May 19, 2006 Norton to Honor D.C. Social Activist Damu Smith

Norton to Honor D.C. Social Activist Damu Smith
Who Had National and International Impact
May 19, 2006

Washington, DC—On the eve of his memorial service, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a congressional resolution to honor Damu Smith, a friend, constituent, and popular local and national civil rights and environmental activist who recently passed away. Norton will speak at the service at Plymouth Congregational Church (5301 North Capitol Street, NE) at 5:00 tomorrow evening. The resolution is cosponsored by Congresswoman Donna Christian-Christensen (D-VI), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY).

Norton wrote in the resolution: “Damu Smith was a founder of the idea of environmental justice and played a central role in awakening African Americans and other people of color and lower income Americans to the special importance of environmental issues which often affect those groups disproportionately.”

Smith’s activism included lending his voice to the successful campaign for the federal Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, fighting against apartheid in South Africa, standing against the proliferation of nuclear weapons and promoting the cause of peace.