Dear WESPAC Community,
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Mel Tanzman, a longtime and deeply respected disability rights advocate whose life and work helped advance the dignity, independence, and full inclusion of people with disabilities.
Mel devoted many years to building a world in which people with disabilities could live with greater autonomy, exercise their rights, and participate fully in their communities. He understood disability rights not as a matter of charity, but as a fundamental question of human rights, equality, justice, and self-determination. His advocacy strengthened the disability rights and independent living movements in New York and touched the lives of countless people.
For those of us in the broader peace and justice community, Mel’s life is also a reminder of how interconnected our struggles are. A truly just society must make room for every person to live with dignity, to have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives, and to be recognized as a full and equal member of the community.
WESPAC extends our heartfelt condolences to Mel’s family, friends, colleagues, and to the many members of the disability rights community who worked alongside him and loved him.
We honor Mel’s life, his persistence, his courage, and the legacy he leaves behind. May his memory continue to strengthen the movement for disability justice and inspire all of us in the ongoing work of building a more compassionate, accessible, and equitable world.
I will share details of a memorial service as they become available.
With sadness and gratitude for his life,
Nada
