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REV. AL SHARPTON TO DELIVER EULOGY AT FUNERAL FOR LT. GOV. SHELIA OLIVER
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Will Memorialize Political Trailblazer and Remarkable Legacy of Public Service
NEWARK, NJ – Rev. Al Sharpton, President and Founder of the National Action Network (NAN), will deliver the eulogy for New Jersey Lt. Governor Shelia Oliver, at the request of her family, Saturday, August 12th at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. The first Black woman to serve as Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly as well as the first to hold statewide elected office in the Garden State, Lt. Governor Oliver’s career in public service spanned decades and took her from elementary and college classrooms to the pinnacle of New Jersey politics. She was only the second Black woman in U.S. history to lead a state legislative chamber. Lt. Governor Oliver’s sudden passing spurred an unsurprising outpouring of condolences from individuals across the political spectrum.
“Lt. Governor Oliver was a living testament to the importance of having Black women in positions of power to represent the needs and values of our community,” said Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of the National Action Network (NAN). “Indeed, through her work with Emerge America, Lt. Governor Oliver fought to ensure more women – and more Black women in particular – have the opportunity to serve in elected office. Not satisfied with her own success, she paved the way for a new generation as well. Lt. Governor Oliver was a friend to me and, speaking on behalf of Pastor Steffie Bartley and NAN, someone whom we all considered to be a dependable and powerful partner in the fight for justice and equality.”
**The funeral will be open to the press and public, but due to space limitations, the church will admit only one pool TV camera**
WHO:
Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of NAN
WHEN:
Saturday, August 12, 2023
10 a.m.
WHERE:
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart
89 Ridge Street
Newark, NJ 07104
About National Action Network (NAN)
National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency, and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality, or gender.
For more information go to www.nationalactionnetwork.net