Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) congratulated Civil Rights Attorney Fred Gray on his receipt of an honorary degree from Princeton University. Yesterday, Tuesday, May 24, Princeton awarded Gray an honorary degree during its 2022 commencement ceremony for his groundbreaking contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and lifelong dedication to advancing equality and justice for all.

“As a proud Princeton alumna and member of the Princeton Board of Trustees, I am so excited that Attorney FredGray received an honorary degree from my alma mater for his trailblazing work to help end segregation and advance a more equitable future for all Americans,” said Rep. Sewell. “Attorney Gray is a true drum major for justice, and I can think of no one more deserving of this distinct honor. Congratulations, Attorney Gray, and may your lifelong dedication to equality and justice inspire the next generation of change-makers!”

Last December, Rep. Sewell celebrated Attorney Gray’s 91st birthday on the House Floor and urged President Biden to award him the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. A native of Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, Gray successfully litigated a number of groundbreaking civil rights cases which led to the desegregation of public buses and the integration of the University of Alabama, Auburn University, and Alabama’s public schools, among many other distinguished accomplishments.

Photos and videos of the event are available here. Media are welcome to share these assets with credits to Princeton University. For more information regarding Princeton’s 2022 honorary degree recipients, click here or contact Maddy Pryor at mpryor@princeton.edu or 609-423-3512.