Ethel Kennedy: A legacy of activism and family devotion
Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy and an ardent human rights advocate, passed away on Wednesday, 9th October. According to a member of the Kennedy family, the wife of the brother of the former U.S. President suffered a stroke in her sleep. She was 96 years old.
Ethel Kennedy was an American social activist and the widow of Robert F. Kennedy, the younger brother of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Born Ethel Skakel on April 11, 1928, she came from a wealthy business family.
In 1950, she married Robert F. Kennedy, who was then an ambitious lawyer and later served as the Attorney General of the United States. Their marriage was remarkable both in terms of family size—Ethel and Robert had eleven children—and their involvement in the country's political life.
Ethel Kennedy played an essential role in her husband's political campaigns. After Robert F. Kennedy's assassination in 1968, Ethel continued his legacy by engaging in philanthropic and social activities. She founded the Robert F. Kennedy Centre for Justice and Human Rights, an organization that promotes human rights and social justice and has become a symbol of the fight for equality and civil rights.
Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy, has passed away
During her career, Ethel Kennedy was also actively involved in numerous charitable initiatives, gaining respect as a person who dedicated her life to helping others.
Her social work and resilience in the face of family tragedies earned her recognition not only in the United States but around the world. In 2014, President Barack Obama awarded Ethel the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her long-standing commitment to human rights. It is the highest civilian honour in the U.S.
Ethel Kennedy was the mother of eleven children. Her eldest son Robert, along with his sister Kathleen Hartington and brother Joseph Patrick II, was politically active. In 2023, Robert announced his intention to run for the U.S. presidency. In April, he declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination.
Over a year later, on 23rd August 2024, his polls showed he had 5% nationwide support. He then announced his withdrawal from the presidential race and openly endorsed Donald Trump.
