Nelson Mandela, the iconic South African leader who spent 27 years in prison, dedicated his life to fighting for, in his own words, a free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities." Following is a statement regarding his death today by SEIU President Mary Kay Henry:

"The SEIU family joins communities the world over in mourning the loss of Nelson Mandela, a revolutionary leader who led with courage and grace. Mr. Mandela's decades-long campaign to end apartheid shows that meaningful change might not happen overnight, but it can happen.

"Not only does Nelson Mandela leave a legacy of radical change in South Africa, he will forever inspire generations of activists to challenge the status quo and demand racial, social and economic justice.

"The world today lost one of its greatest leaders, but Mr. Mandela's legacy will continue to inspire us in our work every day. His strong, inspiring leadership in the face of hatred and brutality is a lesson to all working people that we can prevail in the struggle to reverse income inequality and to ensure that everyone has a fair shot at a better future."

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