Calling for the immediate and unconditional release from prison of certain Kurdish members of the Parliament of the Republic of Turkey.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 303, a resolution honoring the life of Maynard Jackson, Jr. Mr. Speaker, Maynard Jackson was a shining example of strength, resilience and undeniable charisma. As classmates at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA we had the opportunity to spend a lot of time together as part of an experimental program sponsored by the Ford Foundation. Even then Maynard exhibited an intellectual curiosity well beyond his years. Maynard's strong faith and ability to stand steadfast even during troubling times served him well after the sudden death of his father.

Many of the skills Maynard developed during his early years at Morehouse helped him become the first African-American mayor of Atlanta. Under this leadership Atlanta was well on its way to becoming the new symbol for the south. Atlanta became an international city known for it's southern hospitality as well as it's fine dining and tourist attractions. As the shining example of the new south, Maynard led the way by introducing new initiatives that helped increase the number of minority contractors. As a result of his hard work local businesses flourished and a new generation of African-American millionaires was born. As mayor, Maynard endured criticism from proponents of the ``old south'' to lead the city to unprecedented growth, and prosperity which culminated in the expansion of the Atlanta airport.

Mr. Speaker, even after Maynard Jackson left office he continued to fight for the under-served and bring vital financial resources to Atlanta. His involvement with the U.S. Olympic committee led to Atlanta's selection as the site of the 1996 Summer Olympics. The city of Atlanta, the state of Georgia and the nation owes Maynard Jackson a debt of gratitude. Maynard's foresight and wisdom opened the door for African-American politicians throughout the nation. Today we mourn the man, but we remember the contributions he made in the name of fairness and equality. We will miss Maynard Jackson.

Mr. Speaker, on June 25, 2003, I spoke in memory and praise of Maynard Holbrook Jackson.

The speech follows:

In Memory and Praise of Maynard Holbrook Jackson

(Speech of Hon. Major R. Owens of New York, in the House of

Representatives, Wednesday, June 25, 2003)

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I join with all of my colleagues,

with the family and with all Americans in mourning the

passage of a great political leader and a personal friend,

Mayor Maynard Jackson. I rise to salute the outstanding

achievements of the former Mayor of Atlanta who was also a

national political leader and a major asset of the Democratic

Party. But before I sound the loud trumpets which are

appropriate for the highlighting of Mayor Jackson's public

life, I would like to pause and note my fond personal

memories of Maynard.

In the Morehouse College class of 1956 he was my classmate.

But even more intimate than that space were the roles we

shared as part of an experimental program sponsored by the

Ford Foundation. Maynard and I were two of 30 college

freshmen who had been admitted without completing the last 2

years of high school. Most of the so-called ``Ford Boys''

were 16 years old. Maynard was the youngest at age 14.

Maynard was a native of Atlanta, the location of Morehouse

College. He was a member of one of the oldest African

American leadership families. Maynard even at that early age

had a strong sense of mission and personal responsibility.

Despite his youth he became the host for our group of 30

special students. We were from very different worlds. My

father was a factory worker who had never earned more than

the minimum wage. But during that freshman year Maynard's

father who was the minister of one of Atlanta's most

prestigious churches, died suddenly. My mother also died in

the Spring of that year. Few understand better than I did the

sudden escalated maturation of the 14 year old Maynard. It

was probably the first great crisis of his life but he

rallied his personal resources and he overcame that great

emotional obstacle. It was a challenge which set a pattern

for the rest of his life and career.

My classmate, Mayor Maynard Jackson leaves a clear and

shining legacy for all to see and for African American

leaders to utilize as a guiding beacon. Mayor Maynard sought

power and through a very creative strategy and set of tactics

he won power. But the truly distinguishing achievement of

Mayor Maynard Jackson was his bold and uncompromising use of

his power to further empower the African American community

of Atlanta. In very concrete dollar and cents terms he

confronted the business elite of Atlanta and forced the

opening of new doors of significant business opportunities

for minorities.

Under Mayor Jackson's early leadership as Mayor, Atlanta

City contracts soared from less than 1 percent in 1973 to 39

percent within 5 years. Many of these contracts were related

to the construction of the expanded world class Atlanta

airport. It is believed that several dozen new black

millionaires were created via Maynard's mandated joint

venture models. It is important to note that the airport

expansion was still completed ahead of time and under budget.

For African Americans unprecedented new opportunities were

opened up as a result of the Mayor's confrontation with the

white business establishment. Maynard Jackson could never be

called an ``empty suit'' concerned only with the ceremony and

symbolism of being the first Black Mayor of Atlanta. The

legacy he leaves is a lesson for all African American

leaders: power is acquired for the purpose of empowering

those who lacked power before. Martin Luther King's movement

and the Voting Rights Act were constructed, not to install

peacocks with their limited agendas for personal wealth and

fame; instead the assumption of public office is a method of

extending the struggle.

Let it be noted and fully understood that Maynard Jackson

had to pay a price for his courage and his boldness on behalf

of the continuing struggle. When he left office as Mayor, the

white establishment attempted to lynch him economically by

denying him an appropriate berth in the private sector.

Fortunately, it was one more hurdle which Maynard overcame.

More of the story of the battle of Atlanta must be told in

order for the legacy to be understood clearly. Mayor Maynard

Jackson was more than just a successful politician. He was a

trailblazer, a

hero who set high standards that all African American public

officials must measure up to in performance.

Mr. Speaker, the City of Atlanta, the State of Georgia, and the United States of America mourn the passing of an important civic and civil rights figure. Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. lived as a trailblazer, paving the way for future black politicians throughout the country. Furthermore, Maynard Jackson was not only a prominent political figure, but a man of character as well; strong, genuine, and always full of heart.

Former Mayor Jackson was born in Dallas, Texas in 1938 into a family of civil rights activists. This strong background influenced Jackson to become involved in public affairs at an early age. The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the birth of Jackson's first child, occurring within days of each other, proved a pivotal turning point in Jackson's life and inspired him to commit to serving the public interest.

Jackson demonstrated immense courage when he challenged a popular, long-sitting United States Senator during his first run for public office in 1968. By becoming the first African-American to run for the Senate from the State of Georgia, Jackson cleared hurdles and opened new opportunities for African-American political ambition. Five years later, Jackson once again raised the bar of public service and made history with his successful campaign for the office of Mayor of the City of Atlanta. This victory made Jackson both the first black mayor of a major southern city and, at age 35, the youngest mayor in the United States. His election marked a turning point for both the City of Atlanta and our entire nation, as Jackson came to embody a rising political tide of young and energetic African-American politicians, along with the likes of Coleman Young and Tom Bradley, who possessed a sincere ambition to reinvigorate urban politics. The three terms that Jackson would go on to serve during the next twenty years would make him the second longest serving mayor in Atlanta history, a milestone in and of itself.

While each of these accomplishments are impressive and significant, Jackson's record as Mayor of Atlanta is equally admirable. His record shows a deep commitment to equality and a bold desire to reform the traditional Atlanta business community to make it more inclusive. During his tenure in office, Jackson launched an aggressive program to increase the number of minority contractors employed by the city. He also succeeded at creating ``joint venture'' programs in which minority and white contracting firms worked together for the construction of the mid-field terminals at Hartsfield International Airport. Jackson's efforts in reshaping and marketing the city have been credited with supplying the Atlanta region with much of its growth over the past quarter century. Maynard Jackson turned what was a regional town into a national and international business center.

Finally, Jackson gained international prominence during his final term as Mayor in the early 1990's. Once again, he did his utmost to use his position to bolster the prestige and notoriety of his hometown. His most visible accomplishment in office was surely his intimate involvement in the effort to bring the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games to Atlanta. We fondly remember the televised images of Mayor Jackson hugging and congratulating other city officials immediately following the announcement that Atlanta had been successful in its bid for the Olympics. Two years later, Jackson went before an international audience during the closing ceremonies of the Barcelona Olympics and proudly waved the Olympic flag on behalf of the City of Atlanta and the United States of America.

In recent years, Jackson sought to extend his sincere commitments to equality and progress to the national level. Jackson led a national initiative within the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to encourage African-American voter participation by heading the DNC's Voting Rights Institute. In this he sought to empower those who lacked a significant political voice.

During Jackson's career in public service, his tireless efforts have transformed a city, empowered its citizens, and brought it international recognition. Time and again, Maynard Jackson was a strong advocate for economic equality and high levels of civic participation within the African-American community. While this is likely the most noticeable aspect of his legacy, he has always desired to be known for his accomplishments on behalf of all individuals.

Indeed, our entire nation experienced a great loss when Jackson passed away on June 23, 2003. He was 65 years old and left behind a tremendous political legacy. Maynard Jackson inspired an untold number of potential political leaders, so many of whom will benefit from the doors that he opened and the barriers that he shattered. He will be greatly missed by people of all races, Democrats, Republicans, Georgians and non-Georgians alike.

Public servants such as Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr., who have had a significant impact in local and national politics, leave not only action, but legacy. As was said upon the passing of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, ``They are no more . . . but how little is there of the great and good which can die! To the country they yet live, and live forever.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to spend a few minutes to talk about some developments recently in the country of Turkey, some of which we celebrate, some of which we have great concern about.

Let me first, by the way, extend my condolences to victims of yesterday's terrorist bombings in Turkey and to the families of the victims. Certainly we want the perpetrators brought to justice quickly.

But I rise to celebrate a small, but very important, victory for human rights that took place last week. Four human rights prisoners in Turkey were released. Leyla Zana, a prominent Kurdish advocate for human rights, and her colleagues, Hatip Dicle, Slim Sadak and Ornhan Dogan, were released from prison following a June 9 appeals court ruling in their favor.

These were Kurdish citizens of Turkey. These were citizens who were elected by majority vote to the Turkish Parliament. These were Kurds who had the nerve to speak their own native language, Kurdish, in the Turkish Parliament; and they were arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Amnesty International declared them prisoners of conscience. They have been there 10 years.

Leyla Zana was probably the best known of the four prisoners. She was the first Kurdish woman elected to Turkey's Parliament who openly and proudly identified herself as a Kurd. In fact, the European Parliament awarded her a Sakharov Prize in 1995 for defending human rights.

I had the great pleasure of getting to know her husband, Mayda, who traveled around the world to talk about the injustice of his wife being in prison. I spent time with her son Ronee who was for a short time a student in Los Angeles. This was a whole family dedicated to human rights for all, and especially to the Kurdish minority who has been denied them in Turkey.

The release of these prisoners of conscience was a result of international pressure, and I want to thank the 21 Members of Congress who joined with me in H. Res. 302 that called for the release of these four parliamentarians. The Kurdish community in the United States, as well as human rights advocates across the country, played an important role in gaining their release.

So we welcome the release of these prisoners of conscience, as well as other reforms in Turkey, including the introduction of public broadcasting in minority languages. However, serious human rights and repression of the Kurds continue in Turkey.

From June 8-10, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the International Federation for Human Rights joined with Turkish human rights groups in a joint delegation to investigate the situation in Turkey. They heard continuing allegations of torture and violations of freedom of expression, assembly, association, religion, and the right to a fair trial. They expressed concern about prisons, national minorities, the lack of independent investigations into human rights violations, and internal displacement.

The State Department human rights report, released just in February, also found that serious human rights problems exist. The report says that security forces killed 43 people last year and participated in widespread torture, beatings, and other abuses. The Turkish Government continued to limit free speech in the press and, in particular, restricted expression by people sympathetic to Kurdish cultural or nationalist viewpoints.

So we are pleased at the release of Leyla Zana and her colleagues, but we are not placated by this good news. We demand greater progress. The European Union should insist that Turkey take greater strides to improve its human rights record and treatment of the Kurds before joining the European Union. Turkey needs to realize that its Kurdish citizens enrich the country rather than threaten it.

President Bush will visit Turkey for a NATO summit next week. He should use this opportunity to press for greater respect for human rights. I would hope that he meets with Leyla Zana and shows his respect for human rights for the Kurdish minority in Turkey.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 303) honoring Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr., former mayor of the City of Atlanta, and extending the condolences of the House of Representatives on his death.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 303 introduced by my colleague from the State of Georgia (Mr. Lewis) honors Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr., former mayor of the city of Atlanta and extends the condolences of the House of Representatives on his death.

Mr. Speaker, today we do honor a great American leader. Maynard Jackson courageously guided the city of Atlanta for three terms as mayor. He was inspired to enter public service, catch this date, on April 4, 1968, when he was a 30-year-old hard-working lawyer in Atlanta. Why does that date register with us? On that terribly bittersweet day, Maynard Jackson welcomed his first child into the world and Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was tragically assassinated. The combination of these two events moved Mr. Jackson to enter politics.

Only 2 months later, he unhesitatingly launched a grassroots campaign that challenged, albeit unsuccessfully, a powerful incumbent senator. His campaign earned him 200,000 votes, but in 1973, he again challenged a well-known incumbent as he ran for mayor of Atlanta, and this time he won. He was elected the first black mayor in Atlanta's history.

Maynard Jackson went on to become one of the most influential civic officials in the history of Georgia, the South and our entire Nation.

Mr. Speaker, last month, on June 23, Maynard Jackson sadly collapsed and died from a heart attack right here in Washington at the age of 65. He once was quoted as saying, with perhaps too great an understanding of the way we tend to simplify history, that ``I could see my full name will be Maynard Jackson, first black mayor of Atlanta.'' Certainly his civic accomplishments are not to be overlooked.

Today, we seek to remember him more as the wonderful principled man that he was with a memorable booming voice and a giant, friendly handshake. His life was truly one worthy of commendation by this House, and I am proud that we are taking up this legislation.

I urge all Members to support the adoption of H. Res. 303 that honors the life and accomplishments of the honorable Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. I thank my colleague from Georgia for introducing this worthwhile measure.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Marshall).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I do want to add my condolences to those of my colleagues here. I cannot match their eloquence this morning. Their words are very well spoken. The majority side concurs in the extension of condolences to the family. I urge all Members to support the adoption of House Resolution 303.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember, to honor and celebrate a great citizen and a dear friend, Maynard Jackson.

Maynard Jackson's untimely death was shocking and is still unbelievable. I have known Maynard Jackson for more than 35 years; and, Mr. Speaker, I must tell my colleagues Maynard Jackson was a man who thought the impossible was possible. In 1973, he was the first African American to be elected mayor of the city of Atlanta. He served 12 years as mayor of the city.

During his tenure as mayor of Atlanta, he began encouraging and fostering an interracial understanding, transforming the city into a new Atlanta, to the gateway to the South, the city that was too busy to hate. I truly believe that Maynard Jackson must be looked upon as one of the founding fathers of the new Atlanta, the new South and the new America.

Maynard Jackson was a strong supporter of affirmative action, civil rights and expansion of social and economic gain for minorities. As our current mayor Shirley Franklin stated a few days ago, Maynard Jackson was a lion of a man. He was a champion of inclusion for all people and never wavered in his commitment to Atlanta.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, Maynard Jackson helped create an Atlanta that we all could be proud of. He was not afraid or scared to do what was unpopular. He was not scared to take a chance. Maynard Jackson was not afraid to do the right thing.

Because of his leadership, vision and dedication, our city, State and Nation will never be the same. We will miss you, Maynard. Atlanta will miss you, the Nation will miss you, but we would never, ever forget you. You have left your mark on each and every one of us. Thank you for your service. Thank you for giving your heart and your soul. As you take your passion and energy to the great beyond, again a grateful Nation, a grateful people and a grateful city say thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Baltimore, Maryland (Mr. Cummings)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Ballance).

(Mr. BALLANCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Marshall), the former mayor of the city of Macon.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all of the Members who participated this morning and thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose) for yielding so much time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to say to the family and friends of Maynard Jackson and to all of the citizens of Atlanta and the citizens of our Nation that we have lost a son of America, a citizen of the world. Maynard Jackson was a very proud graduate of Morehouse College. He loved the school, the glee club; he loved the citizens of our city. He will be deeply missed, but we take this as an opportunity to honor and pay tribute to him for all of the good things that he did to make our city, our State, our Nation, and our world a better place.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.