Lawyers' Committee Honors Legacy of Dr. Dorothy Height
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 2010
Stacie B. Royster
202-662-8317, office
202-445-6101, mobile
sroyster@lawyerscommittee.org
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 21, 2010 - As the nation mourns the loss of former National Council of Negro Women President Dorothy Height, an iconic international civil rights leader, who died April 20 at the age of 98, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Executive Director Barbara R. Arnwine, released the following statement:
"Dr. Height's legacy will live on by the sweeping vision she held for women and racial minorities worldwide. She was instrumental in advocating for landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1991 and she worked tirelessly for nearly half a century to promote justice and equality for all, especially women."
"As the nation marked yesterday's "Equal Pay Day" I'm reminded of one of my fondest memories of Dr. Height. During a 2009 White House reception following President Obama's historic signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law, she was presented with a photo taken with President John F. Kennedy signing the original Equal Pay Act into law in 1963. I noted that she was the only African American woman featured in the photo. As she reflected that she was the only person still alive from that photo, she was proud to have witnessed the election of President Barack Obama as the nation's first African American president and that his first legislative matter involved an issue on which she passionately worked."
"Mentored by Mary McLeod Bethune, Dr. Height in turn mentored countless others, challenging those who came after her to honor the accomplishments that previous generations worked and gave their lives for. She was a champion for peace and justice and served as a stellar role model to many worldwide."
We extend condolences to her family and our sister organization, the National Council of Negro Women. We wish them peace during this difficult time.
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (LCCRUL), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. The principal mission of the Lawyers' Committee is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice under law, particularly in the areas of fair housing and fair lending, community development, employment; voting; education and environmental justice. For more information about the LCCRUL, visit www.lawyerscommittee.org.
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