Cecil Benjamin
{{Short description|American political activist}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Cecil Benjamin
|office = Chair of the Virgin Islands Democratic Party
|term_start = August 4, 2018
|term_end = August 1, 2020
|predecessor = Donna Christian-Christensen
|successor = Glen J. Smith
|term_start1 = April 2005
|term_end1 = August 6, 2016
|predecessor1 = Jimmy O'Bryan
|successor1 = Donna Christian-Christensen
|birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|77|2025|4|15}}
|birth_place = Guyana
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|education = Interamerican University of Puerto Rico (BS)
University of Pennsylvania
Temple University (MEd)
}}
Cecil R. Benjamin is an American political activist and executive, who served as the Chair of the Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands.
Career
Benjamin was previously a teacher and served as the President of the St. Croix Federation of Teachers and the International and National Vice-president of the American Federation of Teachers.{{Cite web|url=https://visourcearchives.com/content/2001/04/17/benjamin-endorsed-aft-labor-post-0/|title=BENJAMIN ENDORSED BY AFT FOR LABOR POST|website=The Source U.S. Virgin Islands|date=17 April 2001 |access-date=2020-08-19}}
Benjamin has also served as the commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Labor.{{Cite web|url=https://stjohnsource.com/2005/05/03/labor-commissioner-suspended-without-pay/|title=Labor Commissioner Suspended Without Pay|website=The St. John Source U.S. Virgin Islands|date=2 May 2005 |access-date=2020-08-19}}
In 2016, Benjamin served as a super delegate from the U.S. Virgin Islands at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He supported Hillary Clinton in this position.{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Cecil_R._Benjamin|title=Cecil R. Benjamin|website=Ballotpedia|access-date=2020-08-19}}
Benjamin served as the Chair of the Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands.{{Cite web|url=https://democrats.org/who-we-are/state-parties/leadership/cecil-r-benjamin/|title=CECIL R. BENJAMIN|website=Democratic Party|access-date=2020-08-19}} Benjamin was the U.S. Virgin Island's representative and nominated Joe Biden for the party's nomination. In his video message, Benjamin stated “greetings from the Virgin Islands of the United States, where a young Alexander Hamilton was raised. Vacation home of our nominee, with turquoise waters, white sand beaches and friendly people, we cast our 13 votes for Joseph R. Biden, who will achieve full voting rights in Congress and our right to vote for president.”{{Cite web|url=http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/democrats-bring-convention-to-v-i/image_09900726-0da7-5c57-838f-0801c37d6caa.html|title=Democrats bring convention to V.I.|website=The Virgin Islands Daily News|date=17 August 2020 |access-date=2020-08-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/person/?127221|title=Cecil Benjamin|website=C-SPAN|access-date=2020-08-19}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Jimmy O'Bryan}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Virgin Islands Democratic Party|years=2005–2016}}
{{s-aft|after=Donna Christian-Christensen}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Donna Christian-Christensen}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Virgin Islands Democratic Party|years=2018–2020}}
{{s-aft|after=Glen J. Smith}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benjamin, Cecil}}
Category:21st-century African-American people
Category:Temple University alumni
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
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