Bernard Lafayette, Jr. : Grass Roots Organizer
Bernard Lafayette, Jr. was born in Tampa, Florida and is a civil rights activist and organizer. He attended American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee. During his freshman year he became interested in the philosophy of nonviolence and how it could be used in exposing racial injustice. Lafayette and friends Diane Nash, James Bevel and John Lewis helped form the Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee or SNCC.
In 1962 Lafayette came to Selma as part of SNCCs effort to do grass roots organizing for the Voting Rights Movement. For the next two years, SNCC and the Dallas County Voters League registered 200 new voters. It was progress, but it was less than one percent of the more than 15,000 eligible black voters in Dallas County.
Lafayette’s grassroots organizing efforts and nonviolence teachings helped prepare the African-American citizens of rural Alabama to secure unrestricted access to the ballot box. He organized numerous marches and demonstrations to highlight the situation and bring attention to the injustice.
His connections to the people of Selma and Dallas County were critical in organizing the march to Montgomery. He also kept the focus on nonviolent responses when the marchers were confronted with violent opposition.
Today he continues his life mission of teaching nonviolence and advocating for equal rights. He has continued to be a voice for Dr. King’s vision of a better world.