Story perspectives

Civil Rights Leader Bernard LaFayette Dies at 85

3/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

Bernard LaFayette, a civil rights leader, died at 85 from a heart attack.
He helped lead the Selma voting rights campaign, which contributed to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
LaFayette co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and helped desegregate Nashville lunch counters.
He faced danger, including an assassination attempt, while advocating nonviolence.
After Selma, he continued activism in Chicago and internationally, teaching nonviolence principles.

History

Historical Context

The Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 6, marked a crucial victory in the civil rights movement, prohibiting racial discrimination in voting. This legislation emerged from the Selma to Montgomery marches, where activists like Bernard LaFayette highlighted systemic racism. The Act significantly increased African American voter registration, transforming political dynamics in the South and inspiring global movements for equality.

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Story summary

Bernard LaFayette, a civil rights leader, died at 85 from a heart attack.
He helped lead the Selma voting rights campaign, which contributed to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
LaFayette co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and helped desegregate Nashville lunch counters.
He faced danger, including an assassination attempt, while advocating nonviolence.
After Selma, he continued activism in Chicago and internationally, teaching nonviolence principles.

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