Assemblyman Holden Reacts to Death of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black and democratically elected president and a leader in the anti-Apartheid movement, died today at the age of 95. 

Assemblyman Chris Holden issued the following statement on his website:

“As the world mourns the death of this great leader, I am struck by the extraordinary life he led as rebel, prisoner, president and peacemaker.

On one of his many visits to Los Angeles, I was honored to meet with him and was impressed with his statesmanlike demeanor and his lack of bitterness.

His fight against apartheid was one of the great moral lessons of our time and he leaves a legacy of tolerance that has earned him worldwide respect."