SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - Benjamin Swan, a retired state representative as well as the former president of the Greater Springfield NAACP, has died. He was 92.

Swan was born on Sept. 18, 1933 and represented the 11th Hampden District from 2009 until 2016. He received his master’s from Umass Amherst in 1977.

Swan marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement and eventually became president of the NAACP Springfield branch.

In a statement, his family described him as a community leader who dedicated his voice and influence to confronting injustice.

“He saw suffering and tried to heal it. He saw wrong and tried to right it. He saw war and tried to stop it,” they said. “His life was rooted in compassion, courage, and an unwavering commitment to making the world more just, human, and equitable for all people.”

The family thanked the community for their love and support, but is asking everyone to stand for justice, serve the vulnerable, and confront hatred in Swan’s honor.

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