Rev. William Lawson, civil rights leader who worked with Martin Luther King Jr., dies at 95
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From the Associated Press
HOUSTON — The Rev. William “Bill” Lawson, a longtime pastor and civil rights leader who helped desegregate Houston and worked with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement, has died. He was 95.
Lawson’s longtime church, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in that Texas city, announced on its website that he had died on Tuesday.
“He has completed his time of service here on earth and is now enjoying eternal rest,” the church said in its announcement.
Lawson founded Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in 1962 and served as its pastor for 42 years before retiring in 2004. He was known as “Houston’s Pastor” and remained active in his church and the community after retirement.
He worked with King during the civil rights movement by setting up the local office of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the civil rights organization that was led by King.
Learn how Lawson hosted MLK when others wouldn’t.
Read about the struggle for racial justice.
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