Howard Celebrates the Life of Civil Rights Champion Lawrence Guyot - Office of the President

November 27, 2012

Howard University Community:

Today, we celebrate the life of a civil rights champion, LeDroit Park community leader and friend of Howard Mr. Lawrence Guyot, who passed away last week at age 73.

Mr. Guyot was an inspirational and vital figure in the Civil Rights Movement and a visionary in the political arena. He worked tirelessly to ensure justice and equality for all throughout his life. Mr. Guyot began his activism at Tougaloo College working with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. He later became the director of the 1964 Freedom Summer Project and worked fearlessly to register blacks to vote at a time when opposition was dangerous. He was beaten, jailed and bruised but never broken.

Lawrence Guyot

Guyot, an unsung hero, is credited for inspiring many of the leaders we celebrate today. His work as chair of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and activism for all disenfranchised Americans directly impacted the passing of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965.

After graduating from Rutgers School of Law in 1971, Guyot moved to the District of Columbia and became active in politics in the nation’s capital. In 1978 Guyot was pivotal in the election of Mayor Marion Barry and worked for the District government for many years.

Mr. Guyot, a loyal supporter of Howard University,was key supporter of the LeDroit Park Initiative, a partnership between Howard University, the Fannie Mae Foundation and community leaders to restore and construct new homes in the historic neighborhood adjacent to campus. Most recently, Mr. Guyot backed the campus master plan approved earlier this year by the DC Zoning Commission for 15 years.

Mr. Guyot, a LeDroit Park resident and elected ANC commissioner for many years, labored and advocated for the neighborhood and its residents. Many of the improvements in facilities and relations are due in a large part to our beloved neighbor.

The countless sacrifices and contributions that Mr. Lawrence Guyot made in his lifetime will forever resonate among the Howard University community, the District of Columbia and the nation. He was a true friend of Howard University and a champion of the community that we will never forget. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends and promise to continue in his legacy of passion and equality.

Sincerely,

Sidney A. Ribeau
President