John Conyers was an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for over five decades. He was a Democrat and represented Michigan’s 13th congressional district from 1965 until his resignation in 2017. Conyers was one of the longest-serving members of Congress in U.S. history. Born on May 16, 1929, in Highland Park, Michigan, John Conyers attended Wayne State University and later earned his law degree from the same institution. Before entering politics, he served in the National Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during the Korean War.
Conyers’ political career began in 1964 when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) in 1971, an organization focused on addressing the concerns of African Americans and other minority groups. Throughout his tenure, he became known as a champion of civil rights, social justice, and workers’ rights.
However, Conyers’s long congressional career faced controversy in later years. In 2017, multiple former staff members accused him of sexual harassment, leading to an investigation by the House Ethics Committee. Amid the growing pressure from his fellow Democrats and calls for his resignation, John Conyers announced his retirement on December 5, 2017. His resignation became effective on December 5, 2017, as well.
John Conyers passed away on October 27, 2019, at the age of 90. Despite the controversy surrounding his later years, he left a significant impact on American politics, particularly in the fight for civil rights and social justice.