African Nova Scotian Affairs Minister Maureen MacDonald expressed sadness today, July 30, over the death of activist and lawyer, Burnley “Rocky” Jones.

“Rocky was a staunch and respected leader and had an important and prominent voice in many of the social equity and civil rights discussions in this province for the last four decades,” said Ms.

MacDonald. “He dedicated his life to championing racial equality and justice through his chosen profession, law, and as a citizen of the world.”

In the 1960s and ’70s, Mr. Jones advocated for civil rights and social equity for the disenfranchised and people of colour. He was a founding member of the Black United Front of Nova Scotia and ran for political office.

After graduating law school in the ’90s, he worked for Dalhousie legal aid, then opened his own firm, which focused on racial equality, human and prisoner rights cases, and labour law.

Mr. Jones helped develop the Indigenous Black and Mi’kmaq Program at the Dalhousie Law School and received several awards, including the Order of Nova Scotia.

Mr. Jones died Monday. He was 71.

Source: Release