[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 108 (Monday, September 13, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H7040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING LU PALMER AS A FORCE IN COMMUNITY LIFE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. 
Lutrell ``Lu'' Palmer, a noted and respected Chicago leader and 
national leader. I am saddened to announce that Lu Palmer has been 
called to glory by our God in Heaven. He made his transition early 
Sunday morning at his home.
  Lu Palmer's life was a life of courage, commitment, and compassion. 
His extraordinary sacrifices made on behalf of the voiceless, the 
disinherited, and the disadvantaged are legendary. Lu Palmer sacrificed 
a successful career as a columnist for the Chicago Sun Times because he 
would not compromise his principles and write what the editors wanted. 
He resigned rather than cave in to those who tried to silence and 
censor his voice.
  Mr. Palmer's radio commentaries on WVON entitled ``Lu's Notebook'' 
were heard on radio each and every day. And again, although his 
commentaries were very popular and eagerly anticipated by thousands of 
listeners, his sponsors tried to again silence his voice by withdrawing 
their sponsorship, thereby removing his ``Lu's Notebook'' from the 
radio waves. Lu Palmer remained steadfast. Lu Palmer still would not be 
silenced.
  Mr. Palmer's community activism created a campaign which ultimately 
elected Harold Washington as the first black mayor of the city of 
Chicago. His ``We shall see in '83'' motivated a movement the likes of 
which were and still are unprecedented.
  Mr. Speaker, it is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to 
capture Lu Palmer's life in the brief time that I have. The impact that 
Lu Palmer has made on the local and national arena will require much 
more than what is encapsulated here. All over the country, Lu Palmer 
has conducted seminars and has participated in workshops where his 
expertise and his messages have been that of imparting valuable 
information and providing direction for untold masses of people from 
Boston to Marquette University, to Carlton and St. Olaf's College, to 
Valparaiso, to Missouri and Colorado and Mississippi and Georgia, and 
to countless other States and college campuses and meeting halls. He 
transmitted a powerful image to and for the enrichment and uplifting of 
African Americans.
  In Chicago, alone, Lu Palmer led such fights as the removal of 
asbestos from Chicago public schools and the fight against the wrongful 
draft of African Americans in the armed services. Behind the scenes, he 
helped in the mobilization to unseat the notorious Edward Hanrahan as 
Cook County state's attorney after the murders of Fred Hampton and Mark 
Clark of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, and he also 
provided assistance in the mobilization against police brutality in the 
1970s.
  Lu Palmer also provided vital research to the groups that fought 
overcrowding of schools in African American neighborhoods and did the 
same for groups that coalesced to have the first African American 
selected as the superintendent of the Chicago School Board. This group 
ultimately became CBUC, Chicago Black United Communities.
  In 1981, the organization launched a historical march toward a black 
mayor, and it was very successful. It was Lu Palmer who solidified 
Kwanzaa as an African American observance. On his above-mentioned radio 
program, he presented the 12 principles of Nguzo Saba on a daily basis, 
to the extent that listeners began to understand, absorb, and seek more 
clarity and participation in the African-based cultural rhythms.
  Thousands and thousands read Lu Palmer's articles and columns in mass 
media newspapers, but even more heard his insightful and incisive 
commentaries on ``Lu's Notebook.''
  Mr. Speaker, Lu Palmer made his transition. We have lost a giant. 
And, Mr. Speaker, my condolences and the condolences of my family are 
extended to Georgia Palmer and to her entire family. We mourn the loss 
of Lutrell ``Lu'' Palmer. We will miss him.
  Carry on, brother. God bless.

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