BALTIMORE — U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today issued the following statement on the death of Frederick County civil rights leader Lord Nickens:

“The death of Lord Nickens marks the end of an era in which civil rights leaders experienced the indignities of laws that prevented access to opportunity and legalized injustice. He fought for the right of African Americans to pursue the American Dream and helped ensure equality for all Americans.  As president of Frederick NAACP, Lord Nickens was an inspiration for all who knew him; his advocacy on behalf of the African-American community helped to change our nation.”