_________________________ ______________________________ 1
Councilmember Trayon White Councilmember Anita Bonds 2
3
4
5
6
A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 7
__________ 8
9
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 10
__________ 11
12
13
To recognize and commemorate the life of Keith A. Silver, a longtime community leader, civil 14
rights activist, and advocate for DC Statehood who ever faithfully galvanized citizens across the District 15
to participate in the positive community events on the occasion of his passing on July 9, 2024. 16
17
WHEREAS, Mr. Silver was born in Washington, DC on October 30, 1953; 18
19
WHEREAS, Mr. Silver graduated from DC Public Schools, culminating in his graduation from 20
Anacostia High School (Class of 1971) ; 21
22
WHEREAS, Mr. Silver went on to become a proud student in the paralegal program at Antioch 23
Law School (now known as UDC School of Law), graduating in 1978; 24
25
WHEREAS, Mr. Silver was a dependable volunteer and devoted member of New Bethel Baptist 26
Church, located on 1739 9
th
Street, NW; 27
28
WHEREAS, Mr. Silver was a faithful family man who took pride in his children and his 29
grandchildren, making sure to instill in them the history of the civil rights movement nationwide and in 30
DC; 31
32
WHEREAS, over the course of his life, Mr. Silver fully immersed himself in the civil rights 33
movement in many ways, including providing ground support for the family of Dr. Martin Luther King, 34
Jr. family during public events in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta; 35
36
WHEREAS, in the 198 0s, Mr. Silver served with distinction as National Staff in the Southern 37
Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) under the leadership of President Rev. Joseph Lowery; 38
39
WHEREAS, Mr. Silver also served as Community Assistant to Eddie Kendrick, founding 40
member of the legendary R&B group, The Temptations, f rom 1982 to Oct. 5, 1992, when Mr. Kendrick 41
passed; 42
43
WHEREAS, Mr. Silver also served as a staffer to the Honorable Wilhelmina Rolark, former 44
Councilmember of Ward 8, from 1988 to 1992, before working for 13 years as an assistant to Ms. Rolark 45
during her tenure as President of the United Black Fund; 46
47
WHEREAS, Mr. Silver designed national and local banners as Silver "K" Customized Banners 48
for National Civil and Human Rights Organizations, Church Groups, Non- Profits and Celebrities and 49
Athletes, for over four decades; 50 WHEREAS, Mr. Silver was also a Co-Founder of the Martin Luther King Peace Walk, which 51
takes place every January in Ward 8, a 4 -term ANC Commissioner, and a dedicated precinct captain at 52
Precinct 1, located at Walker-Jones Middle School; 53
54
WHEREAS, Mr. Silver also served as a special assistant and confidant to civil rights figures such 55
as the Honorable Walter E. Fauntroy, “The Black Eagle” Joe Madison, and Dick Gregory. 56
57
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this resolution 58
may be cited as the “Keith A. Silver Memorial Recognition Resolution of 2024. ” 59
60
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia hereby honors and Keith Silver and honors his 61
legacy as a “man of purpose” and committed servant of the community , who dedicated his life to civil 62
rights and activism in the District. 63
64
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the 65
District of Columbia Register. 66