Thursday, April 16, 2020 | news
Robert Garcia (Courtesy of Community Partners) LDF mourns the loss of our colleague Robert Garcia, a lifelong civil rights advocate and LDF staff attorney from 1992 to 1996. In 2000, he founded and led the Los Angeles nonprofit legal and policy organization The City Project, which fights for equal access to public resources and healthy, […]
Monday, May 20, 2024 | news
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is deeply saddened by the death of Reverend William “Bill” Lawson, the beloved civil rights leader. Rev. Lawson passed away at 95 years old on May 14, 2024 in Houston, Texas. LDF President and Director-Counsel Janai Nelson issued the following statement: “We mourn the loss of Reverend Bill Lawson, the […]
Friday, June 14, 2024 | news
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is deeply saddened by the death of Reverend James M. Lawson Jr., a pioneering civil rights leader who worked steadfastly to advance racial justice throughout his lifetime. Rev. Lawson Jr. passed away at 95 years old in Los Angeles, California. LDF President and Director-Counsel Janai Nelson issued the following statement: […]
Tuesday, April 25, 2023 | news
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is deeply saddened by the death of Harry Belafonte, a legendary social activist, artist, and actor. Belafonte died at 96 years old on April 25, 2023 in his Manhattan, New York home. LDF President and Director-Counsel Janai S. Nelson issued the following statement: “We mourn the death of the civil […]
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 | news
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is deeply saddened by the death of Randall Robinson, a renowned and trailblazing civil rights advocate who was also a law professor and bestselling author. Robinson died at 81-years old on March 24, in St. Kitts, the Caribbean Island where he lived for the last 20 years of his life. […]
Sunday, December 29, 2024 | news
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) mourns the loss of President Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States. A lifelong champion of human rights and powerful proponent of racial justice in America, President Carter broke new ground during his political career and presidency to establish crucial progress towards equality and civil rights, including in […]
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 | news
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) mourns the loss of Lee Porter, a fearless leader in the New Jersey community who worked tirelessly to ensure pathways to equitable and fair housing for all. Since 1971, Porter served as the executive director of the Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey, where she fought housing discrimination and […]
Saturday, March 30, 2024 | news
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is deeply saddened by the death of Louis Gossett Jr., a trailblazing actor and benefactor of human and civil rights. Gossett Jr. died at 87 years old on March 29, 2024 in Santa Monica, California. LDF President and Director-Counsel Janai Nelson issued the following statement: “We mourn the passing of […]
Monday, November 4, 2024 | news
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is deeply saddened by the death of Quincy Jones, a legendary music icon and humanitarian who served on LDF’s Board of Directors for more than three decades. A courageous proponent of racial justice, Mr. Jones played a significant role in advancing several of LDF’s initiatives during his tenure while working in […]
Tuesday, September 4, 2018 | news
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) mourns the passing of Jay Topkis, a former member of LDF’s Board of Directors who advised LDF on more than 21 cases between 1967 and 1988. A generous LDF donor, Topkis was a longtime partner at the firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. […]
