Leah Levin, a British activist and international human rights advocate, passed away on May 25 in London at the age of 98. She died due to a heart attack while recovering from hip surgery. Levin's lifelong dedication to rights advocacy was influenced by her family's escape from Lithuania to South Africa in the late 1920s and her move to Britain in the 1960s. In London, she volunteered at the United Nations Association and worked alongside leaders in Britain's human rights community. Levin wrote the widely distributed U.N. book 'Human Rights: Questions and Answers' in 1981, which has been translated into 36 languages. She became the director of the legal reform group Justice in 1982 and played a key role in supporting the Birmingham Six, whose convictions for deadly bombings were overturned in 1991 after allegations of police misconduct and torture. Levin co-founded Redress in 1992, a London-based group that provided legal support to survivors of torture seeking reparations. She also created the Martin Ennals Award for human rights defenders in 1993. Levin's contributions to human rights were recognized with honors such as the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. [b563fde8]
Leah Levin, a British activist and international human rights advocate, passed away on May 25 in London at the age of 98. She died due to a heart attack while recovering from hip surgery. Levin's lifelong dedication to rights advocacy was influenced by her family's escape from Lithuania to South Africa in the late 1920s and her move to Britain in the 1960s. In London, she volunteered at the United Nations Association and worked alongside leaders in Britain's human rights community. Levin wrote the widely distributed U.N. book 'Human Rights: Questions and Answers' in 1981, which has been translated into 36 languages. She became the director of the legal reform group Justice in 1982 and played a key role in supporting the Birmingham Six, whose convictions for deadly bombings were overturned in 1991 after allegations of police misconduct and torture. Levin co-founded Redress in 1992, a London-based group that provided legal support to survivors of torture seeking reparations. She also created the Martin Ennals Award for human rights defenders in 1993. Levin's contributions to human rights were recognized with honors such as the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. [b563fde8]
Renauld White, a trailblazing model, died at the age of 80. Bill Cobbs, a legendary actor, died at the age of 90. Dr. Nathan Hare, a pioneering sociologist and psychologist, died at the age of 91. John Mitchell, a longtime member of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, died at the age of 57. Rev. James Lawson, a leading figure in the American Civil Rights Movement, died at the age of 95. Chet Walker, a former NBA all-star, died at the age of 84. Harry Roland, known as 'The World Trade Center Man,' died at the age of 70. Larry Allen, an NFL legend, died at the age of 52. Marian Robinson, the mother of former first lady Michelle Obama, died at the age of 86. Rev. William Lawson, an influential Houston pastor, died at the age of 95. Jimmy Johnson, a former NFL defensive back, died at the age of 86. Archie Cooley, a former player and coach for HBCU football programs, died at the age of 85. U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr., a Congressman from New Jersey, died at the age of 65. William Strickland, a civil rights activist, died at the age of 87. Mandisa, a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, died at the age of 47. Rico Wade, a famed Atlanta producer, died at the age of 52. Faith Ringgold, an award-winning author and artist, died at the age of 93. O.J. Simpson, the football legend and actor, died at the age of 76. Vontae Davis, a former NFL cornerback, died at the age of 35. Chance Perdomo, an actor known for his role in the show 'Gen V,' died at the age of 27. Louis Gossett Jr., an award-winning actor, died at the age of 87. Sarah-Ann Shaw, the first Black woman TV reporter in Boston, died at the age of 90. Jessica Pettway, a beauty and hair influencer, died at the age of 35. Gylan Kain, a founding member of The Last Poets, died at the age of 81. Dorie Ladner, a civil rights activist, died at the age of 81. Gap Band Live In Concert, a member of the R&B/funk group The Gap Band, died at the age of 60. Hydeia Broadbent, an AIDS activist, died at the age of 39. Robert Reid, a former NBA star, died at the age of 68. Iyaluua Ferguson, a teacher and community organizer, died at the age of 91. David Johnson, a San Francisco photographer, died at the age of 97. Michael 'Virgil' Jones, a former professional wrestler, died at the age of 61. Eric Mays, a councilman in Flint, Michigan, died at the age of 65. Herbert Wigwe, the CEO of Access Bank, died in a helicopter accident at the age of 58. Henry Fambrough, the last surviving original member of The Spinners, died at the age of 85. Clyde Taylor, a leading figure in Black studies, died at the age of 92. Michael Watford, a prominent figure in Black filmmaking, died at the age of 85. [8b38a430]