Mathias family.

Sen. Mathias was a fierce and unwavering champion of civil and human rights who time and again chose to do what’s right instead of what was politically expedient. He pushed his colleagues in Congress to support strong anti-discrimination and fair housing laws, improvements in public education, laws to address poverty, and full voting representation for residents of our nation’s capital, often over the objections of his own party.

The Leadership Conference honored Sen. Mathias in with the civil and human rights community’s highest honor – the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award – for his strong leadership and commitment to protecting the civil and human rights of all Americans.  We honor that legacy again today.”