WASHINGTON, DC— Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) released the following statement regarding the passing of Nelson Mandela:
“Nelson Mandela rose above the crushing constraints of apartheid to become a beacon of hope for a world bitterly divided by race. His passion for justice and social change combined with his commitment to the principles of nonviolence and perseverance made him a powerful messenger of freedom, peace, and equality where these ideals had been spurned for too long. The world has lost today one of the most influential and compelling figures in modern history. I join the nation of South Africa – and all those who were inspired by Mandela and the ideals he embodied – in mourning this great loss.”