The world is mourning one of the greatest civil rights icons, Rev. James Lawson Jr. has died at the age of 95. Known for his teachings in nonviolent protests, Lawson passed away Sunday in Los Angeles.
He was a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement. He was imprisoned in 1951 for refusing military service but later studied nonviolence in India. Returning to the U.S., he educated activists, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Lawson played a key role in the lunch counter sit-ins and was expelled from Vanderbilt University for his activism. He was instrumental in founding the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and led workshops that influenced major civil rights campaigns, including the Freedom Rides. Martin Luther King Jr. praised Lawson in his speeches for his relentless fight for justice.
Lawson continued to work with civil rights groups, served as a pastor in Los Angeles from 1974 to 1999, and taught at UCLA.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
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