Ethel Kennedy, champion of human rights, dies at 96

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 noteworthy for their large family—having eleven children—and their involvement in the country's political life.

Ethel Kennedy played a significant 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 Center for Justice and Human Rights. This organization promotes human rights and social justice and has become a symbol of the fight for equality and civil rights.

Throughout her career, Ethel Kennedy was actively involved in numerous charitable initiatives, earning 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 honor in the U.S.

Ethel Kennedy was the mother of eleven children. Her eldest son, Robert, was politically active, as were his sister, Kathleen Hartington, and brother, Joseph Patrick II. In 2023, he announced his intention to run for the U.S. presidency. In April, he declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the presidential race.

Over a year later, on August 23, 2024, his polls showed he had 5% nationwide support. He then announced his withdrawal from the presidential race and openly endorsed Donald Trump.