The Los Angeles City Council honored civil rights leader Rev. James Lawson on Tuesday, three days before his 95th birthday, by declaring September 22 as “Rev. James Lawson Jr. Day” annually in the city.
In a recent resolution, the council commemorated Lawson, and a celebration took place in Council Chambers during Tuesday’s meeting. Lawson was unable to attend.
Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez, along with colleagues Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Heather Hutt, led the presentation, which also included a special appearance by state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo.
“After the peak of the civil rights movement, Rev. Lawson actually came to the city of Los Angeles in 1974, and it was a fortunate coincidence that he came here because so much was happening a decade after his arrival,” said Soto-Martinez. “We had many immigrants coming to the county, many of whom were undocumented.”
The councilman highlighted Lawson’s role in the labor movement and his assistance in organizing immigrant workers.
Harris-Dawson, the council president pro tem, praised Lawson for choosing Los Angeles to live and engage in the city’s struggle and leadership in the civil rights movement.
Harris-Dawson recalled the last time he saw Lawson, when the 93-year-old came to City Hall to demand that the city “do better than we have done.”
Hutt emphasized the importance of honoring Lawson as a relentless advocate who mentored renowned leaders like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and worked closely with former Rep. John Lewis.
Durazo, who has known Lawson for 25 years and considers him a mentor and friend, acknowledged his contributions to the labor movement.
“Reverend Lawson was recruited by Dr. King to teach the power of nonviolence as the only way to eliminate segregation,” Durazo said. “He taught us about the power of non-violence. Together, we transformed the lives of housekeepers, dishwashers, and cooks, who had been invisible because they were women of color.”
She added, “His teachings remain relevant today as they have in the past.”
According to the council’s resolution, MLK described Lawson as the “architect of the civil rights movement.”
Lawson played a pivotal role in the historic 1960 Nashville sit-in at Woolworth’s lunch counter, the Freedom Rides in 1961, and numerous student sit-ins, marches, and protests throughout the 1960s.
“Rev. Lawson’s leadership throughout the decade was instrumental in the desegregation of the South, and his teaching on nonviolence practices and civil disobedience continue to inspire generations of civil rights leaders across the country,” the resolution states.
In 1974, Lawson moved to Los Angeles, where he served as pastor for the Holman United Methodist Church for 25 years. He worked with janitorial, hotel, and restaurant workers to develop nonviolent tactics and supported the organization of low-wage workers throughout the county.
Over the years, Lawson has spoken out against racism and violence, as well as advocated for immigration rights, equal rights for the LGBTQ community, community diversity, and solidarity.
Lawson taught “Nonviolence and Social Movements” at UCLA for over 20 years and established a strong relationship with Cal State Northridge through his involvement with the university’s Civil Discourse and Social Change Initiative.
In 2018, Lawson received the UCLA Medal, the university’s highest honor, and in 2019, he was inducted into the California Hall of Fame based on the governor’s nomination.
In 2021, the UCLA James Lawson Jr. Worker Justice Center was dedicated as the permanent home for the UCLA Labor Center across from MacArthur Park.
“Rev. James Lawson Jr. Day” will celebrate Lawson’s birthday and recognize his remarkable achievements in promoting the philosophy of nonviolence, upholding human dignity, and working towards a more just society, according to the resolution.
Hutt also proposed dedicating a section of Adams Boulevard from Crenshaw Boulevard to Arlington Avenue as “Reverend James Lawson Mile.” The motion will be considered at a future council meeting.
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