William L. Clay Sr., Missouri’s first Black member of Congress and a fierce champion of civil rights and labor, died Wednesday at 94, according to NPR.
Representing St. Louis from 1969 to 2001, Clay was a powerful voice for racial and economic justice.
He played a central role in desegregating public spaces, led the historic Jefferson Bank protests and helped found the Congressional Black Caucus.
Known for his bluntness, he once said, “I represent those who are in need of representation.”
Clay sponsored nearly 300 bills, including key labor and education reforms.
When he retired in 2001, his son, William Lacy Clay Jr., succeeded him in Congress, continuing a legacy rooted in radical truth-telling and community power.
Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Clay Cane. Follow @claycane & @aurnonline for more.
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