A key civil rights figure in Washington is stepping down after 20 years at the helm of one the nation’s oldest civil rights organizations.
Wade Henderson of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights said on Wednesday that he would retire as that organization’s chief at the end of next year.
“This announcement is just one step on a very long path in ensuring the long-term health, integrity and effectiveness of the Leadership Conference and its coalition of more than 200 civil rights groups,” Henderson stated. “There’s an unmistakable generational transition happening in the civil and human rights movement,” he added said, perhaps referring to newer groups, such as Black Lives Matter.
“The day-to-day work of civil rights advocacy is extremely important, but on its own, is not enough. Leaders also have the responsibility to cultivate, encourage and make paths for the next generation to lead and to thrive,” he said.
Henderson is a staple of the movement, having previously led the NAACP’s Washington bureau and working or the American Civil Liberties Union before that.
Henderson has been at the forefront of advocating for every major piece of civil rights’ legislation enacted or proposed over the last two decades. Although comprehensive immigration reform is unlikely to come to fruition before he turns over the gavel, he hopes to see Congress approve an update the Voting Rights Act and overhaul the criminal justice system before stepping down.
“You want to leave at the top of your game,” Henderson said. “The landscape of Washington has clearly changed, but the Leadership Conference has adapted and evolved, and some of its best work is taking place right now.”
Civil rights icon, Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., praised Henderson’s leadership.
“I regret to learn that Wade Henderson is announcing he is stepping down,” Lewis stated on Wednesday. “He’s been a reliable, dependable ally in the struggle for both civil and human rights. He has been a champion for an increase in the minimum wage, equal compensation for women, protecting the environment, and against voting discrimination. His commitment, dedication, and leadership will be missed, not just on Capitol Hill but around the nation.”
