By National Action Network
NEW YORK, NY (May 26, 2025) — Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of the National Action Network (NAN), issued the following statement on the passing of former Rep. Charles Rangel, who represented Upper Manhattan for 46 years in the House of Representatives and was a longtime staple in Harlem politics.
“My heart is broken by the passing of a lion of Harlem today. I met Charlie Rangel as a teenager and we formed a bond that lasted over 50 years. Charlie was a true activist — we’ve marched together, been arrested together and painted crack houses together. After surviving the horrors of the Korean War, he made every day of his life count — whether it was coming home to get a law degree or becoming a fixture on the House of Representatives. Charlie made up the Big Four in Harlem — along with Percy Sutton, Basil Paterson, and David Dinkins — who fought for the community when the rest of the world seemed to be fighting against it. Black excellence in Harlem, in New York, and in the United States survived because of the work Charlie and his cohorts did to keep it alive. While his death, and that of Dr. Hazel N. Dukes earlier this year, marks the closure of that generation’s chapter, their legacy will be felt for lifetimes to come. It is on us now to pick up the torch Charlie Rangel carried for decades to fight for our communities, advance along the road of justice, and uplift ourselves.”
About National Action Network (NAN)
National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender.
For more information go to www.nationalactionnetwork.net.
