“Benjamin L. Hooks was a leader in the civil rights movement who spent his life fighting for justice and equality.  The NAACP first established its national office in New York City in 1910.  Benjamin Hooks’s work as President built it into the civil rights and social justice powerhouse that we celebrated last July during its 100th Anniversary Convention here in the City. His death is a tremendous loss to this country, but his contributions will live on in the generations to come.”