Thurgood Marshall College Fund mourns the loss of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
July 20 2024 - 2:38PM
The following is a statement from Thurgood Marshall College
Fund(TMCF) President & CEO Dr. Harry L. Williams:
Today we mourn the loss of a longtime supporter
of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), TMCF and
Black Americans in general, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson
Lee.
Her more than 30 years in Congress is a case study
in fighting for a historically marginalized community: sponsoring
legislation to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday; speaking
out against police brutality; pushing for the Sentencing Reform Act
of 2015; advocating for the George Floyd Law Enforcement Trust and
Integrity Act; and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.
She was a staple at our annual HBCU Fly-In in Washington, D.C.,
granting key leaders an opportunity to build relationships and have
their voices heard. Her fierce commitment to the students attending
Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University was
at the forefront of her advocacy.
We share in our grief with many, especially the
family of Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee and the people of the
18th Congressional District of Texas, as her life and work impacted
immeasurable people. Her legacy as a fierce advocate for social,
economic and racial justice lives on.
Dr. Clara Ross Stamps
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund
240-931-0696
clara.stamps@tmcf.org