In a sad turn of events, the renowned civil rights leader, the Rev. James Lawson, has died at the age of 95. His passing was confirmed by his son, J. Morris Lawson III, who stated that Rev. Lawson breathed his last in Southern California on Sunday.

Rev. James Morris Lawson Jr., born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in 1928, grew up in a family of Methodist ministers. However, it was his mother, Philane, who instilled in him the power of nonviolent resistance. Lawson recalled a childhood incident where, after being called a racial slur, his mother urged him to find a better way than resorting to physical violence.

Lawson's commitment to nonviolence led him to join the Fellowship of Reconciliation, a pacifist group, during his time at Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. He even served time in prison for refusing to register for the military draft. However, it was during his tenure as a Methodist missionary in India in the 1950s that he studied the nonviolent philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, which aligned with his Christian faith.

Returning to the United States, Lawson crossed paths with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957, shortly after King's successful Montgomery bus boycott. The two formed a strong bond, with King urging Lawson to bring his expertise on nonviolent resistance to the South. Lawson accepted the call and transferred to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where he formulated groundbreaking strategies for desegregation campaigns, such as the Nashville Sit-Ins and the Birmingham Children's Crusade.

In his relentless pursuit of equality and justice, Lawson mentored countless civil rights leaders, including John Lewis, Diane Nash, and Bernard Lafayette. He was instrumental in the formation of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and played an active role in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Congress of Racial Equity (CORE).

Notably, Lawson, then a pastor in Memphis, played a significant role in organizing the sanitation workers' strike in 1968, advocating for the workers' rights and dignity. It was during this time that he convinced Martin Luther King Jr. to march alongside the striking workers, a decision that tragically led to King's assassination.

In the aftermath of King's untimely death, Lawson continued his tireless activism and advocacy, working for social justice causes including gay rights, workers' rights, and speaking out against war. Even in his later years, Lawson remained active, teaching nonviolent strategies to young activists and participating in various campaigns.

Rev. James Lawson's unwavering commitment to nonviolence and his instrumental role in the civil rights movement earned him respect and admiration from across the nation. His passing leaves a tremendous void in the fight for equality and justice, but his legacy will continue to inspire and guide future generations.

In recognition of his immense contributions, Vanderbilt University, the same institution that expelled him in 1960, recently established the James Lawson Institute for the Research and Study of Nonviolent Movements.

Rev. James Lawson's belief in the ultimate triumph of love and equality serves as a guiding light for those continuing the struggle for a more just and inclusive society. He once said, "Ultimately the hatreds, the violence, the fears, the greed, the will to dominate and control cannot prevail and will not prevail."