People For the American Way statement on the unexpected death of Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones:

People For the American Way joins Ohio and the rest of the nation mourning the untimely death of Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Among her extraordinary record of courage and leadership, we will remember Rep. Tubbs Jones especially for her steadfast commitment to protecting all Americans’ right to vote. She was a courageous advocate for all Americans, especially the disenfranchised, as evidenced by her willingness to stand up for those whose votes had not been counted when problems surfaced after the 2004 presidential election.

Rep. Jones continued this advocacy through the development and introduction of comprehensive electoral reform legislation and daily advocacy on behalf of her constituents. True to her leadership on this issue, Rep. Tubbs Jones on Tuesday was preparing for an upcoming forum on election reform at Cleveland State University on Sept. 4.

The civil rights and voting rights community has lost a heroine in the fight for equal justice, but her legacy will and must continue. PFAW will honor Rep. Jones in continuing to fight for what she always stood for, equality under the law. We express our deepest condolences especially to her son Mervyn Leroy Jones, II, her family, friends, and colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and throughout Congress.

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