Yesterday, Arkansas not only lost one of its statesmen, but it lost a jewel. John Walker was one of the greatest civil right minds of his lifetime, and there will be a void that cannot be filled by his passing.
John and I spent five sessions fighting the good fight for the people of Arkansas. I would jokingly call him my gray-haired warrior, and he would push me to be my best and always be a voice for the people. One time, I told him, “John, you are the North Star of the chamber,” because John was true to fighting for the rights of all people.
While our relationship did not start off like it ended, I would not have changed a thing. It taught us both the value of differing perspectives from different generations and how we could work together to bring about change.
Whether you loved John or if you were on the end of his sometimes harsh criticism, there is no disputing that he was always fighting for people’s rights. He is a great Arkansan and one that deserves the utmost of respect for all he has done and achieved.
My gray-haired warrior, you will be truly missed by me and the many others that you have fought for during your lifetime.
Sincerely,
Fredrick J Love
House Minority Leader
READ MORE: State Representative and Civil Rights Leader John Walker Dies at 82
Fredrick Love is the Minority Leader of the Arkansas House of Representatives.