City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today issued the following statement on the death and legacy of Dr. William Augustus Jones, Jr., pastor of the Bethany Baptist Church in Bedford-Stuyvesant:

"For almost half a century, the Rev. William Augustus Jones has been an impassioned voice of hope and inspiration not just in his neighborhood but across this country. From his earliest days at the Bethany Baptist Church , Rev. Jones actively worked to advance the civil rights movement, and cared deeply about economic empowerment and community development. His charisma and compassion will be remembered for years to come."

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