Roy Kaufman, freedom fighter, dies at 80

http://peoplesworld.org/roy-kaufman-freedom-fighter-dies-at-8/

by: Rick Nagin August 23 2010

CLEVELAND -- "Freedom fighter," "Poor man's lawyer," and "One of the most beautiful people I ever met" --- these were the words of speakers as several hundred gathered to mourn the passing and celebrate the life of progressive attorney Roy Kaufman at the Good Shepherd Baptist Church here in Cleveland Aug. 19.

Kaufman was also an auto worker, a union official, a peace activist and a grassroots fighter against racism, corruption and police misconduct.

He died Aug. 12 at the age of 80 after several years of fighting Alzheimers.

Kaufman was active in the fight for justice for families of two young men, one Black and the other Puerto Rican, shot and killed by a notorious Cleveland police officer, who because of public outcry, was eventually forced off the street. He then led a ballot effort establishing the city's Police Civilian Review Board.

He also founded, and for many years led, the Cleveland Chapter of the American-Soviet Friendship Council, which organized numerous delegations of trade unionists, youth and clergy to visit the USSR, and hosted cultural and other delegations from the Soviet Union.

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