Clarence B. Jones, civil rights icon and Stanford scholar, dies at 95

Clarence B. Jones, a key figure in the civil rights movement who served as Martin Luther King Jr.'s attorney, speechwriter, and close advisor, died earlier this month at an assisted-living facility in Cupertino at age 95.

- He helped write King's iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech and smuggled the 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' out of prison. - Jones also tried to negotiate an end to the 1971 Attica Prison revolt.

- He was a longtime Palo Alto resident and scholar at Stanford University, where he continued to advocate for equity. - In 2017, the Palo Alto City Council honored him as one of the city's 'most esteemed residents.' Jones remained active in civil rights until his final years, participating in a 2025 rally and calling for Silicon Valley to address inequality.