Civil and Human Rights Coalition Mourns Loss of Nelson Mandela

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:”Times New Roman”,”serif”;}

Washington, D.C. – Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement in remembrance of the work and life of South African President Nelson Mandela:

“The loss of Nelson Mandela is felt around the world and with a particular resonance for those of us in the American civil and human rights movement.

As African Americans had begun walking into the sunshine of human rights with the passage of civil rights legislation in the 1960’s, Black South Africans were losing their citizenship and their right to vote, to live where they choose, and to seek quality education and health care.

Against this backdrop, American civil and human rights advocates turned our attention to apartheid in South Africa. Nelson Mandela emerged as the cauldron for our fire and our greatest hope that we could all one day be free from oppression.  We poured our hearts, our hopes, and our ambitions for freedom into organizing, educating, fundraising, and pursuing international pressure in support of his people’s just cause.  Mandela’s struggle, along with that of his countrymen, became ours. When apartheid finally ended, we were reminded yet again that an organized coalition in pursuit of justice can achieve great things.

President Mandela often spoke about how the sit-ins, marches, and demonstrations of the United States inspired his work. Yet, in the cycle of learning and dialogue, it would be Mandela’s fearless advocacy for peace in the face of prison, death, and torture that would inspire us.”

Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.