NEW CITY – Five new members are going to be inducted into the Rockland County Civil and Human Rights Hall of Fame.

A ceremony will be held at noon on Thursday, February 2 at the ninth annual luncheon at The Club at Patriot Hills in Stony Point.

All of the honorees will be indicted posthumously. They are Bernard and Eleanor Charles, William Darden, Bernice Glass, and Laurence Holland.

Bernard Charles was a former Rockland County legislator and was former chairman of the Governor's Advisory Committee for Governor Mario Cuomo who brought insight to the Committee on Black Affairs.

Ellie Charles' life mission was to champion and serve civil and human rights. Along with being a community leader, patron of the arts and a teacher, she worked to make sure people of color received the same treatment and respect as others in housing.

Darden, an educator and mentor to many in his community, was also a Rockland County legislator.

Glass dedicated her life to ending discrimination, bigotry and unjust laws that prevented people of color form being true American citizens.

Holland was among the first African American scientists to work for now Pfizer Laboratories. He was a valued mentor for many young colleagues and advocated by helping to recruit perspective employees of color.

“Rockland continues to be one of the state's most diverse counties thanks to the tremendous efforts of individuals like our inductees,” said S. Ram. Nagubandi, county Human Rights commissioner.