APB Mourns the Loss of Speaker and Civil Rights Icon Julian Bond

18 Aug 2015

August 18, 2015 | American Program Bureau and I have not only lost a great speaker, but an APB family member. One of the true pillars on which our company was founded, Julian Bond played an integral part in helping us bring to the forefront the most important issues for over 50 years. He was an influential civil rights activist, human rights activist, and dear friend who will be deeply missed.

Julian was a catalyst for change during the Civil Rights Movement. Working alongside the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson and Dick Gregory, he played a pivotal role during tumultuous times. Julian was the first African American US Vice Presidential nominee, founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and former Chairman of the NAACP. On the cutting edge of social change and leadership, he delivered commanding speeches on a litany of topics such as freedom, civil rights, African Americans’ impact on music, national affairs, and justice.

From his civil rights and anti-war activism in the 1960s to his support for gay rights and equality right up until his passing, Julian Bond played a key role in many watershed moments in American history. An embodiment of courage, passion, and social change, he will forever be remembered as a titan of love over hate. We will always seek to represent those who follow in Julian’s footsteps; America, now more than ever, needs voices to continue the quest for social justice and equality.

Robert P. Walker
President & CEO