NBCSL’S STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF CONGRESSMAN ALCEE HASTINGS

April 7, 2021

Washington DC ”The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) morns the passing of Florida United States Representative, Alcee Lamar Hastings, dean of the Florida Congressional Delegation.

A native Floridian, Congressman Hastings was born in Altamonte Springs, a largely Black suburb of Orlando. He attended Crooms Academy in Sanford, Fla., which was founded for African-American students, and graduated from Fisk University with majors in zoology and botany. He briefly attended Howard University and then transferred to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University where he participated in peaceful civil rights protests, while earning his law degree there in1963. His personal experience with the Jim Crow south encouraged Congressman Hastings to dedicate his law practice to civil rights. He filed lawsuits to desegregate Broward County schools and integrate restaurants that would only serve white Floridians. As a result of these noteworthy cases, then-Governor Reuben Askew appointed Mr. Hastings to the circuit court of Broward County. Two years later, President Carter named him to the federal bench.

Mr. Hastings was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1992, representing Florida’s 23rd district. A member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Hastings served on the House Rules Committee, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Hastings family, and we stand with Patricia, Alcee Hastings II, Chelsea, Leigh, and Maisha during this difficult time. Congressman Hastings made our world better and more tolerable place through his work as a lawyer, judge and congressman. said NBCSL President Billy Mitchell.

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