NEW YORK, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Larry Cox, executive
director, Amnesty International USA, issued the following statement upon
learning of the death of Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif.:



    "The United States has lost an extraordinary champion for human rights
whose commitment to justice and ending suffering gave support and hope to
the voiceless and powerless worldwide. For three decades, Congressman
Lantos was a forceful voice for vulnerable people on every continent. He
spoke out and worked tirelessly to end injustice because it was the right
thing to do, not because it was politically useful for him. Congressman
Lantos' life experience as a Holocaust survivor was a powerful reminder to
the world of the stakes of remaining silent in the face of injustice and
tyranny.



    Congressman Lantos began his career in the House in 1980 by extending
U.S. citizenship to Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved over
100,000 Jews from extermination. Lantos took to heart Wallenberg's example
-- that one person, even in the face of unbearable obstacles, can make a
difference.



    As a founder of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus 24 years ago,
Congressman Lantos worked to bring an end to anti-Semitism and to abuses
against religious minorities everywhere. He was among the first members of
Congress to highlight abuses against gays and lesbians and worked to
prevent discrimination against them. He spoke forcefully against the
violence in Darfur and pressed for actions to stop the killings there. He
insisted on accountability and transparency and supported the
declassification of documents relating to U.S. involvement in Latin America
during the 1980s. He advocated for greater funding to fight the HIV/AIDS
epidemic and led efforts to end violence against women internationally.



    Amnesty International USA will miss Congressman Lantos as a steadfast
ally in Congress for the human rights movement. Our hearts are heavy today
with his loss. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family."

Link to this page: