The Reverend "C.T.” Vivian was a giant in the Civil Rights Movement. He gave his life in service to others. He fought for the Religious Freedom of others and stood for justice and fairness.
We pay tribute to his spirit, to his life, and we wish him a rest that is well-deserved in the hands of our Lord.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and many friends. His voice and wisdom with be missed.
Rev. Cordy Tindell "C.T." Vivian passed away at his Atlanta home of natural causes Friday.
"He was the sweetest man," Kira Vivian said. "He was so loving. What a loving dad. He was the best father throughout my entire life."
Vivian participated in the Freedom Rides and worked alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. In November 2013, Dr. Vivian was honored for his vision and leadership in the fight for justice when he was awarded this Nation's highest civilian honor - The Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among his many leadership roles, he served on the board of the Center for Democratic Renewal and the National Voting Rights Museum.
He provided civil rights counsel to Presidents Johnson, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and Obama, and he lectured on racial justice and democracy throughout the world.
Dr. Vivian is best known for his work with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As National Director of Affiliates, and strategist for every Southern Christian Leadership Conference (S.C.L.C.) organization, he truly helped change the nation. In Birmingham, his work helped to enact the Civil Rights Bill and in Selma, the Voting Rights Bill. Vivian was deeply involved in other movements such as Nashville, TN; Danville, VA; St. Augustine, FL; and Chicago, IL. Dr. Vivian had won his first non-violent direct action movement in 1947 by integrating restaurants in Peoria, IL.
The summer following the Selma Movement, Dr. Vivian developed, organized and launched Vision, an educational program that assisted over 700 Alabama students to attend college on scholarship. Vision would later be known as Upward Bound. In 1970 Vivian authored the first book written by a member of King's staff entitled Black Power and the American Myth.
As spiritual leader, apostle of social justice, strategist of the civil rights movement ... For decades Reverend "C.T.” Vivian has been in the vanguard of the struggle for racial equality in America.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and many friends. His voice and wisdom with be missed.