Former US Rep. Charles Rangel of New York dies at 94

Former U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, a civil rights activist and politician who spent over four decades in Congress, has died.

He was 94.

Passing details

Rangel’s death was announced by the City College of New York.

Charles Rangel’s life and career

The New York Democrat, who served from 1971 until 2017, was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and the first Black lawmaker to helm the House Ways and Means Committee.

He was also the last surviving member of the “Gang of Four,” the powerful coalition of Harlem lawmakers whose members also included former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, former New York Secretary of State Basil Paterson and former Manhattan Bureau President Percy Sutton.

Before politics

Rangel was born in Harlem on June 11, 1930.

He dropped out of high school in 1947 and enlisted in an all-Black battalion in the US Army’s 2nd Infantry Division. He was deployed to Korea where he served as a private first class in November 1950.

While wounded, Rangel helped rescue dozens of men behind enemy lines, actions that earned him a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with Valor.

Political career

After leaving the Army in 1952, Rangel used the GI Bill to go to college, obtaining a bachelor’s degree from New York University and a law degree from St. John’s University. Rangel briefly worked as an assistant US attorney for the Southern District of New York before he was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1966.

During this time, he also became involved in the Civil Rights Movement and marched in both Selma and Montgomery, Alabama. He sought higher office and was elected in 1970 to represent parts of upper Manhattan in Congress.

Throughout his career in Congress, Rangel was known for his efforts to fight drug trafficking and as a strong advocate voice against.

He became chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee after Democrats won control of Congress in 2006.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., lauded Rangel in a statement on Monday, calling him “a patriot, hero, statesman, leader, trailblazer, change agent and champion for justice,” who was “a friend and mentor” to him.