Rev. James Lawson Jr., Civil Rights Leader and Nonviolence Advocate, Dies at 95

Lawson's legacy includes mentoring key figures of the Civil Rights Movement and pioneering nonviolent protest strategies.

Lawson was a key architect of nonviolent protest during the Civil Rights Movement, mentoring leaders like John Lewis and Diane Nash.
He studied Gandhian principles in India and applied them to the American South, leading Nashville's successful desegregation efforts.
Lawson's teachings helped shape major civil rights campaigns, including the Freedom Rides and the Memphis sanitation workers strike.
Expelled from Vanderbilt University for his activism, he later returned as a distinguished professor and established an institute for nonviolent movements.
Lawson continued his activism into his 90s, influencing generations with his commitment to nonviolence and social justice.