James Lawson was a civil rights leader born in 1928 who organized nonviolent protests against racial injustice in Nashville, Tennessee in the 1960s. He was expelled from Vanderbilt University for his organizing efforts. Consistent with his belief in nonviolence, Lawson refused the military draft and served 14 months in prison. Throughout his career, he spoke out against racism and military involvement, and continued protesting after retiring, showing his lifelong commitment to social justice issues.

1. James Lawson By Jawon Malone

2. James Lawson James Lawson may be the most important Civil Rights leader you’ve never heard. James Lawson was born in 1928 in Uniontown Pennsylvania. grew up in Massillon, OH. In 1947, his freshman year at Baldwin Wallace College in southern Ohio, he joined two organizations dedicated to nonviolence, the Congress of Racial Equality. To organize the freedom rides.

3. In the spring of 1960, all hell broke loose in Nashville, Tennessee. James Lawson, a young pastor and civil rights leader, was expelled from Vanderbilt University Divinity School for organizing lunch counter sit-ins and other nonviolent protests against racial injustice. All hell Breaks Loose

4. Consistent with those principles of nonviolence, Lawson declared himself a conscientious objector and refused to report for the draft in 1951. He served fourteen months in prison after refusing to take either a student or ministerial deferment Locked Away For Fourteen Mouths

5. 1974, Lawson moved to Los Angles to be the pastor of Holman Methodist Church. He hosted a weekly call-in show, "Lawson Live," where he discussed social and human rights issues affecting minority communities. He spoke out against racism, and challenged the cold war and U.S. military involvement throughout the world. Even after his retirement, Lawson was protesting with the Janitors for Justice in Los Angeles, and with gay and lesbian Methodists in Cleveland. His Ending