[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO ESTHER K. SHAPIRO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 29, 2000

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, today I honor Esther K. Shapiro who will be 
awarded the Anti-Defamation Lifetime Achievement Award on April 4, 
2000. This is indeed a high honor.
  Esther Shapiro has devoted her life to social justice and civil 
rights. Her passion for human rights is longstanding. It began in the 
1940's when Esther and her late husband, Harold, were evicted for 
hosting an African-American in their government-owned housing.
  In the 1960's, she was drawn to the civil rights activities in the 
Deep South, and was part of the Michigan Friends of the South, an 
organization that courageously supported the efforts of Martin Luther 
King, Jr., the Freedom Marchers.
  In her hometown, Detroit, Esther devoted her effort to win equal 
opportunities in housing, labor and politics for African-Americans. She 
was the first director of Detroit's Consumer Affairs Department where 
she worked to protect all consumers from abuse and scams.
  Although recently retired, Esther Shapiro remains an activist as a 
consumer consultant to non-profit, government and business 
organizations, and currently serves as advisor on consumer affairs to 
Councilwoman Maryann Mahaffey, President Pro-Tem of the Detroit City 
Council.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating this 
remarkable woman, Esther K. Shapiro, for her passion for human rights. 
I wish her good health and happiness as she continues to make this 
world a better place for all.

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