WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Association of
Social Workers (NASW) mourns the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), a social
justice champion who advocated on behalf of many issues important to social
workers, including civil rights, quality health care for all, voting rights,
sensible gun laws and the humane treatment of migrant children and families.
Congressman Cummings, who served Maryland’s 7th
district since 1996, died on October 17 at age 68. His body will lie in state
at the U.S. Capitol on October 24th and his funeral will be held the
next day in his district, which includes a large part of Baltimore City, much
of Howard County and parts of Baltimore County.
NASW offers its heartfelt condolences to Congressman Cummings’
family, including his wife Maya Rockeymoore Cummings and three children. The
death of Congressman Cummings is a profound loss for his congressional
district, NASW and other organizations that promote equality and social
justice.
He was a steadfast ally in our push to make our nation a
better place for all people, no matter their gender, religious affiliation,
sexual identity or economic status.
Congressman Cummings was also stalwart national leader who
always prioritized the needs of the most vulnerable people in our society.
He stood by NASW and other organizations in our call
for laws to end the epidemic of gun violence in our nation. For Congressman
Cummings this issue was personal. His nephew died as a result of gun violence.
Congressman Cummings stood by NASW and other organizations in
our call for the Trump Administration to end the forced separation of migrant
children from their families and the deplorable, traumatizing conditions these
children continue to experience while in detention.
Congressman Cummings stood by NASW and other organizations in
our call for the end of a proliferation of insidious laws that make it more
difficult for our nation’s citizens to exercise their right to vote.
And Congressman Cummings stood by NASW and other
organizations in our push for the preservation and expansion of health care for
all, including people who are homeless.
Congressman Cummings is now at rest after a distinguished
career as a social justice warrior.
We hope our nation will honor his legacy by continuing to
work on the issues he supported and end the current atmosphere of divisiveness
in our nation that he decried.
NASW will miss this champion of civil rights and hope we all
honor his legacy by coming together to make our nation a better place for all.