Trending Now - Clarence B. Jones, Key Figure in Mlk's Legacy, Passes at 95

WHO:

CNN - Clarence B. Jones was born on January 8, 1931, in Philadelphia.

Deadline - Clarence B. Jones, a key adviser to Martin Luther King Jr.

NBC News - Clarence B. Jones, a top civil rights activist and lawyer.

WHAT:

CNN - Jones published a book titled “Last of the Lions: An African American Journey in Memoir” in 2023.

CNN - Jones received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then-President Joe Biden in 2024.

Deadline - Clarence B. Jones helped organize the March on Washington and assisted King in drafting the “I Have a Dream” speech.

Deadline - Jones passed away at the age of 95.

NBC News - Jones helped write part of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.

WHERE:

Deadline - Jones died in Cupertino, California.

WHEN:

Deadline - Jones passed away on May 22.

WHY:

Deadline - His family stated that he “passed away peacefully, surrounded by family.”

HOW:

CNN - Jones co-founded the Institute for Nonviolence and Social Justice at the University of San Francisco in 2018.

CNN - Jones was a member of the legal team in the 1964 case New York Times v. Sullivan.

Deadline - Jones was an attorney and academic who played a significant role in the civil rights movement.

(UPDATED May 27, 2026 01:39 UTC)

Clarence B. Jones, who was born in Philadelphia on January 8, 1931, made significant contributions to civil rights and literature, publishing his memoir titled “Last of the Lions: An African American Journey in Memoir” in 2023. In recognition of his impact, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Biden in 2024. Additionally, Jones co-founded the Institute for Nonviolence and Social Justice at the University of San Francisco in 2018 and was a key member of the legal team in the landmark 1964 case New York Times v. Sullivan.

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(UPDATED May 26, 2026 23:24 UTC)

Clarence B. Jones, a prominent civil rights activist and lawyer, has passed away at the age of 95 in Cupertino, California. He was instrumental in organizing the March on Washington and contributed to drafting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. His family shared that he “passed away peacefully, surrounded by family,” marking the loss of a key figure in the fight for civil rights.