The following statement was issued July 3, 2026, by We Stand Up For All and shared by the People’s Power Assembly on the death of their founder, Rev. Annie Chambers.
It is with profound sadness that our organization, We Stand Up For All (part of the OCNA), announces the death of our beloved founder, Rev. Annie Chambers — legendary civil rights leader, community mother, and lifelong champion of the poor. Rev. Annie Chambers died the evening of July 2, 2026, shortly before midnight. She leaves behind an unparalleled legacy of grassroots activism and unconditional love for her people, her family, her community, and all those who struggle to survive.
Throughout her life, Rev. Chambers faced overwhelming odds and deep personal hardships. Yet she transformed every challenge she endured into a fierce, ordained mission to fight for the rights of everyone, especially the most vulnerable among us. From her early days with the Black Panther Party, Malcolm X, and the original 1960s Poor People’s Campaign, to her foundational work with the Baltimore and National Welfare Rights Organization, she never backed down from a fight for justice.
As a longtime resident and tenant leader at Baltimore’s Douglass Homes, Rev. Annie Chambers was the uncompromising voice of the poor, the working class, and those experiencing homelessness. Whether she was organizing food giveaways for her neighbors, ministering to the incarcerated, fighting against the privatization of public housing, or fighting to keep the electricity on for struggling families illegitimately billed by public housing, she firmly believed that the basic necessities of life belonged to the people.
Details regarding a memorial service and ways the public can continue to support her ongoing community initiatives will be announced in the coming days. Rev. Chambers often said she was ordained by God to stay in the battle for justice, and she spent every day of her life fulfilling that calling. If, upon hearing the news of her death, you feel compelled to give immediately, please reach out to one of the organizations listed below.
Reverend Chambers worked with hundreds of organizations over her lifetime in Baltimore and beyond. Here are just a few of the last organizations she worked with, recommended, and wholeheartedly supported to fulfill her work in Baltimore: the People’s Power Assembly, Struggle-La Lucha, the Ujima People’s Progress Party, and New Harvest Ministries. She also had her own organization, We Stand Up For All, which she founded with her longtime ally and protégé, Ian Schlakman.
Your thoughts, prayers, and continued dedication to Rev. Chambers’ mission are the greatest gifts. We strongly encourage those seeking to support or continue her work to reach out to any and all of the organizations above. If you feel especially moved to send flowers or tokens of remembrance, they may be sent to her local church of worship and service, New Harvest Ministries, which will hold prayers for her Sunday, July 5, 2026.
She is survived by her 25 children and hundreds of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her daughter, Dena Smith — a radio show host like her mother — also followed her mother, and her grandfather before her, into the ministry, serving God and fighting injustice in his name. Dena has graciously made herself available for comments or contact with the family. If you wish to support the family directly as they navigate this tremendous loss, please contact her using the information below.
Please note: unless you personally know a member of her family or her organization, out of respect for those who are grieving, please direct questions, comments, and condolences only to the organizations above or the two people listed below.
Organization contact: Ian Schlakman, co-founder, We Stand Up For All (OCNA) — 410-996-4848; ia*@******of.us; forallof.us
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