Voting Rights Organizer Bernard LaFayette Passes Away at 80
The world has lost a true champion for civil rights and social justice with the passing of Bernard LaFayette Jr. at the age of 80. The renowned voting rights organizer and activist breathed his last on July 20, 2021, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come.
Born on July 29, 1940, in Tampa, Florida, LaFayette was raised in a deeply religious family and was instilled with a strong sense of social responsibility from a young age. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from American Baptist College and a Master’s degree in theology from Harvard University. But it was his involvement in the civil rights movement that truly shaped his life and made him a force to be reckoned with.
LaFayette’s journey as a civil rights activist began in 1960 when he joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and participated in the famous Nashville sit-ins. He was arrested multiple times for his peaceful protests against segregation and discrimination, but that did not deter him from fighting for what he believed in.
In 1961, LaFayette became one of the original Freedom Riders, a group of activists who challenged segregation on interstate buses in the South. He was brutally beaten and arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, but his determination to bring about change only grew stronger. He went on to become the national coordinator for the Freedom Rides and played a crucial role in the desegregation of interstate travel.
But it was his work in voter registration that truly made LaFayette a legend in the civil rights movement. He co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Voter Education Project and organized the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965, which led to the passing of the Voting Rights Act. He also worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was a key figure in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
LaFayette’s dedication to the cause of voting rights and social justice continued throughout his life. He served as the director of the Alabama Voter Registration Project and was a founding member of the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute in Selma, Alabama. He also founded the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island, where he taught for over 20 years.
His tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to nonviolent activism earned him numerous accolades and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. But for LaFayette, the true reward was seeing the impact of his work on the lives of people. He once said, “I’m not interested in being a hero. I’m interested in making a difference.”
LaFayette’s passing has left a void in the civil rights community, but his legacy will continue to live on through the countless lives he touched and the movements he inspired. He will be remembered as a fearless leader, a compassionate teacher, and a true advocate for equality and justice.
As we mourn the loss of this remarkable individual, let us also celebrate his life and honor his memory by carrying on his legacy. Let us continue to fight for the rights of all people, regardless of race, gender, or social status, and let us never forget the lessons of nonviolent activism that LaFayette taught us.
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” And Bernard LaFayette Jr. was one of the brave souls who helped bend that arc a little closer to justice. May his soul rest in peace.
