WHEREAS, Mr. Bond began his journey as a civil rights
activist while as a student at Morehouse College, becoming one
of the founders and communications director for the Student Non-
Violent Coordinating Committee, a student-based organization
formed to address discrimination, social injustice and voter
registration through the use of nonviolent methods such as sit-
ins and public demonstrations, which was significant to the
1960s civil rights movement; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bond continued his work to advance civil rights
by successfully winning a seat as a member of the Georgia State
Legislature in 1965, however, as a result of his prior public
opposition to the Vietnam War, his fellow legislators voted to
have him removed; and
WHEREAS, That removal was deemed unconstitutional by a 9-0
decision of the United States Supreme Court and Mr. Bond went on
to serve for two decades in the Georgia State Legislature as a
State Representative and State Senator; and
WHEREAS, In 1968, Mr. Bond became the first African American
nominated as a candidate for Vice President, although he was not
able to run because of the constitutional age requirement; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bond, along with Morris Dee, founded the
Southern Poverty Law Center where Mr. Bond served as the
president from 1971 to 1979 and remained on its board for the
rest of his life; and
WHEREAS, He served as Chairman of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 1998 to 2008
and used his passion for civil rights and equality to advance
the lives of others beyond just racial minorities; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bond's influence has manifested itself in many
forms, including, but not limited to, his literary contributions
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