Rev. James Lawson, a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement known for training activists in nonviolent resistance techniques, passed away at the age of 95. A native of Ohio, Lawson studied the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi while working as a missionary in India and later connected with Martin Luther King, Jr. at Oberlin College. Moving south in 1958, Lawson became a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement, training notable activists such as John Lewis, Diane Nash, Bernard Lafayette, and Marion Barry.
Expelled from Vanderbilt University for his protest activities, Lawson played a crucial role in developing strategies for the Freedom Rides and organized during the 1968 sanitation workers strike in Memphis, where King was assassinated. Throughout his life, Lawson continued to fight for civil rights and was involved in the labor movement.
In his honor, Vanderbilt University established the James Lawson Institute for the Research and Study of Nonviolent Movements in 2022. Lawson leaves behind his wife, two sons, a brother, and three grandchildren. The university has confirmed his passing, and further updates on his death are expected.
Rev. James Lawson’s legacy in the Civil Rights Movement lives on through the activists he trained and the institutions he influenced. His dedication to nonviolent resistance and social justice continues to inspire generations of activists today.
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