Washington, DC – DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement on the passing of Julian Bond: 

“I extend my condolences to the family and friends of Julian Bond upon learning of his passing. From his leadership of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and Southern Poverty Law Center to his service in the Georgia General Assembly and NAACP, his life was truly one of activism and public service.

“When I was a young graduate student, I had the privilege of joining him on the campaign trail during a statewide campaign in Georgia. Recently, I had the opportunity to see former Chairman Bond at the NAACP’s annual convention in Philadelphia. His energy and enthusiasm represented an embodiment of the theme of this year’s convention: pursuing liberty in the face of injustice. Though he will be missed, we can clearly see his inspiration and legacy in a new generation of young leaders who share his commitment to social justice and the courage to stand up and make their voices heard.”