The National Black Justice Collective Honors the Life of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee
Statement from Dr. David J. Johns, CEO and executive director of the National Black Justice Collective (NBJC), a leading civil rights organization, on the passing of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee:
“When Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee said she was an advocate and fighter for ALL Black people, she meant it and backed it up with her actions.
“When the city of Houston experienced multiple murders of Black transgender women, she didn’t leave it to the local government to address the issue alone – she filed legislation in Congress to tackle the epidemic. She was an original sponsor of the Equality Act – leading on LGBTQ+ issues before it was popular or more accepted in Black and progressive communities. She blazed trails, never afraid to go where others would not.
“When politicians were voting on whether same-gender loving people could be married – she voted present, refusing to tow the party line. She regularly introduced legislation to combat hate crimes and made sure to include protections for our community. The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and the passage of the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act would not have happened without her vote and her commitment to amplifying her Christian values as the leading reason for her support.
“When Britney Griner was wrongfully detained in Russia, Rep. Jackson Lee was among the first, if not the very first, member of Congress to join us in advocating for the U.S. government to use all of our resources to bring her home. She then galvanized others in Congress to join the movement.
“To be clear, this list is illustrative, not exhaustive.
“Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s leadership, passion, poise, and iconic hairstyle will be missed.
“As a CBCF Fellow and a committed race warrior, I will work to honor her legacy by ensuring that NBJC continues to advocate for the most marginalized and remains bold, authentic, and unapologetic in our radically inclusive and intersectional approach to the work.
“Thank you for your service, your leadership, and your legacy.”
Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter, esteemed UCLA professor and fmr. President of the Association of Black Sociologists, as well as author of Radical Reparations: Healing the Soul of a Nation, added:
“The loss of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is a significant blow to the hearts of all Americans, especially across Black communities. May her ascension move further to the forefront her wisdom that we have the potential to live in a nation where reparations, equity, and truth are the baseline, not a battle line.”