(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Civil rights activist and western Illinois native Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian died Friday morning in Atlanta at the age of 95.Vivian, who was from Macomb, Illinois, was a distinguished, author, organizer and civil rights icon during the 1960s. He graduated from Macomb High School in 1942 and went on to attend Western Illinois University, where he worked as the sports editor for the student newspaper, according to a press release from the university.
His career as an activist began in Peoria, where he participated in his first sit-in demonstrations, which successfully integrated Barton's Cafeteria in 1947.During his long career in the civil rights movement, Vivian served with Dr. Martin Luther King in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. He joined King's executive staff and served as the national director of affiliates for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. During his time in Chicago, he organized and directed the Coalition for United Community Action. The group of 61 organizations became Chicago's Black Front."There must always be the understanding of what Martin had in mind for this organization," Vivian said in a 2012 interview. "Nonviolent, direct action makes us successful. We learned how to solve social problems without violence. We cannot allow the nation or the world to ever forget that."He was the first one of King's staff to write a book on the Civil Rights Movement called "Black Power and the American Myth." In 2013, he was among 16 individuals recognized with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Vivian died the same day Georgia Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis, who was receiving hospice care at home pancreatic cancer.
The civil rights icon said last month that he cried when he watched the video of George Floyd's death.