Greater Springfield, MA NAACP

The Swan family announces with profound sorrow the passing of our beloved patriarch, civil rights activist, retired Massachusetts State Representative, former President of the Greater Springfield NAACP, Honorary Paramount Chief of Bo & Kwila, Nimba County, Liberia, and lifelong freedom fighter, Benjamin Swan, who transitioned peacefully this morning at the age of 92.

Born on September 18, 1933, Benjamin Swan lived a life devoted to justice, public service, and the healing of humanity. A steadfast advocate for civil rights and human dignity, he marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement and spent decades fighting for equality, economic justice, voting rights, peace, and the uplift of marginalized communities.

Representative Swan believed that government exists to protect those at the dawn of life, our children, those in the shadows of life, the disabled and vulnerable, and those in the autumn of life, our elders. He believed leadership was not about power, but about service. He saw suffering and tried to heal it. He saw wrong and tried to right it. He saw war and tried to stop it. His life was rooted in compassion, courage, and an unwavering commitment to making the world more just, humane, and equitable for all people.

As a legislator, community leader, and former president of the Greater Springfield NAACP, he dedicated his voice and his influence to confronting injustice wherever he encountered it, leaving behind a legacy that shaped generations throughout Springfield, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and beyond.

At this time, the Swan family respectfully asks for privacy as we grieve this tremendous loss and begin preparing arrangements to celebrate his remarkable life and enduring legacy. Information regarding memorial services and final arrangements will be forthcoming.

In honor of Benjamin Swan’s lifelong values and convictions, the family asks that, in lieu of merely offering thoughts and prayers, people commit themselves to helping heal our world by standing for justice, serving the vulnerable, confronting hatred, and working toward peace and human dignity for all.

We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, support, and compassion extended to our family during this difficult time.

The legacy of Benjamin Swan will continue to live on in every life he touched, every barrier he helped break, and every struggle for justice he helped advance.

The Swan Family

Talbert Swan Hal Swan Virginia Rice Ben Twopointoh

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🚨 URGENT: Our democracy is under attack.

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais threatens Black voters and decades of progress. But we’re not backing down.

Join our emergency virtual briefing tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET to understand what’s at stake and how we fight back.

Featuring:
• Derrick Johnson, NAACP President & CEO
• Kristen Clarke, NAACP General Counsel

Register for tonight’s call. https://naacpheadquarters.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_idbHh8oHQ9qSfLJLVZcyqQ #/registration