Recently, we lost political pioneer, civil rights activist and environmental advocate, Councilwoman Rita Walters, 89. Not only was she the first black woman elected to city council, she fought passionately for the integration of school-busing as well as employment equality for black workers.
On the environmental front, she helped preserve the Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park from an extended freeway, a battle which raged for thirty years. The Rita Walters Trail is named after her.
Read more from the Los Angeles Times and NBC Los Angeles.