Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my full support and recognition of the efforts made by Council Member Leroy Comrie, with cosponsors Abolish The N-Word Project Inc. and the Universal Circus, to organize the second annual Black History Month Essay Contest, which essay theme was: ``Why The N-Word Should Never Be Used?''

In New York City, freedom of speech is granted depending on which word you use, but do not dare let the ``n-word'' slip to your comrades. The ``n-word'' has been around for nearly as long as language itself. According to Merriam-Webster, the origin comes from the ``neger'' modification, and the French ``negre,'' and the Spanish ``negro.'' However, within the English language, the n-word was used to depict blacks during the slave trade. Blacks subsequently embraced a more palatable form, ``negro.'' This with the end of slavery and imposition of the Jim Crew was altered as a sign of disrespect and contempt. Today, some ``mainstream'' hip-hop recording artists slide the n-word into their albums. And when they clamor their way up the Billboard pop charts everyone listens, including the New York City Council.

The abolish the N-Word Project Inc. has many worldwide supporters, with a mailing list of 27,000 people and 13 million hits on their Web site. Some critics state that focusing on a word will not solve the multitude of problems that exist within the black community. I support the council member's initiative; after all it has developed critical thinking wither and conversation about the use of the word is appropriate.

The initiative of the council member's n-word essay contest educated young people about the negative history and impact of the n-word. Educating our society and making us conscious is important, because we need to begin to work with our children to have them understand the history and cultural meaning of a word that should only be used with such understanding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the House Congress Resolution 310. Resolution 310 proposes a national day of remembrance for Harriet Ross Tubman, a fearless champion for civil rights.

Harriet Ross Tubman was a pioneer to say the least. For the better part of a decade, Tubman made over 13 trips South to escort more than 300 hundred slaves to freedom. With no regard to her own well being, she sacrificed her own safety, so that countless other slaves could have the opportunity to realize and experience freedom, a right supposedly enshrined in our Constitution. Tubman was not merely a woman of steadfast conviction, principle and determination, but a hero and savior to those people who often had no hope. I am deeply humbled and inspired by her courage and bravery in the face of remarkable adversity.

Harriet Tubman was a woman of unyielding principle, unparalleled courage and sheer grit. Therefore, I stand here today advocating House Congress Resolution 310 supporting the creation of a national day of remembrance for Harriet Tubman, a woman that inspires us all to stand and fight for freedom.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my full support of the resolution recognizing and honoring Earl Lloyd for breaking the color barrier and becoming the first African-American to play in the National Basketball Association fifty eight years ago.

Earl Lloyd was born in Alexandria, Virginia on April 3, 1928. With a height of 6 ft 5 in and 225 lbs. Lloyd first developed his passion for basketball in the city of Alexandria's segregated Parker-Gray High School, where he started on the school team. He went on to play basketball at West Virginia College and then was drafted to play for the NBA in 1950.

On October 31, 1950, he became the first African-American to play in a NBA game, against the Rochester Royals. Lloyd played five hundred and sixty NBA games and won a championship before retiring in 1960. In the midst of his career he proudly put his professional career on hold and served in the Army for two years before returning to the game. In 2003 he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and in his home town, Alexandria, a basketball court at T.C. Williams was named in his honor.

Earl Lloyd played for the love of the sport of basketball and not to make history, but his entry into the NBA meant a lot during segregation.

I am proud to honor Earl Lloyd for his career achievements as the first. He opened the doors for several famous basketball players, such as Michael Jordan, Scotty Pippin, Charles Barkley, etc. He truly blazed new trails for African-American athletes who today grace the professional game in significant numbers, constituting the great majority of the best players in the NBA.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the editorial, ``Women's Month, A Time to Reflect'' which appeared in this week's edition of the New York Carib News.

The editorial, in recognition of March being international women's month, discusses the current situation of women in the United States, Canada, Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, Europe and Latin America. The standing of women in the global community has drastically improved, but is sadly far from the lofty goals outlined by the United Nations Millennium Goals. Today, women have achieved new highs, as women now outnumber men in those who pursue tertiary education. Similarly, women continue to outlive their male counterparts and a record number of women are pursuing leadership roles in politics. Yet, the struggle is far from over as women still remain largely underrepresented in politics and leadership roles in religious institutions. Women still comprise the largest community affected by domestic violence, human trafficking and poverty.

As a result of the continued disparity in equality among men and women, I urge Americans to remain informed on the situation by reading the editorial ``Women's Month, A Time to Reflect'' in CaribNews. In the 21st century, it is simply unacceptable for women to not be afforded the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

Madam Speaker, today I join with the hundreds of thousands of Mexican residents of my congressional district and across our Nation in recognizing the everlasting accomplishments and contributions of Cesar E. Chavez, a social crusader who lived a lifetime of sacrifice and dedication for the betterment of others.

Cesar Estrada Chavez, World War II veteran and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, as the late New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy once noted, was ``one of the heroic figures of our time.'' A true American hero, Cesar was a civil rights, Latino, farmworker, and labor leader; a religious and spiritual figure; a community servant and social entrepreneur; a crusader for nonviolent social change; an environmentalist and consumer advocate.

A second-generation Mexican-American, Cesar was born on March 31, 1927, near his family's farm in Yuma, Arizona. At age 10, his family became migrant farmworkers after losing their farm in the Great Depression. Throughout his youth and into his adulthood, Cesar migrated across the Southwest laboring in the fields and vineyards, where he was exposed to the hardships and injustices of farmworker life.

After achieving only an eighth-grade education, Cesar left school to work in the fields full time to support his family. Although his formal education ended then, he possessed an insatiable intellectual curiosity, and was self-taught in many fields and well read throughout his life.

From 1946 to 1948, Cesar served in the U.S. Navy and fought in the Western Pacific during the tail end of World War II. Upon his return from the war, he embarked on new beginnings that would set the tone of his life. He married Ms. Helen Fabela and shortly after in 1952 began working as a community organizer with the Community Service Organization, CSO, a prominent Latino civil rights group.

CSO afforded him the opportunity to learn how to organize groups for a common cause. Cesar coordinated voter registration drives and conducted campaigns against racial and economic discrimination, primarily in urban areas. In the late 1950s, he ascended to the position of national director.

Cesar's dream, however, was to create an organization to protect and serve farmworkers, whose poverty and disenfranchisement he had shared. In 1962, Cesar resigned from the CSO and founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers of America.

For more than three decades, Cesar led the first successful farmworkers union in American history, achieving dignity, respect, fair wages, medical coverage, pension benefits, and humane living conditions, as well as countless other rights and protections for hundreds of thousands of farmworkers.

Against previously insurmountable odds, he led successful strikes and boycotts that resulted in the first industry-wide labor contracts in the history of American agriculture. His union's efforts brought about the passage of the groundbreaking 1975 California Agricultural Labor Relations Act to protect farmworkers. Today, it remains the only law in the Nation that protects the farmworkers' right to unionize.

The significance and impact of Cesar's life transcends any one cause or struggle. He was a unique and humble leader, in addition to being a great humanitarian and communicator who influenced and inspired millions of Americans to seek social justice and civil rights for the poor and disenfranchised in our society. Cesar forged a diverse and extraordinary national coalition of students, middle class consumers, trade unionists, religious groups, and minorities.

Sadly, Cesar Chavez passed away in his sleep on April 23, 1993. He was laid to rest in a rose garden at the foot of a hill he often climbed to watch the sun rise. More than 50,000 people attended his funeral services in the small town of Delano, California.

Cesar Chavez--a common man with an uncommon vision for humankind-- stood for equality, justice, and dignity for all Americans. His motto, ``si se puede,'' yes we can, embodies the uncommon and invaluable legacy he left for the world's benefit. His ecumenical principles remain relevant and inspiring today for all Americans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and praise the work of Shared Interest for their continued encouragement and investment in black-owned businesses in South Africa.

Shared Interest is a New York-based international social investment fund that has worked tirelessly since 1994 to mobilize U.S. investors to provide the necessary capital to foster the development of black- owned organizations, small businesses and agricultural cooperatives in South Africa. Undoubtedly, the work of Shared Interest has provided many struggling black South African people with the funds required to create a successful business. Shared Interest took its $11 million guaranteed fund and was able to successfully leverage credit of more than $100 million. Shared Interest has gone beyond simply providing capital to small black businesses in need. The investment fund has taken on a philanthropic role in the community by honoring the work of fellow business men and women in South Africa. Shared Interest has recognized many people including the Honorable Albie Sachs, Debra Lee, Jerry Dunfrey and Nadine Hack for their contributions both business and philanthropic in nature to building a better South Africa.

As a result of their continued initiatives to promote increased business and human rights standards, I hope that many more Americans will recognize the tireless efforts of Shared Interest and the need for further investment in minority owned and operated business within South Africa.

Madam Speaker, today I would like to recognize the historic governorship of David Alexander Paterson, who at the age of 53, has become the 55th Governor of the great State of New York. Mr. Paterson is New York State's first Black Governor. I would like to again wish New York's new Governor well, and support his efforts on behalf of the great State of New York. I would like to enter this March 25th editorial from the CaribNews entitled ``A Breath of Fresh Air in Albany'' into the Record.

Breath of Fresh Air Stirs Albany--Governor Paterson Takes Office as New

York's Chief Executive

``I am David Paterson and I am the Governor of New York

State.''

With those words and many more, David Alexander Paterson,

decisively assumed the mantle of office as the Chief

Executive of America's most influential state at the age of

53 years.

With the State's Chief Judge, Judith S. Kaye, administering

the oath office, the grandson of Caribbean immigrants was

sworn in on Monday as the 55th Governor of New York and the

third Black head of a state government in the more than 125

years after America's Reconstruction era.

It was truly a historic moment, filled with symbolism,

pageantry and realism. Few, if anyone present in the

legislature, who watched it on television or who listened to

the ceremony on the radio would forget the class act that

unfolded in Albany, the State capital.

Paterson's rise to the most powerful position in state

government was swift as it was stunning and despite the

unusual circumstances which led to his ascension--the forced

resignation of Eliot Spitzer after he became embroiled in a

lurid sex scandal involving high priced prostitutes--it was

clear that the transition had occurred smoothly and that

Paterson, a legally blind person, was and is in charge. His

presence at the helm is a sharp reminder of the changing

times in which we live. Who would have imagined a mere few

years ago that in the first decade of the 21st century, the

United States would be on the verge of electing a Black man,

Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, or a woman, U.S. Senator

Hillary Clinton, a Democrat of New York, as the next

President of the country or would have a Black person with

Jamaican and Grenadian roots occupying the Governor's mansion

in the Empire state or another Black as the chief executive

of Massachusetts.

It was not only pride that filled the hearts of New Yorkers

everywhere. It was also a sense that a decent human being who

had fought against the odds caused by his disability and

spawned by the ubiquitous nature of prejudice had prevailed.

U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel, Chairman of the House of

Representatives' powerful Ways and Means Committee, and an

icon on Capitol Hill and in Harlem summed up the situation

well in a ``Dear David'' letter to the new Governor when he

said: ``You have defied expectations, compiling a record of

accomplishment as a member and leader of the New York State

Senate. Now, as holder of the state's highest office, I am

confident that you will govern with the same wisdom and

leadership to make a positive difference in the lives of all

New Yorkers.''

The noble Congressman spoke for all of us.

In his short address after the official swearing in,

Governor Paterson went straight to the issues that could

define his administration: the need for jobs at a time of

economic crisis; the necessity to improve education and

reduce its costs to the taxpayers, students and their

parents; the need for improved health care; and the

importance of equity in society.

To get things done Paterson will need all of the goodwill

he can get from his colleagues in government and from those

whose taxes pay the bills. With the national economy in a

tailspin and with the state facing a gaping hole in its

budget of about $124 billion, fiscal prudence without

sacrificing quality of services and help for those who need

it the most must be a number one priority. The Governor,

Senate and Assembly must work closer together, something that

didn't happen at all during Spitzer's 16 months in office.

Paterson recognized that hard bit of reality and it was an

important message which he sent when he lamented, rather

briefly, about the absence of the cooperation in recent

times. And he did it without holding up Spitzer to ransom, so

to speak. An important signal was sent to everyone when some

former governors, George Pataki, a Republican, and Hugh

Carey, a Democrat made a point of being present and Paterson

went to great lengths to recognize them and others who can

make a difference in the weeks, months and the two and a half

years he has left to complete the four year term.

Standing alongside the Governor were his wife and children,

his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Basil Paterson, people known for

their grace and integrity. Their presence sent a message

about the value of family, something to which the state's

chief executive alluded when he sought to tell New Yorkers

something about himself and the role Harlem has played in his

life.

In his letter, Rangel, a long-time friend of the Paterson

family, reminded the Governor that as he faces the ``great

challenges'' which are ahead of him and the state, ``you are

not alone. Count me among the many New Yorkers who wish you

well and stand ready to support your efforts on behalf of the

great state of New York.''

We wish to join the choir and sing the chorus, not simply

with voices and lyrics but with sincere action.

Yes, there are difficult days ahead for most people in the

country. But with determination, clarity of thought and his

noted sense of humor, not to mention his decency we are

confident that the Governor and indeed the state will

succeed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the House Resolution commemorating the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In mourning the loss of Dr. King, we must also simultaneously celebrate the life and legacy of this courageous civil rights leader.

For the better part of his life, Dr. King stood in protest to inequality. He provided a voice to people once silenced by bigotry and intolerance. He preached nonviolence as a means of securing the fundamental principles of equality and justice, endowed to all people in the United States Constitution. Through his actions and life, Dr. King aided in creating the world we live in today. I am deeply humbled and inspired by his resolve to achieve change in America. Dr. King's work as a civil rights activist and leader has been studied in depth. But, often overlooked is his stance against the war in Vietnam. In the wake of Jeremiah White's comments, I believe that it is important to understand that Dr. King was more than the icon we have created in our efforts to sanctify him. Yes, he lifts the dreamer and man who worked for racial reconciliation, but he was as well a leader with a strong moral vision who was willing to call our great Nation to task when it failed to live up to the standards he saw created by our Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

Many parallels exist between Dr. King's opposition to the war in Vietnam and my opposition of the war in Iraq. Dr. King believed, as I believe, that the United States Government will never invest the necessary funds and energy required to improve the situation of the poor in America, as long as the country's resources are being diverted to a war. Similarly, Dr. King and I both agree that war disproportionately affects the poor, as more of them are sent to fight and die on foreign soil. As Dr. King once stated, ``A time comes when silence is betrayal,'' and today that time has come for us in relation to Iraq.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man of steadfast conviction, determination, sheer grit, and uncompromising faith. That is why today. I stand here advocating the House Resolution commemorating the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who has impacted the lives each and every American.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to declare that we have an emergency on our hands--not altogether new but altogether urgent. African Americans are hurting, caught in a justice system that disproportionately targets them, facing aggressive and often violent law enforcement, and victimized by a steady rise in racial intolerance and intimidation. These are Americans in need, and Americans of all stripes must find ways to come together in the spirit of compassion and generosity when our own is in need. That same spirit is required of us now, to move with all deliberate swiftness in correcting injustices and finding solutions to the disparate treatment of Blacks in this society.

In a recently released report from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, ``State of Emergency: Stemming the Tide of Injustice against African Americans,'' a solemn picture is depicted. Facing a startling number of police beatings, the shooting deaths of unarmed Blacks, and the excessive use of force against minority youth, a majority of Blacks today do not believe that police are held accountable for acts of misconduct, an NAACP survey finds. Even that perception, divorced from its almost-certain reality, is reason enough to be concerned. lust this past year, new cases of inexcusable police brutality sprung up across the country, many involving the deaths of young African Americans and the complete acquittal and absolution of the officers who perpetrated the offenses.

As the galvanizing Jena 6 case taught us, we sometimes treat our Black children harsher than we treat our White children in the courtroom. The NAACP report finds that when White and minority youth are charged with the same offenses, Black youth are six times more likely to be incarcerated than White youth are. We cannot afford to give up on any of our youth--Black or White--and we must commit the resources to invest in their rehabilitation and educations. We will, one day soon, rely on that generation.

The reemergence of the hangman's noose as a symbol of fervid threat and unspeakable hatred is more than troubling. It represents a regression in the remarkable progress we have made in this country in terns of race relations. Since early 2006, there have been 43 reported noose hangings, the overwhelming bulk of those, 32, since the Jena 6 rally this past September. The lackadaisical and nonchalant response on behalf of authorities seems to have spawned this new wave. We must send the clear message that these nooses are neither harmless nor ambiguous--they are unveiled throwbacks to a Jim Crow era of public lynchings and racist terrorism. It is as direct a threat as words can be and has no place in America but as sad artifacts of still-recent history. We are today, however, so much better than that.

We move forward now sobered by these unfortunate findings but focused on an optimistic plan that unifies all Americans in this call for greater equality. A community policing that trains officers in cultural awareness, teams tip officers with minority communities in a working relationship, and without bias prosecutes officers for misconduct works best. So, too, does a colorblind justice system that doles out punishment evenly and without prejudice, one that works to free our youth from lives of criminality and tap, instead, into their reservoir of talents and skills.

I have no doubt the American people have the commitment and resolve to get this done. I am hopeful that for our government, our law enforcement, our justice system, we can say the same.

State of Emergency: Stemming the Tide of Injustice Against African

Americans

Introduction: State of Emergency

The case in which six black teens were arrested and charged

with attempted murder for their part in a fight with fellow

white students in Jena, Louisiana captured the country's

attention. How is it that the black teens involved in the

fight could be charged with attempted murder while the white

students, whose racially-motivated actions presumably led to

the schoolyard tussle, receive little more than a slap on the

wrist?

Unfortunately, Jena is not an isolated case; rather, it is

but one of many that are reminiscent of a disturbing trend

involving the disparate treatment of African Americans in the

criminal justice system. The latest examples include a boot

camp beating death and an assault of black youths by

representatives of law enforcement. In addition to the

reprehensible treatment of youth at the hands of law

enforcement officials, there has also been a startling

increase in the number of hangman's noose sightings around

the country.

If one were to take the aforementioned examples, coupled

with the fact that racial harassment complaints filed with

the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) have more

than doubled from just over 2,000 in 1991 to roughly 7,000

today, I one might conclude that a steady stream of racial

intolerance has resurfaced. Some individuals might view the

series of incidents

noted throughout this report as isolated incidents; others

will view them as part of a larger systemic tide stubbornly

connected to the history of American race relations. What is

clear to anyone who cares about civil rights, however, is

that the disparate treatment of blacks in the justice

system accompanied by racial intimidation is unacceptable.

Not only do the police beatings, disparate sentencing

cases, and noose hangings suggest movement toward a more

hostile environment directed at blacks, but they call into

question the extent to which African Americans really are

viewed as a part of the American collective. A recent NAACP

survey found that a majority of blacks do not believe the

police are held accountable for acts of misconduct including,

excessive use of force. Furthermore, they believe that when

police use excessive force, they are more likely to exact it

against African Americans than other racial and ethnic

groups. The sentiment expressed by blacks in this survey is

not new and demonstrates a consistency in the belief that

``the system'' works differently for blacks and whites. The

disparate treatment of the Jena 6 defendants, the shooting

deaths of unarmed blacks, and even the disparity in the rate

at which black and Latino motorists are stopped and searched

for drugs even though they are less likely than whites to

actually have them, all serve to intensify the feelings of

skepticism and mistrust toward the American criminal justice

system.

It is in this context that the NAACP declares a State of

Emergency.

the context of injustice today: police misconduct, prosecutorial

discretion, and racial intimidation

police misconduct

Regrettably, many African Americans are aware of police

misconduct in this nation's history, be it in the form of

excessive use of force, brutality, or racial profiling.

Oftentimes this familiarity is a result of first-hand

experience or that of family members or friends. Therefore,

the more recent instances of police misconduct, no matter how

shocking, confirm what many blacks already believe about the

American criminal justice system: that justice is not always

leveraged fairly. Indeed, when law enforcement officials who

are charged with beatings or other forms of misconduct are

acquitted, the assertion of an unequal system is further

corroborated. What follows are examples of alleged incidents

involving black youth and adult mistreatment, death, or both

at the hands of police since 1999.

New York--18-year-old Khiel Coppin was shot 20 times when

five officers opened fire killing him. Police believed Coppin

was holding a gun; it turned out to be a hairbrush. (2007)

Florida--15-year-old Shelwanda Riley was thrown around,

punched, and pepper sprayed by a police officer, a man twice

her size, as he tried to arrest her for a non-violent curfew

violation. (2007)

Maryland--17-year-old Isaiah Simmons died after struggling

with several adult staff members of a residential program

under contract with the Maryland Department of Juvenile

Services. Witnesses and staff sat on Simmons' limbs, chest

and head. The state medical examiner ruled his death a

homicide, however, the staffers were charged with reckless

endangerment--a misdemeanor. (2007)

Washington, DC--14-year-old DeOnte' Rawlings was fatally

shot by an off-duty officer for allegedly stealing a mini-

bike and shooting at the officer during a foot chase. An

autopsy found no gunshot residue on Rawlings and several

suspicious injuries to his elbows, knees and face. (2007)

Florida--14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson died while in

custody at the Bay County Boot Camp. An all-white jury

acquitted deputies and a nurse who participated in the

videotaped violent abuse that resulted in Anderson's death.

(2006)

New York--23-year-old Sean Bell was leaving a bar after his

bachelor party unaware that he and his friends were being

followed by an undercover officer. Once accosted by the

officer a confrontation ensued in which the officer said he

believed Bell and his friends were going to retrieve a gun.

During that confrontation, five officers fired 50 shots at

the men's car, killing Bell and wounding his fiends. No gun

was found in the car. (2006)

Georgia--Kathryn Johnston, an elderly woman, was shot 30

times by Atlanta police who entered her home with a

fraudulent warrant. Two or three officers involved plead

guilty to manslaughter. (2006)

Wisconsin--Frank Jude was beaten at a house party while

unarmed. The three off-duty Milwaukee police officers were

charged but acquitted. (2004)

New York--19-year-old Timothy Stansbury was shot and killed

by police as he was attempting to climb to a rooftop with a

pile of CDs in his pants. He was using the rooftop as a

shortcut to go to a party in an adjacent building. The

officer claimed he fired at Stansbury by accident and was

cleared of criminal responsibility. (2004)

California--16-year-old Donovan Jackson-Chavis was slammed

to the ground, tossed into the air, and bounced on the hood

of a squad car and chocked by police as they handcuffed him

for allegedly not dropping a bag of potato chips at a

convenience store. The incident was videotaped. (2002)

Ohio--Timothy Thomas was fatally shot by police during a

foot chase. Cincinnati Police said Thomas, who was wanted for

traffic violations, was reaching for a gun. An investigation

showed that Thomas was unarmed and was holding his pants up

as he ran. The officer was cleared on the shooting charges.

(2001)

New York--Amadou Diallo was killed when police shot him 41

times. He was unarmed. (1999)

prosecutors and judges: courtroom injustice

According to a report on racial disparities in the juvenile

system, although minority youth are one-third of the

adolescent population in the United States, they are two-

thirds of the more than 100,000 young people confined to

local detention and state correctional systems. The report

notes that when white youth and minority youth are charged

with the same offenses, black youth with no prior

admissions are six times more likely to be incarcerated

than white youth with the same background. Latino youth

are three times more likely than white youth to be

incarcerated. Additionally, youth cases that are sent to

the adult court system involve black defendants at least

fifty percent of the time--a number that increases to

sixty-three percent when the cases involve drugs.

Nationally, custody rates are five times greater for

African American youth than for white youth, and among all

offense categories, white youth are more likely than

minority youth to be placed on probation.

Judges and prosecutors have a certain amount of discretion

within the confines of the law to determine which charges to

seek in a given case. However, as the examples below suggest,

prosecutors and judges can and do exact uneven punishment by

using the law in unintended ways. This is not a minor issue

of concern if one considers that abuse of sentencing power

has the potential to destroy lives.

recent examples:

Marcus Dixon--a Georgia high-school honors student was

charged with rape, assault and aggravated child molestation

for having consensual intercourse with a younger white

classmate. Dixon was held for over a year; his 10-year

conviction was overturned once it was discovered that the

Georgia prosecutor had misled jurors.

Genarlow Wilson--a talented Georgia high-school student and

athlete was sentenced to 10 years for having consensual oral

sex with a younger classmate. Wilson's felony conviction of

aggravated child molestation was recently amended to a

misdemeanor, however, Wilson spent more than two years in

prison. Interestingly, as Wilson was being sentenced to 10

years in prison, a white 27 year-old Georgia high school

teacher who had sexual intercourse with a 16 year-old male

student was sentenced to 90 days in jail and probation.

Mychal Bell--a Louisiana high-school student charged with

attempted murder for a fight that ensued between six black

students and white students following a noose hanging on the

school's unofficial ``white tree.'' The white students

involved in the fight were expelled and then later reinstated

but not arrested, despite having engaged in other incidents

against the black students. The black students were charged

as adults with attempted murder for their part in the fight.

No one was ever arrested for hanging the noose on the tree.

Shaquanda Cotton--a 14 year-old Paris, TX freshman shoved a

hall monitor in a dispute over entering the building before

the school day started. The hall monitor was not seriously

injured but Cotton was convicted of assault of a public

servant and sentenced to prison for up to 7 years. Meanwhile,

a 14 year-old white girl was convicted of burning down her

family's home and received probation. In the same town of

Paris, a 19 year-old white man was convicted of negligent

vehicular homicide for killing a black woman and her

grandson. He received probation and was ordered to send

annual Christmas cards to the victims' family.

racial harassment and intimidation: noose hangings

``What's the big deal? It's only a noose...'' Why the

hangman's noose is so offensive. The hangman's noose is a

symbol of the racist, segregation-era violence enacted on

blacks. A frequent part of the Jim Crow Southern way of life,

it is an unmistakable symbol of violence and terror that

whites used to demonstrate their hatred for blacks. The noose

was not used as a mechanism to punish an individual; it was

used to send a message to blacks in general about respecting

the racial boundaries and to not ``get out of place.''

Similar to a burning cross on a lawn, a noose is not an

ambiguous symbol. In the pre-civil rights era the noose was a

very specific artifact used in the lynching of blacks.

Lynchings were big community events in which hundreds of

white families would come to watch a black man being burned

and mutilated before he was hung. Those in attendance would

even pose for pictures with the charred body.

Since the dangling noose from a schoolyard tree raised

racial tensions in Jena, Louisiana last year, the symbol of

segregation-era lynchings has turned up at an alarming rate

all around the country. Some have been found in fire stations

and police stations, in truck yards and construction sites,

in corporate places of business, and on college campuses.

What follows is an overview of reported noose hangings since

early 2006.

At the time of this report's release 43 known noose

hangings have occurred since early 2006. A review of the

occurrences shows

a pattern of noose hanging incidents in places of business

and in school environments, with a significant increase

following the media attention given to the Jena 6 case and

the subsequent rally. That is, 11 cases were noted between

February 2006 and August 2007; however, 32 noose incidents

occur following the Jena 6 rally that took place in

September. A strong pattern of noose hanging incidents seems

to emerge in the northeast and southeast regions of the

country.

Madam Speaker, today I would like to introduce and recognize Cafe 2115 in my home community, an example of the dining and retail renaissance in Harlem, and to enter into the Record an article from New York CaribNews for the week ending March 4, 2008, ``Harlem's Finest with African Flavor.''

Cafe 2115, recently opened at 2115 Frederick Douglas Boulevard, blends traditional African dishes with American fare and other delicacies from around the world. The owner, Abe Fofanah is a native of Sierra Leone, who came to the United States in 1998.

People who live in Harlem now have multiple options for shopping and dining that do not require them to leave the community. This is but one example of the richness of new restaurants and retail outlets that are opening in the 15th Congressional District on a daily basis. There is a renaissance occurring in Harlem.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight Major League Baseball's ongoing effort to reach out to minority communities and introduce a press release describing said effort. The league will host the first Urban Invitational Baseball Tournament, fielding two historically black colleges in recognition of its need to revitalize baseball in the African American community. Baseball should be committed not only to boasting diversity in its rosters, but to enjoy that same minority representation in its coaches, in its management, and in its viewership.

On the heels of the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's historic breaking of the color barrier, the league has targeted urban youth and pledged its resources to bring them back to the sport. African Americans have played integral roles in the illustrious story of baseball, and it is a connection worth saving.

Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy To Host First Urban

Invitational Baseball Tournament

Major League Baseball today announced that the Major League

Baseball Urban Youth Academy will host its first Urban

Invitational Baseball Tournament from February 29-March 2.

Two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs),

Bethune-Cookman University (Daytona Beach, FL) and Southern

University (Baton Rouge, LA), will face off against

collegiate baseball powerhouses UCLA and USC. The

participation of HBCUs in the Urban Invitational is part of

MLB's ongoing diversity and youth initiatives.

``The Urban Invitational Baseball Tournament is a part of

our continued focus on reviving the majesty of baseball in

the African American community,'' said Major League Baseball

Executive Vice President of Operations Jimmie Lee Solomon.

``This tournament, along with the other programs at the MLB

Urban Youth Academy, the Civil Rights Game and many of our

other efforts, is reflective of the League's commitment to

diversity, inclusion and engagement of our nation's young

people. Our goal is to make sure that every child who wants

to play baseball has an opportunity to do so.''

Tournament games will be played at the MLB Urban Youth

Academy, USC's Dedeaux Field and UCLA's Jackie Robinson

Stadium beginning Friday, February 29 and continuing through

Sunday, March 2. Both games on Saturday, March 1, 2008, will

be played at the MLB Urban Youth Academy and broadcast live

on ESPN2. Fans attending on that day will also be entertained

by a live performance of Southern University's, ``Human

Jukebox'' and USC's Trojan Marching Band, as they bring their

unique musical performances to Compton, California. Bethune-

Cookman University and Southern University baseball teams

will square off against each other at 1 p.m. (PST) on Sunday

at the Academy.

``ESPN is proud to be associated with Major League

Baseball's urban initiatives,'' said Len DeLuca, ESPN Senior

Vice President, Programming and Acquisitions. ``The

second Civil Rights Game and new Urban Invitational--40 years

since the tragic death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.--are on

the heels of our observance last year of the 60th anniversary

of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. ESPN is

honored to join with MLB to celebrate baseball's cultural

history.''

Tickets to the games being played at the MLB Urban Youth

Academy will be available for purchase on game day for $5.

Proceeds from the ticket sale will benefit the Major League

Baseball Urban Youth Academy, which is a not-for-profit 501

(c)(3) corporation.

``On behalf of our team, I would like to say how honored we

are to have been invited to an event like this, especially in

its first year,'' said Bethune-Cookman Coach Mervyl Melendez.

``We hope that the Urban Invitational Baseball Tournament

continues to grow and more people notice what Major League

Baseball is doing for college baseball and Historically Black

Colleges.''

``Our program is very excited to represent UCLA in the

tournament at the MLB Academy,'' said UCLA coach John Savage.

``We are honored to be able to play in the inaugural event.

Our players are looking forward to the exciting weekend of

baseball.''

Major League Baseball is committed to addressing the issue

of African American participation in professional baseball.

Through Reviving Baseball in the hinder Cities presented by

KPMG and the establishment of the Major League Baseball Urban

Youth Academy in Compton, California, MLB has pledged its

resources to bringing urban youth back to America's pastime.

The inaugural Civil Rights Game in 2007 also reinforced the

League's dedication by paying tribute to legendary African-

American players who broke barriers and made important

contributions to American society.

HBCUs have long offered quality education and athletic

programs and have a proud tradition of outstanding baseball

players. Hall of Farrier Lou Brock, former most valuable

player Andre Dawson and current Milwaukee Brewers star Rickie

Weeks, all rose from HBCUs. Twelve HBCU players were selected

in the MLB 2007 First-Year Player Draft. Through the annual

Urban Invitational Baseball Tournament, MLB hopes to help

these programs revitalize baseball in the African American

community.

The MLB Urban Youth Baseball Academy encompasses more than

15 acres on the campus of El Camino College, Compton Center,

the Academy is a state-of-the-art facility featuring four

fields including a show field, batting cages and other

training facilities. The Academy operates on a year-round

basis, offering free baseball and softball instruction, as

well as clinics to youth throughout Southern California.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to note the work Tonya Kinlow has undertaken as the District's Ombudsman for Schools. That office provides a venue for parents, teachers, and students to voice their frustrations and dissatisfaction with the low-performing school system, and to have investigations launched in order to address those complaints. Kinlow has an impressive record--she, of course, once worked for my office--and she demonstrates a fierce commitment to service that should serve her well in her new post.

She served on the DC and State boards of education and was a board member of the education advocacy group, DC Voice. She was most recently the vice president of government relations for the DC Hospital Association. And as a part of the Rangel family, she executed her tasks superbly well and with an unmatched attention to detail. I am proud of her accomplishments and the many great things she is poised to do.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Grenada on the commemoration of its political independence and to commend its selection of Eric Matthew Gairy, the country's first prime minister, as its first national hero. He led his country to independence from Britain in 1974 and served out his term amidst those politically charged and tense early years.

It is imperative for a nation seeking to move forward to cull its collective memory and pay homage to the men and women whose sacrifice and heroism in the past created the opportunities of the present. Grenada is applauded for its efforts to do just that, announcing along with Gairy 15 other awardees who have stood up for the island nation over the course of its 34 years. Congratulations, Grenada.

Grenada: Eric Gairy National Hero

St. Georges's Grenada, CMC.--Former Prime Minister Sir Eric

Matthew Gairy was named as the country's first National Hero

and a number of outstanding nationals honoured as Grenadians

celebrated 34 years of political independence from Britain.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell announced that Gairy, who

became this Caribbean country's first Prime Minister after

leading the former British colony into Independence on

February 7, 1974, would be the nation's first hero under the

recently passed National Honours Act.

The new piece of legislation provides for 15 people to be

recognised annually for outstanding services to Grenada as

part of the independence celebrations.

Among the first batch of awardees was deceased Grenadian-

born regional broadcaster Leslie Seon and Leslie Pierre,

editor of the weekly Grenadian Voice newspaper, who was made

a Knight Commander for his contribution towards the

development of the Scout Movement and Journalism in the

island.

``Well I don't know who put my name there but I have done

my part,'' said Pierre, who was putting together this

weekend's edition when the representative of the National

Hero's Commission made the announcement to the thousands who

were attending Independence Day celebrations at the National

Stadium.

The other awardees announced by the Committee include

former teachers Eleanor Pilgrim and Lorraine Ramdhanny who

received the Spice Isle Award. This award is awarded to two

people who have rendered valuable service to Grenada in any

field of human endeavour or for other humane action.

Joel Mark and Veronica Alexis received the Camerhogne

Award, which is awarded to two citizens who rendered

meritorious service in the furtherance of national prestige

or for gallantry. Mark was the first Grenadian Sailor to

cross the Atlantic on a solo voyage while Alexis is a retired

nurse.

The Medal of Honour was presented to Commissioner of Police

Winston James; former Principal Ursula Antoine and well known

mas player Evelyn Mark.

Honorary awards, which are presented to non Grenadians

whose work has impacted on the development of Grenada, went

to USA citizen Rev. Melville Schaper and Formula One racer

Lewis Hamilton, whose parents are from Grenada.

Schaper is the founder of the St. John Christian Secondary

School which was opened here 42 years ago in one of the most

rural villages in the country.

Governor General Sir Daniel Williams was honoured with the

first Companion of the Order of Grenada award.

In his address Prime Minister Mitchell indicated that the

later in the year a number of streets and buildings will be

named after some prominent Grenadians who have made

significant contributions towards the island since gaining

independence 34th years ago.

``This Government is of the view that after 34 years of

independence, it was time to develop a system that recognized

Grenadians from every background all of whom have done many

different types of work in building our nation and shaping

our society.

``There are those who have made genuine contributions to

our industrial development as a whole and who have headed up

major initiatives in the corporate sector or who have given

outstanding service to the community. Our new system of

national awards sought to recognise them all,'' the Prime

Minister said.

On the eve of independence the main opposition National

Democratic Congress (NDC) called on the Mitchell

administration to commit to naming the country's

international airport after former leftist prime minister

Maurice Bishop.

``We believe that the time has come, as this whole nation

is moving towards genuine reconciliation and an understanding

of its history, that the airport be named after the leader

who perhaps did the most for its coming into being,'' NDC

Deputy political leader, George Prime said.

The Point Salines International Airport was constructed

under Bishop's administration with Cuban aid.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my delight that immigrants have carved out a sacrosanct place in the American story and accordingly introduce a New York Daily News piece showcasing that contribution. The vivacity and freshness that come with a heavy immigrant population has been a defining characteristic of New York City--and we have been the better for it. We define ourselves as a city of immigrants and recognize the importance of the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of what has helped make our city great. We live immersed in a potpourri of culture, all components distinctly American but each with flair and a kaleidoscopic beauty.

Our children have benefitted most from this variety, learning not just from their teachers, but from a diverse cast of neighbors and peers. The February 14 article--``Immigrants' Stories Not Foreign to Kids''--narrates the story of a New York classroom filled with Americans, through and through, all with ancestral ties to foreign nations. This newest generation will inherit this country far better equipped to be citizens of the world than generations before them. They are bound by a fervid love and allegiance to America, their home, married with a sensitivity and respect for our global neighbors.

It is a good day in America when our commonalities bind us, and our differences bring us that much closer.

Immigrants' Stories Not Foreign To Kids

It's a wonder immigrants in the U.S. haven't been blamed

for global warming. After all, from the crumbling economy to

increases in crime, they've been accused of just about every

other of society's ills.

Which is why walking on Tuesday into teachers Joe Briscat

and Kristen Grolimund's fourth-grade class at Public School

199 in Long Island City was so uplifting. Their students are

lively, smart, curious and diverse, everything you would

expect from New York kids. And as it can happen only in this

city, particularly in Queens, they--or their parents--come

from 11 different countries.

``Raise your hand if your parents came from a foreign

country,'' the group of 24 9- and 10-year-olds was asked. All

the students did.

There was Anita, a self-assured 9-year-old with big green

eyes who wants to be a doctor. A Muslim, she was wearing a

beautiful gold head scarf.

``My parents are from Yugoslavia, but I was born here. I am

a citizen,'' she said proudly.

And there was Angel, also 9, with a ready smile and

mischievous eyes, who wants to grow up to be a pilot. He came

from Mexico with his parents, as did Maura, who is tall for

her 9 years and very shy.

``I want to be a teacher,'' she said.

Tenzin, 9, was born in Tibet and was not shy at all. And

Shrabonti, 10, arrived in New York from Bangladesh and is

proud of her good grades.

``I love school,'' she said.

That's why ``A City of Immigrants--Dreams and Realities of

Life in New York, 1840-2007,'' the history course Briscat and

Grolimund are teaching, is so appropriate. For these kids,

history is more than learning about events that took place

many years before they were born.

For them, the history of New York is their own and that of

their parents; it is the struggle and the hopes and dreams of

people like themselves who make our city vibrant and alive

and unique.

``Immigration has defined the history of New York City,''

reads the introduction to the curriculum of ``A City of

Immigrants,'' which was developed by the LaGuardia and Wagner

Archives of LaGuardia Community College.

This became even more evident for the students on Tuesday,

when three of the people they had been studying in class--all

of whom have their immigrant experiences chronicled in the

fourth-grade curriculum of ``A City of Immigrants''--came to

visit them.

Esther Levine, born in 1919, was the daughter of Morris

Levine, one of millions of Eastern European Jews who fled

religious persecution from the 1880s through the 1920s.

She told the children about her father, who became a

traveling salesman, about Dora, her mother, and their life on

Essex St. on a very different lower East Side of Manhattan.

Juan Rodriguez, a graphic designer at LaGuardia, a

Dominican immigrant in his mid-30s, dreamed of being a

baseball player. The kids were fascinated by his tale of

playing pelota with a glove made from cardboard in his native

country when he was about their age.

Fern Kahn, a former associate dean at LaGuardia, told the

children about her life in New York in the 1950s, when she

arrived from Jamaica to study at NYU. But it was when she

spoke about her native country, and how she kept close ties

with its culture, that the children could not stop asking

questions.

``Many fourth- and fifth-graders, especially those in

public schools in Queens, are members of these ethnic

groups,'' said Richard Lieberman, the archives director. ``By

inviting Fern, Juan and Esther to speak to the class, the

children will gain an understanding of their own place in

history and the important role they play in American

society.''

They, these diverse New York children, will be the doctors,

pilots and teachers of the future. And they will keep writing

the history of our vibrant and unique city, which is, after

all is said and done, their own story.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the everlasting accomplishments and contributions of women as we look to celebrate National Women's History beyond the month of March.

This year's theme, as resolved by the House of Representatives on March 4, 2008, was to increase awareness and knowledge of women's involvement in history. It is an effort that is long overdue. Women have been pillars in our communities for centuries despite the sexism and discrimination that have limited their opportunities to succeed across all fields and disciplines. Their stories are undeniably woven in the fabric of our history, from colonial times up through today.

The fight of our sisters and mothers to overcome stereotypes and other obstacles has helped carry out the promise of our democracy and drawn us closer to a more perfect union. The names of those who have broken through the barriers of the status quo include Harriet Tubman, whose stewardship of the Underground Railroad helped free hundreds of thousands of African American slaves; Elizabeth Cady Stanton, whose activism pushed open the ballot box and made it possible for all women to vote; Rosa Parks, whose refusal to move to the back of an Alabama bus jumpstarted the modern civil rights movement; and Dolores Huerta, who, as co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union, helped secure fair wages and working conditions for thousands of rural and urban workers.

In our very own House of Representatives, the list of heroes includes the first woman in the U.S. Congress, Rep. Jeannette Rankin, and Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the U.S. Congress who later become the first female and black Presidential candidate. It includes our very Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, who last year became the first woman elected to lead this grand Chamber.

My district, New York's 15th Congressional District, is not without its share of accomplished heroines. It is home to accomplished community leaders like Dr. Ramona Hernandez, Director of the Dominican Studies Institute at the City University of New York; technology advocate Dr. Georgina Falu, founder and president of the Falu Foundation; prominent Harlem physician and activist Dr. Muriel Marjorie Petioni; and Susan Susman, founder of the Preserve West Park North Coalition, who is an active member of the Mitchell Lama Residents Coalition and fierce housing activist. These are just some of the extraordinary residents whose accomplishments sometimes go unnoticed by the media but who are working continually to improve the lives of their families and their communities.

So Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in recognizing the contributions made and realities faced by women in the month of March and every day of the year. It is an effort that will bring us one step closer to a Nation that not only values equality and justice but is also firmly committed to securing it for all.