Menendez Statement on the Passing of NJ State Senator Ronald Rice

"Throughout history, few Americans have been able to bend the moral arc of the universe towards justice, however, as evidenced by his numerous accomplishments, former New Jersey State Senator Ronald Rice was one of those Americans. Born under the crushing yoke of racism in the Jim Crow South, Sen. Rice drew from his experiences to advocate for the underprivileged and the underserved. In Trenton, he rightfully earned his reputation as a maverick because of his unyielding commitment to never compromise his fiercely-held convictions. I was proud to recognize his long service to our state at our Black History Month Celebration earlier this year.

"Whether as a Vietnam veteran of the United States Marine Corps, as a local law enforcement officer, as a Newark City Councilmember representing the West Ward, or as the longest-serving Black member of the New Jersey Legislature, Ronald Rice was a force to be reckoned with. Nadine and I join our entire state in mourning his passing and sending our condolences his children Ronald and Yuki, and to the vast number of New Jerseyans whose lives he touched."