Statehood Greens Mourn Charlie Mason

The DC Statehood Green Party
http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org 

October 10, 2006

Contact:
Scott McLarty, DC Statehood Green Party Media
Coordinator, 202-518-5624, mclarty@greens.org 

Statehood Greens mourn Charlie Mason

. Hilda and Charlie Mason, longtime leaders for civil rights, social justice, and D.C. statehood, were original members of the DC Statehood Party 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Members of the DC Statehood Green Party mourned and paid tribute to Charles N. Mason, Jr., husband of former City Council member Hilda Howland M. Mason, after Mr. Mason passed away last week at 95. 

Mr. and Ms. Mason were original members of the DC Statehood Party, founded in 1970, which merged with the DC Green Party in 1999. 

"Charlie and Hilda Mason helped create the University of the District of Columbia's David A. Clarke School of Law, D.C.'s public law school, and defended UDC when it was under attack," said Gail Dixon, an original member of the Statehood Party and former elected member of the D.C. Board of Education. "Charlie Mason was a quiet force, but never a background figure. The District of Columbia owes the Masons a debt of gratitude for their leadership in the Civil Rights movement and their dedication to D.C. democracy, social justice, the education of our children, and the growth of UDC, the District's land grant university." 

Mr. Mason's legal career included a record of pro bono work for D.C. City Council. Mr. Mason obtained his law degree after he retired from federal service in 1968 at age 57, and used his degree to assist Ms. Mason legislatively and politically while she served on the D.C. Board of Education from 1971 to 1977 and on Council from 1977 until 1998. The Masons also assisted the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in their work for civil rights. 

"Hilda and Charlie Mason provided leadership when D.C. statehood supporters introduced a successful voters' initiative in 1980 calling for a constitutional convention to draw up a state constitution," said Anne Anderson, who joined the Statehood Party in 1971. "The constitution was adopted in May, 1982, but we're still waiting for Congress to grant D.C. statehood."  

"Charlie's quiet support and guidance provided critical ballast for a new party struggling to keep its eye on the prize of equal status for D.C. citizens through statehood," said Ms. Anderson. "We're proud to continue the work of the Masons -- the work that will be complete when we finally win real democracy for the people of the District of Columbia." 

Anne Heutte, who, along with her husband Fred, was one of the founding members of the DC Statehood Party, recalled that "Charlie had an amazing memory for details of legislation and procedure. He was a tremendous resource to the Party." 

A memorial service celebrating Mr. Mason's life will take place 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 18 at All Souls Church, 1500 Harvard Street, NW, in Washington, D.C. Donations in Mr. Mason's name can be made to All Souls Church or to the District of Columbia School of Law Foundation <http://www.dcslf.org>.