Longtime Austin resident Lillian Drummond was a “virtual” guest of Cong. Danny K. Davis at last week’s State of the Union address.
Although Drummond, a co-founder of the South Austin Coalition Community Council (SACCC), was not able to travel to Washington, D.C., to attend President Joe Biden’s annual address in person, she took part over Zoom instead. She may be the oldest State of the Union guest in U.S. history.
Drummond has distinguished herself as a community activist in many battles for justice. She was active and working into her 90s, advocating for social causes like utility reform.
“I have known Mrs. Drummond for more than three decades, working on the battlefield,” Davis said in a statement. “As a member of the Committee of Ways and Means with oversight over Social Security, it is my honor to invite her to participate in the State of the Union to hear how under President Joe Biden’s leadership, Democrats will always defend Social Security and Medicare.”
When Drummond was 95 she was honored by the city of Chicago by renaming a street in her name. The corner of Congress Parkway and Leamington Avenue is now known as Lillian Drummond Parkway. Her Congress Parkway home is just a few houses down from her renamed street.
“It feels real good to be honored,” Drummond said in a statement. “I have known the congressman for a real long time. He is always thinking about and talking about me being involved, and it is a great honor to be honored by him. The Social Security increase of 8.7% is important, but we need more money. The last thing Congress needs to do is cut Social Security and Medicare. What will we live on?”
