As remembered by Bruce
Hartford
March 6, 2026
I did not have the privivlege of working with Bernard in the South back in the day. But I knew of him, and from what I knew, I greatly respected him. I remember that his unwavering dedication to the strict philosophical flavor of nonviolence (that I did not myself personally favor or follow) was so pronounced that movement veterans knicknamed Bernard "Little Gandhi").
I did work with Bernard in New York City in 1967 on the "Spring Mobilzation" which was the first mass march of more than 100,000 people against the Vietnam War. He and James Bevel (AKA "Bevels") were the co-directors. Both of them were brilliant speakers and apostles of nonviolence — but with very different styles and approaches. Bernard was an organizer. He did not put himself forward as a great messianic leader, but rather as a leader-by-example who brought people together to discover their own power and strength.
As remembered by Maria
Varela
March 6, 2026
Bernard recruited me to SNCC because he wanted SNCC to send someone to Selma who could staff a voter education project at St. Elizabeeth's Parish. . He figured because I was nominally Catholic I could keep Father Maurice Ouellette in the SNCC support fold. Which wasn't necessary because Father M's Parish were big movement supporters. So off I went in 1963 to put together a VEP project at St. Elizabeth's Parish will full support of the good Father....who really admired Bernard. RIP my brother.
As remembered by Zoharah
Simmons
March 6, 2026
OMG! This is devastating news! Back to back losses! Barnard will be sorely missed!
As remembered by Debbie Cohen
March 25, 2026
I had the pleasure of knowing Bernard when I attended college in Chicago in the 60's. We became friends. I babysat for him and his wife and they invited me over for meals. Bernard was hired by the American Friends Service Committee as the local organizer for the large Black community in Chicago's south side. He worked on projects including protesting racism in the schools, testing children in the local neighborhoods for lead poisoning and attending a city wide march, organized by Bernard, led by Martin Luther King when he visited Chicago.
Bernard was a charismatic, very smart, very devoted to his work, warm and supportive organizer and just a pleasure to hang out with. I am saddened by his death.
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