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December 7, 2012

New York Community Activist Jon Kest Dies at 57 
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The New York City community activist Jon Kest has died at the age of 57.
The head of the Brooklyn-based New York Communities for Change, Kest was
a longtime advocate for social justice, including his last campaign to
unionize car washers and other low-wage workers. Kest suffered a tragedy
just over a month ago when his daughter, Jessie, was killed by a falling
tree during Superstorm Sandy. Kest died this week after a bout with
cancer. In a statement, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman
said: "It's not an exaggeration to say that there have been few efforts
to empower poor and working people in New York State in the last 25
years that haven't borne his imprint. New York has lost a truly selfless
champion of social justice."

 

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