ADC Mourns the Loss of Sen. Ted Kennedy, Champion of Civil Rights

posted on: Aug 26, 2009

Today the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) mourns the loss of Senator Edward Kennedy who died early this morning after a battle with brain cancer at the age 77.

Senator Kennedy was a lifelong champion for civil rights and social justice during his public service. He played an important role on the Judiciary Committee to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Since his early days in the Senate, Senator Kennedy played a significant role in a plethora of legislation that helped the disadvantaged. Along with children’s health care and women’s rights, Senator Kennedy also intervened on behalf of Arab-Americans on a number of occasions. Currently, legislation authored by Senator Kennedy to curb Hate Crimes is before the Senate. He was also a staunch critic of post-9/11 surveillance policies which were thought to violate constitutional rights and liberties.

For his outstanding achievements, ADC this year selected him to receive the ADC Trailblazer Award. ADC President Mary Rose Oakar said “I had the distinguished honor of serving in the US Congress along with Senator Kennedy and I am very saddened by this loss. While I was in Congress I served with him on a bipartisan commission for 18 months on health care, an issue he cared about deeply, and should health reform legislation pass this year it will be in large part because of his tireless efforts. On a number of occasions, the Senator was helpful to the Arab-American community and always held ADC in high regard. Our country and the lives of all Americans are better off because of his lifelong public service.”