Cohen Statement on the Passing of Nelson Mandela

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) released the following statement upon learning of the passing of civil and human rights leader His Excellency Nelson Mandela:

“As a fighter for both human and civil rights, no one was greater than Nelson Mandela,” said Congressman Cohen. “Much like Martin Luther King Jr., President Mandela had a dream for his people that fundamentally changed society for the better. And much like Abraham Lincoln, President Mandela understood the virtue of reconciliation and the value of making peace with one’s enemies for the betterment of their country. This understanding helped unify a divided people and heal the wounds of apartheid.”

“After hearing of his passing, I looked at the statue of President Mandela that sits on my Capitol Hill desk with great sadness, but with many fond memories of the humility, self-sacrifice, and enduring warmth shown by one of our generation’s most revered and respected statesmen. The loss that his passing represents to the world community can only be offset by his countless good deeds and the transformative example that he set for each of us.”