AFT President Randi Weingarten on the Death of Dr. Hazel N. Dukes

WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement:

"Dr. Hazel N. Dukes was a fearless force for justice, a civil rights warrior, and a steadfast advocate for education and economic equity. From her early days in Montgomery, Ala., fighting against segregation as a member of the NAACP Youth Council to her rise as national president of the NAACP, she never wavered in her pursuit of equality. She confronted power head-on, demanding school integration, voting rights and fair wages for workers. In New York, she fought for public school funding and higher education access, ensuring Black and brown communities were not left behind. Her commitment to economic justice extended beyond rhetoric—she held corporations and institutions accountable, pushing for policies that created pathways for working families to thrive.

“Dr. Dukes understood the importance of educators and labor unions as people and as a means to opportunity for all, particularly for our children, and those who have confronted society’s challenges. She always had my back, and my members’ backs. She stood with members of the United Federation of Teachers and the AFT in the fight for strong public schools, better wages and dignity for all workers. She knew that labor rights and civil rights were inseparable and that the fight for justice did not end in the streets—it extended into classrooms, boardrooms and the halls of power. Her belief in collective action and her ability to uplift others shaped generations of leaders. The AFT is forever grateful for her unwavering leadership, her resilience and her relentless demand for justice. We will honor her legacy by continuing the fight for a fairer, more just society. Rest in power, Mama Dukes. Your memory is a blessing.”