CRP Mourns Loss of Civil Rights Attorney John Payton

March 23, 2012

The Civil Rights project mourns the loss of John Payton, the superb leader of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, a preeminent force in the battle for civil rights.  Payton, with whom we worked closely over the years, was a great civil rights lawyer — eloquent, learned, deeply thoughtful, a man of determination and very strong values.  He led many battles in a time of threats to civil rights and was deeply respected by those who had the privilege of  working with him. His leadership strengthened the battle for equality before the law and his loss is a loss for all who care about and advocate for racial justice.   We extend our deepest sympathy to his family and to all his colleagues at the NAACP LDF and within the civil rights community.

For more information on the indomitable spirit and dedicated legal work of John Payton, see this article in The National Law Journal