Bernard LaFayette Jr., Civil Rights Leader Who Helped Establish Connecticut Center for Nonviolence, Dies at 85

The Connecticut Center for Nonviolence (CTCN) is mourning the passing of Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr., renowned civil rights leader, educator, minister and one of the foremost authorities on Kingian Nonviolence. Dr. LaFayette, Honorary Board Chair of CTCN, died on March 5, 2026, at the age of 85 in Tuskegee, Alabama.

Dr. LaFayette was a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement. As a young organizer, he helped lead the Freedom Rides, played a central role in the Nashville student movement, was co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and initiated the historic Voting Rights campaign in Selma, Alabama—laying critical groundwork for the Selma to Montgomery marches and the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

At Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s request, LaFayette served as national coordinator of the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign. He was in Memphis on the day of Dr. King’s assassination and carried forward King’s final directive to him, to institutionalize and internationalize nonviolence—work that became the defining mission of his life.

In Connecticut, Dr. LaFayette’s legacy lives on through the Connecticut Center for Nonviolence. He asked his local senior trainer and artist-activist, Victoria Christgau to establish the Center and worked closely with her and the founding board to develop Kingian Nonviolence training projects for communities across the state.

Since its founding in 2007, CTCN has trained and certified law enforcement officers, educators, youth leaders, and community members in Kingian Nonviolence, equipping them with practical tools to transform conflict, build trust, and strengthen communities throughout Connecticut and beyond.

Dr. LaFayette has made numerous visits to CT since then, leading training and certifying trainers and giving public lectures at various venues and universities such as the University of Hartford, Quinnipiac, SCSU and CCSU.  Just over a year ago, LaFayette spoke at the Hartford Public Library in honor of Black History Month.  His keynote talk, “Nonviolence in a Time of Civil Unrest,” addressed current events across the country. 

Over the past seventeen years, CTCN has introduced more than 10,000 citizens and civic leaders to Kingian Nonviolence, tailoring its programs to suit various groups. The center focuses on building sustainable partnerships to ensure the ongoing growth of nonviolent practices.

“Dr. LaFayette’s vision is woven into the very fabric of the Connecticut Center for Nonviolence,” said Christgau, Executive Director. “His mentorship and teachings shaped the trainings we offer. His courageous leadership, exemplified that nonviolence is not simply strategic, but it’s a way of life.”

“The Connecticut Center for Nonviolence stands as one living embodiment of Dr. LaFayette’s promise to Dr. King,” Christgau added. “We invite leaders and community members across Connecticut to honor his legacy by deepening our shared commitment to nonviolence in policy, practice, and everyday life.”

In 2023, The State of Connecticut Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission presented Dr. LaFayette and Victoria Christgau with awards. The Connecticut Center for Nonviolence will host a public memorial service in Connecticut on a date to be announced, providing an opportunity for civic leaders, educators, and community members to celebrate Dr. LaFayette’s life and renew their commitment to the principles he championed.

His obituary notes that “Dr. LaFayette was among the courageous activists who participated in the Freedom Rides, challenging segregated interstate travel across the American South despite violent opposition. His work expanded throughout the region as he organized voter registration campaigns and nonviolent movements in communities where the fight for equality was often met with hostility.”

It points out that his lifelong “steadfast dedication to nonviolence helped shape the moral direction of a nation still striving toward equality.” It concludes by reaffirming that “Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr.’s life stands as a powerful testament to the enduring force of nonviolent love and the possibility of transforming society through faith, courage, and disciplined action.”

 The Connecticut Center for Nonviolence has encouraged local, state, and federal leaders in Connecticut to recognize Dr. LaFayette’s extraordinary contributions. Funeral services will be held Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 2PM at the Tuskegee University Chapel, in Tuskegee, Alabama. It will be live streamed by the Peoples Funeral Home in Tuskegee.