Dr. Hazel Dukes, an iconic civil rights leader and president of the NAACP New York State Conference, has died, according to a statement from Rev. Al Sharpton. She was 92. "I'm saddened to hear of the passing of my true friend,

She was 92 years old. “I’m saddened to hear of the passing of my true friend, sister and friend for more than 40 years, Hazel Dukes,” reads a statement published Saturday by Rev. Al Sharpton. “She was a force of nature for justice and an activist of the highest order.

Dr. Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP New York State Conference and a formidable civil rights activist, passed away at age 92 on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Following a period of illness, she died peacefully with family members at her bedside,