The skanner., February 24, 2016, Page 17, Image 17

February 24, 2016 - Black History Edition The Skanner Page 9
Black History
By Freddie Allen
NNPA Senior Washington
Correspondent
WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Ju-
lian Bond, a founding member
and communications director
of Student Nonviolent Coordi-
nating Committee (SNCC) and
immediate past board chair-
man of the NAACP, was praised
following his August death for
his lifelong human rights con-
tributions by people ranging
from President Obama and his
former civil rights colleagues
to ordinary people who have
benefited from his courage
and advocacy.
Bond, co-founder of the
Southern Poverty Law Center
(SPLC), died Saturday night,
August 15, at the age of 75.
He served as the president
of the SPLC, a legal advocacy
organization that promotes
“
“With Julian’s passing, the
country has lost one of its most
passionate and eloquent voices
for the cause of justice,” SPLC
said in a statement announc-
ing Bond’s death.
“He advocated not just for
African Americans, but for
every group, indeed every
person subject to oppres-
sion
and
discrimination,
because he recognized the
common humanity in us all.”
The statement continued: “Not
only has the country lost a
hero today, we’ve lost a great
friend.”
President Obama said in a
statement, “Julian Bond was a
hero and, I’m privileged to say,
a friend. Justice and equality
was the mission that spanned
his life – from his leadership
of the Student Nonviolent Co-
ordinating Committee, to his
founding role with the South-
ROY LEWIS/WASHINGTON INFORMER
Julian Bond Praised for Unselfish Devotion to Human Rights
Julian Bond speaks during the “Vietnam: The Power of Protest” rally at the Martin
Luther King Memorial on May 2, 2015 in Southwest Washington, D.C.
benefited from his example,
his counsel, and his friendship
– and we offer our prayers and
sympathies to his wife, Pame-
la, and his children.”
Obama added, “Julian Bond
helped change this country for
He advocated not just for African Americans, but for ev-
ery group, indeed every person subject to oppression
and discrimination, because he recognized the common
humanity in us all
equality and tracks hate
groups, from 1971 to 1979 and
later on the board of directors,
according to a statement is-
sued by the group.
ern Poverty Law Center, to
his pioneering service in the
Georgia legislature and his
steady hand at the helm of the
NAACP. Michelle and I have
the better. And what better way
to be remembered than that.”
Denise Rolark Barnes, Chair-
person of the National News-
paper Publishers Association
(NNPA) and publisher of The
Washington Informer, said:
“”His presence and voice will
be sorely missed, but his words
remain true for the NNPA:
‘Good things don’t come to
those who wait. They come to
those who agitate!’”
NNPA President and CEO
Benjamin F. Chavis said, “On
behalf of the National News-
papers Publishers Association
(NNPA), we mourn the passing
of civil rights leader Julian
Bond. The enduring impact
of Bond’s legacy was his long-
term dedication to fight for
freedom, justice and equali-
ty. As an effective chairman
of the NAACP, cofounder of
the Student Nonviolent Coor-
dinating Committee (SNCC),
Georgia State Senator, college
professor and columnist for
the NNPA, Julian Bond was a
gallant warrior who cham-
pioned the interests of Black
America.”
Horace Julian Bond was born
Jan. 14, 1940, in Nashville,
Tenn. His father, Horace Mann
Bond, was a prominent edu-
cator, serving as president of
Fort Valley State University
in Georgia and the first Black
president of Lincoln Univer-
sity in Pennsylvania, his alma
mater.
During his time with SNCC,
Julian Bond protested against
segregation of public facilities
in Georgia and was arrested
during a sit-in at Atlanta’s City
Hall.
Later, as a member of the
Georgia House of Representa-
tives, he was a vocal critic of
the Vietnam War.
When the White members
of the House refused to seat
him because of his opposition
to the war, Bond took his case
to the United States Supreme
Court where he won a unani-
mous ruling in 1966, that said
the legislature had violated
the young lawmakers right
to freedom of speech and or-
dered the state officials to seat
him. Bond served in the Geor-
gia’s House for a decade and
went on to serve six terms in
the state senate.