Clarence B. Jones, a civil rights lawyer and longtime adviser to Martin Luther King Jr., has died at age 95. Multiple outlets report that Jones helped draft and shape parts of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and was a trusted confidante during the civil rights movement. Several accounts also describe him as involved in organizing major demonstrations, including the March on Washington.
Jones died on May 22, according to statements attributed to his family. He passed away peacefully in Cupertino, California, where he was living in a senior community, with family members present, outlets say. Coverage also notes Jones’s professional roles beyond his civil-rights work, describing him as an attorney and academic.
The reporting is consistent in crediting Jones with contributions to key moments of King’s public message, while emphasizing his legal and advisory work during the movement and the circumstances and location of his death.
