NEW YORK (March 1, 2025) -- National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial released the following statement in response to the death of Hazel Dukes:
"The civil rights community has lost a matriarch and a tireless advocate for justice. The National Urban League and our affiliates around the country have long looked to Hazel Dukes for inspiration, guidance, and support.
"Dukes began her public service as President Lyndon Johnson’s appointment to the new Head Start program. She served as a member of the NAACP national board of directors and presided over the New York State Conference for more than 20 years. She was the second woman to hold the organization's presidency, from 1989 to 1992.
"She has been a friend and a partner for many decades, and for decades to come, future generations of activists and freedom fighters will stand on her shoulders.
"We mourn her loss and extend our deepest condolences to her family."
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