LDF Mourns the Loss of Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. Representative For Texas’ 18th Congressional District, Lawyer, And Staunch Civil Rights Advocate

Read a PDF of our statement here.

The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) mourns the loss of Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. Representative for Texas' 18^th Congressional district, lawyer, and staunch civil rights advocate. With grace, intellect, and power, Representative Jackson Lee influenced countless issues of critical importance to the Black community. Representative Jackson Lee passed away on July 19, 2024.

LDF President and Director-Counsel Janai Nelson issued the following statement:

"Sheila Jackson Lee's record tenure serving the 18th Congressional District of Texas is but one of countless testaments to her fierce dedication to advocating for Black communities. LDF and its leadership have had the distinct privilege and honor of enjoying a decades-long relationship with Representative Jackson Lee. She was a LDF scholarship recipient, a central figure in LDF's landmark case Houston Lawyers' Association v. Attorney General of Texas, and a champion of critical legislation to protect and advance the rights of Black people nationwide, including the CROWN Act and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

The loss of Representative Jackson Lee is a profound one for our U.S. Congress, the people of Texas, and for our nation. We send our deepest condolences to Representative Jackson Lee's vast community of family and friends. She has left an indelible mark in the fight for justice in this country and will be sorely missed.

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Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is the nation's first civil rights law organization. LDF's Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Please note that LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957-although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights.