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Alton H. Maddox Jr., a distinguished protection lawyer based mostly in New York, who gained notoriety by main high-profile, racially charged circumstances, has handed away, studies the New York Day by day Information. He was 77.
Isaiah Owens, a funeral director, confirmed that Maddox handed at a nursing residence within the Bronx however didn’t disclose a reason for dying. For the final a number of years, Maddox had suffered from dementia.
Born in Inkster, Michigan, Maddox grew up in Georgia. He later graduated from Howard College and obtained a legislation diploma at Boston School. When he returned to Georgia, he was overwhelmed and arrested by police over a parking dispute. This incident additional cemented his dedication to battle in opposition to racial injustice that was rampant in police departments.
After legislation college, he labored for Harlem Authorized Providers and went on to steer a juvenile justice undertaking for the Nationwide Convention of Black Attorneys. He started his legislation apply in 1981, the place he rapidly gained a popularity in New York for advocating for Black victims of police brutality. Utilizing the media to deploy accusatory rhetoric at New York’s legislation enforcement, he described himself as an “attorney-at-war.”
In 1986, Maddox served as counsel for Cedric Sandiford, who was one among three Black males who have been chased and attacked by a gaggle of white males in Howard Seaside in 1986. He additionally served as counsel to the household of Michael Griffith, who was fatally struck by a automotive in the course of the Howard Seaside assault. 9 individuals have been convicted of varied expenses in Griffith’s dying.
He represented Tawana Brawley, who had garnered nationwide consideration by alleging that she was kidnapped and raped over 4 days by a gaggle of white males together with former prosecutor Steven Pagones after she was discovered by her residence in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. In 1988, a grand jury dominated that Brawley fabricated your entire story.
Though Maddox dropped out of the general public eye, his unwavering dedication to battle for the liberty and rights of Black individuals left an simple influence on town of New York and past.
Mayor Eric Adams paid tribute to Maddox in a press release. “He was a authorized genius who used his authorized data as a defend, and swiped to battle on behalf of marginalized individuals of shade,” his assertion learn.
Maddox is survived by his son Charles.
We at EBONY prolong our prayers and deepest condolences to the household and mates of Alton H. Maddox Jr.
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