Childhood and Education Journey of Hakeem Jeffries in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Hakeem Jeffries. A timeline of key moments.

Hakeem Jeffries is an American politician and attorney serving as House Minority Leader since 2023. He has led the House Democratic Caucus since 2023. Representing New York's 8th congressional district since 2013, now in his seventh term, Jeffries previously served in the New York State Assembly from 2007 to 2012.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1965: Supreme Court Decision on Voting Rights Act

After the Supreme Court decision on the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Jeffries addressed special orders on the House floor regarding voting rights.

August 4, 1970: Hakeem Jeffries Born

On August 4, 1970, Hakeem Sekou Jeffries was born. He is an American politician and attorney.

Others born on this day/year

1988: Graduated from Midwood High School

In 1988, Hakeem Jeffries graduated from Midwood High School, a public school.

1992: Graduated from Binghamton University

In 1992, Hakeem Jeffries graduated from Binghamton University with a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors, where he studied political science and became a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

1994: Earned Master of Public Policy degree

In 1994, Hakeem Jeffries earned a Master of Public Policy degree from Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy.

1997: Graduated from New York University School of Law

In 1997, Hakeem Jeffries graduated magna cum laude with a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law, where he was a member of the New York University Law Review and delivered the student address at Convocation.

2007: Elected to New York State Assembly

In 2007, Hakeem Jeffries was elected to the New York State Assembly for a Brooklyn district, where he served until 2012 and introduced over 70 bills.

2007: Endorsed Barack Obama

In 2007, while in his first term in the State Assembly, Hakeem Jeffries endorsed and supported Barack Obama for president, becoming one of Obama's earliest supporters in Hillary Clinton's home state.

2010: Stop-and-Frisk database bill signed into law

In 2010, Governor David Paterson signed a Stop-and-Frisk database bill sponsored by Hakeem Jeffries and then-Senator Eric Adams, which banned police from compiling names and addresses of those stopped but not arrested during street searches.

2012: End of term in New York State Assembly

In 2012, Hakeem Jeffries's term ended in the New York State Assembly, where he had served since 2007.

April 11, 2013: Introduced Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument Preservation Act

On April 11, 2013, Hakeem Jeffries introduced the Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument Preservation Act (H.R. 1501; 113th Congress) to study the feasibility of designating the Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument in Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn as a unit of the National Park System.

April 28, 2014: Prison Ship Martyrs's Monument Preservation Act passed by House

On April 28, 2014, the Prison Ship Martyrs's Monument Preservation Act, previously introduced by Hakeem Jeffries, was passed by the House.

July 15, 2014: Introduced Law School Clinic Certification Program Act

On July 15, 2014, Hakeem Jeffries introduced the "To establish the Law School Clinic Certification Program of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (H.R. 5108; 113th Congress)", which would establish the Law School Clinic Certification Program of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

December 2014: "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" Protest

In December 2014, Jeffries led Congressional Black Caucus members in a "hands up, don't shoot" protest of killings of African-Americans by police.

December 2014: Visit to Eric Garner Killing Site

In December 2014, Jeffries visited the Staten Island site where Eric Garner was killed and met with Gwen Carr, Garner's mother, recorded by a CNN news crew.

December 20, 2014: NYPD detectives killed

On December 20, 2014, NYPD detectives Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were killed in their patrol car in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Hakeem Jeffries's district.

December 31, 2014: Tax deadline for donations

December 31, 2014 was the original tax deadline for donations to organizations supporting families of deceased NYPD detectives Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos.

April 1, 2015: Slain Officer Family Support Act signed into law

On April 1, 2015, President Obama signed the Slain Officer Family Support Act into law, which extended the tax deadline for people donating to organizations supporting the families of deceased NYPD detectives.

April 15, 2015: Extended tax deadline for donations

April 15, 2015, became the new tax deadline for making donations to organizations supporting the families of deceased NYPD detectives.

April 2015: Introduction of Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act

In April 2015, Jeffries stood with Gwen Carr to announce the introduction of the Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act of 2015, which would make chokeholds illegal under federal law.

June 2015: Effort to Remove Confederate Flag

In June 2015, after the shootings in Charleston, Jeffries led an effort to remove the Confederate flag for sale or display on National Park Service land.

2015: Considered running for Mayor

In 2015, Hakeem Jeffries was called upon by prominent African-American pastors to step into the 2017 Democratic primary for mayor, but he expressed "no interest" and wished to remain in Congress.

2016: Russian Interference in US Presidential Election

Jeffries repeatedly called Trump's presidency "illegitimate" due to the Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential election.

2017: Jeffries declines to run for mayor

In 2017, Hakeem Jeffries decided against running for mayor, choosing to remain a member of Congress.

May 22, 2018: First Step Act passed by the U.S. House

On May 22, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan First Step Act, with Hakeem Jeffries as a key sponsor.

December 21, 2018: First Step Act signed into law

On December 21, 2018, President Trump signed the bipartisan First Step Act into law; Hakeem Jeffries was a key sponsor of the bill.

2018: Music Modernization Act passed

In 2018, Hakeem Jeffries played a key role in the House passage of the bipartisan Music Modernization Act, which became law.

2019: Vote in Favor of Equality Act

In 2019, Jeffries voted in favor of the Equality Act and urged Congress members to do the same.

January 15, 2020: Selected as House manager for Trump impeachment trial

On January 15, 2020, Hakeem Jeffries was selected as one of seven House managers presenting the impeachment case against Trump during his trial before the United States Senate.

January 22, 2020: Jeffries responds to protester during impeachment trial

On January 22, 2020, during the Trump impeachment trial, Hakeem Jeffries responded to a protester in the Senate gallery by quoting Psalm 37:28 before continuing with his testimony.

2020: Remarks at AIPAC Conference

In 2020, Jeffries told an American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference that "back home in New York City we consider Jerusalem to be the sixth borough".

May 29, 2023: Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 introduced

On May 29, 2023, Representative Patrick McHenry introduced the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.

November 9, 2023: Rejection of Ceasefire Calls

On November 9, 2023, Jeffries rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza war, reiterating his support for Israel.

November 14, 2023: Speech at March for Israel

On November 14, 2023, Jeffries spoke at the March for Israel, condemning antisemitism and calling for the safe return of all hostages taken captive by Hamas, and a "just and lasting peace".

2023: Vote Against Removing Troops from Syria

In 2023, Jeffries voted against H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.

April 2024: Vote for Military Aid Package

In April 2024, Jeffries voted for military aid package supplementals for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

June 2024: Hochul Halts Congestion Pricing

In June 2024, Politico reported that New York governor Kathy Hochul indefinitely halted the implementation of congestion pricing in New York City in response to concerns raised by Jeffries.