LDF deeply mourns the passing of iconic civil rights leader Julian Bond, a leading and tireless social activist, institution-builder, and advocate for racial justice and human rights. Mr. Bond’s profound impact on the struggle for equality and racial justice in America spans generations. As a co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Georgia state legislator, and captivating narrator of the PBS series “Eyes on the Prize”, Mr. Bond was an extraordinary figure in shaping, defining, representing, and advancing the Civil Rights Movement.
“Julian Bond inspired countless individuals and institutions through his outstanding and enduring leadership in civil rights,” said Sherrilyn Ifill, LDF’s President and Director-Counsel, “His legacy will most certainly continue to influence future generations because of the power of that leadership.”
Mr. Bond’s institution-building is just one example of his lasting impact on this country. LDF, which has been separate from the NAACP since 1957, also benefitted from a strong relationship with him. Most recently, LDF’s President and Director-Counsel Sherrilyn Ifill sat down for an intergenerational conversation with Mr. Bond on the ongoing civil rights struggle and the importance of youth to the civil rights movement past and present.
LDF will miss Mr. Bond greatly and extends its deepest condolences to his family.
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The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is not a part of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) although LDF was founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. Since 1957, LDF has been a completely separate organization. Please refer to us in all media attributions as the “NAACP Legal Defense Fund” or “LDF”.
