Julian Bond has died

[Triana]

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of legendary civil rights activist Julian Bond, SPLC's first president. He was 75 years old and died last evening, August 15, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

From his days as the co-founder and communications director of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the 1960s to his chairmanship of the NAACP in the 21st century, Julian was a visionary and tireless champion for civil and human rights. He served as the SPLC's president from our founding in 1971 to 1979, and later as a member of its board of directors.

With Julian's passing, the country has lost one of its most passionate and eloquent voices for the cause of justice. He advocated not just for African Americans, but for every group, indeed every person subject to oppression and discrimination, because he recognized the common humanity in us all.

Julian is survived by his wife, Pamela Horowitz, a former SPLC staff attorney, and his five children.

Not only has the country lost a hero today, we've lost a great friend.

LINK: https://www.splcenter.org/news/2015/08/16/weve-lost-champion

[jaysunb]

1. RIP my friend, and thank you for your service. n/t

[Luminous Animal]

2. Keep Your Eyes On The Prize.

Good bye to a human being that helped me a better human being.

[freshwest]

3. He never got much media attention, but it was always good to know he was there. RIP. n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

68. He got media attention in the 68 presidential campaign...

They wanted to nominate him, and he very humbly had to inform the public that he was too young to be eligible.

Julian Bond was on notice that year… and was always true to his great work.

Too, too soon, he has left us.

[pinboy3niner]

4. R.I.P.

[Catherine Vincent]

5. Rest in peace, sir.

[yuiyoshida]

6. ...

[Hoyt]

7. Very sorry to hear that. He fought bravely against racists in Georgia and elsewhere.

[brer cat]

38. And against the Vietnam War,

for gay rights, against Keystone XL Pipeline. He never gave up the good fight.

[Hekate]

8. How sad. Condolences to his family. RIP, sir, and thank you for your service.

[JI7]

9. sad, 75 is early age to pass these days

[TM99]

10. My parents knew Mr. Bond, and I got to meet him a few times.

What a truly wonderful man. I am sad to hear of his passing. We have indeed lost a champion of civil rights for all Americans.

[irisblue]

11. .

[Spitfire of ATJ]

12. Sad news. We've lost another legend.

[doxyluv13]

13. My sister came home from the 1968 Democratic Convention...

….with a beaten in head (by the Chicago Police) and a huge crush on Julian Bond. We really believed for a few years that this brilliant, charming man could do what Obama actually did.

Could listen to him read the phone book, his voice was so great.

[emsimon33]

16. He was charming, passionate, and oh so good looking :-)

I can't believe that he was 75. He will always be that young, passionate activist in my mind.

[brer cat]

39. He aged beautifully.

Still one of the best looking at 75.

[malaise]

43. He wrote a hilarious two line poem

A very short poem -.
Look at that girl shake that thing
We can't all be Martin Luther King!

And yes he was soooooo handsome

[emsimon33]

62. So bright and such an eloquent speaker...he will be so missed

He made the world better just by being in it!

Thank you for sharing the poem which captures his sly humor.

[malaise]

63. I found it in a beautiful book edited by

Langston Hughes and Arna Bontemps - The Poetry of the Negro 1746-1970 - one of my treasured books.

And yes he was bright and funny - and handsome

[malaise]

70. Melissa Harris Perry just read the poem

she's in for Rachel tonight

[sabrina 1]

14. Very sad news. He was a great champion of Civil Rights!

“The humanity of all Americans is diminished when any group is denied rights granted to others.” Julian Bond



RIP A great loss. He once said in an interview where he was asked to predict what the country would be like 40 years from then, a few years ago, that he might not see it but the interviewer probably would. Then he said 'well my mother lived to be in her 'nineties', but then said 'I've also heard that it doesn't matter how long your mother lived'.

The world needs more Julian Bonds ~

[Initech]

15. RIP. The SPLC is an important organization that does great work.

[tblue]

17. Very very sorry to hear that.

Though I haven't heard anything about him for years, I never thought about him passing away. Love Julian Bond and always admired his strength and grace. He's one of my heroes from back in the day. And he was the unforgettable voice of "Eyes on the Prize." Very very sad to lose him. Rest in peace, beautiful Julian.

[brer cat]

41. He was still very active.

He was arrested just a couple of years ago for demonstrating against Keystone Pipeline. He chained himself to the WH fence.

https://s1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Ir8WD8F2KDx_aJtlIte9vg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zMDA7aWw9cGxhbmU7cT03NTt3PTQ1MA--/

[tblue]

56. OMG i remember that now!

Thank you for the reminder. Very sad to lose him, at this young age.

[Judi Lynn]

18. He has been an excellent, courageous, brilliant man. What a shame to lose his presence. n/t

[stevenleser]

19. He was truly a treasure that will be missed.

[NBachers]

20. Oh, jeez, this makes my heart sink.

Julian Bond always seemed to have an air of sophistication and capability about him.

[azurnoir]

21. RIP

[pamela]

22. Gosh, that's very sad.

[world wide wally]

23. I aways loved that guy. He was a leader

[MADem]

24. OH SHIT NO. My heart breaks.

I once thought Julian was going to be first. I wasn't the only one by a long shot.

He was a POWERHOUSE, and he could draw people to him like nobody's business. He was passionate, persuasive, suave as hell, compelling, good looking, and stylish as all get-out, too. A brilliant charmer who got shit done.

He got in a little trouble during the disco days with the nose candy. He was on track before then, and got back on track after. That kind of messed up his national ambitions--and that was a loss for us all.

What a mighty good man he was. We HAVE lost a champion....


Sartorial to the end:

[murielm99]

25. The first time I heard of him was when

the Georgia House of Representatives refused to seat him and a few other black legislators who had just been elected. It was over their opposition to the war in Vietnam. The Supreme Court had to rule before they were seated.

SPLC got my attention because he was its first president.

I have always admired him. RIP.

[still_one]

26. He was a hero alright, and did so much for the civil rights movement

[oasis]

27. A fine gentleman.

Rest in peace Julian.

[DemocraticWing]

28. A man of principles and action.

I feel like we've all lost a friend that stuck up for us. He got it, in so, so many ways.

[oasis]

29. A fine gentleman.

Rest in peace Julian.

[Le Taz Hot]

30. 75 . . .

way too young.

[uponit7771]

35. +1

[pnwmom]

31. RIP, Julian Bond.

[sarge43]

32. Peaceful passage sir. Thank you.

[Are_grits_groceries]

33. RIP...

He fought the good fight.

[hlthe2b]

34. He always seemed so much younger than his years--so active and vibrant.

RIP, Mr. Bond. You contributed greatly and will be remembered.

[dembotoz]

36. He always looked maybe 40?

Rip
True class act

[Starry Messenger]

37. RIP Julian Bond

A great man and a leading light. Really sad news.

[malaise]

40. Deepest sympathy to his family and friends

One of the heroes of the civil rights movement.

[brer cat]

42. A hero, a truly great human

and always steadfast to his principles no matter the cost.

RIP Julian.

[demmiblue]

44. RIP, dear sir.

[Bluenorthwest]

45. We have lost a great man.

nt

[etherealtruth]

46. .

[Gothmog]

47. May he rest in peace

[femmocrat]

48. Very sad news...

[DinahMoeHum]

49. Rest In Power, Julian Bond.

Your voice lives on forever in the Eyes On The Prize documentary series.

[tabasco]

50. Bond did SO MUCH GOOD during his lifetime

I feel sorrow but also feel like celebrating such a good life lived.

[Solly Mack]

51. :(

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

52. How sad, JB was an American hero who showed great courage and leadership at a time when the country was in dire need of it...RIP and condolences to the family.

Last edited Sun Aug 16, 2015, 02:01 PM - Edit history (1)

[merrily]

53. Incredibly sad. I hope he passed gently.

[spanone]

54. k&R...

[Tom_Foolery]

55. RIP...

What a fine man our country has lost.

[lunatica]

57. He's a true American Hero

He devoted his life to the great cause of racial healing.

[Boomerproud]

58. So sad. We needed him more than ever now.

Always there fighting the good fight. Peaceful passage sir.

[Triana]

59. POTUS released a statement on Bond's passing....

Also, a few tweets from @repjohnlewis, including this one: https://twitter.com/AriBerman/status/632929584334413825

[WillyT]

60. Damn...

Peace...

[Eleanors38]

61. Class act. Saw him speak at an outdoor rally at U of F in the late 60s.

[deathrind]

64. He was an...

Exceptional human being. IMO right up there with the likes of Sérgio Vieira de Mello.

The world lost a person of character and integrity that is sans reproache.

RIP.

[romanic]

65. RIP. :(

[burrowowl]

66. RIP We have lost a Great Man

[840high]

67. A good man. RIP.

[rbrnmw]

69. Oh no so sad

RIP

[randys1]

71. A GREAT man