Celebrating Civil Rights Pioneer Julian Bond
August 21, 2015
AFGE President J. David Cox Sr., National Secretary-Treasurer Eugene Hudson Jr., and National Vice President for Women and Fair Practices Augusta Thomas issued the following joint statement regarding the passing of Julian Bond:
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of civil rights icon Julian Bond. Throughout his life of political and social activism, Julian led the fight against segregation and discrimination in the South and was an early champion of equality for LGBT people.
“Julian cofounded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in 1960 and the Southern Poverty Law Center in 1971 and later served as chairman of the NAACP. Following passage of the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act in 1965, Julian was one of 11 African Americans elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. He subsequently served for a combined 20 years in the Georgia House and Senate.
“Julian blazed a path for equality for all people, and he will be sorely missed.”
