[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 29 (Friday, March 11, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S2531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF FERN HOLLAND

  On Thursday, March 10, 2005, the Senate passed S. Res. 80, as 
follows:

                               S. Res. 80

       Whereas the Senate remembers with great sadness the murder 
     of Fern Holland near the Iraqi city of Karbala at the age of 
     33 on March 9, 2004;
       Whereas Fern Holland, born in Bluejacket, Oklahoma, on 
     August 5, 1970, lived her life committed to creating the most 
     equal and just global society possible;
       Whereas Fern Holland graduated with honors in psychology at 
     Oklahoma University and actively sought to help the world 
     through caring for children dying of nuclear-related diseases 
     in Russia and teaching kids in a squatter camp in South 
     Africa;
       Whereas in the spring of 2000, Fern Holland worked for the 
     Peace Corps as a human rights legal advisor in West Africa;
       Whereas in 2003, Fern Holland went to investigate alleged 
     human rights violations for the American Refugee Committee at 
     a refugee camp in Guinea where she established a legal clinic 
     to seek justice for victims of human rights violations, and 
     which, at the time of her death in 2004, had handled 118 
     cases on behalf of victims of human rights violations;
       Whereas in May 2003, Fern Holland went to Iraq as a United 
     States Agency for International Development employee to work 
     for women's rights;
       Whereas in Iraq, Fern Holland organized human rights 
     groups, opened 6 women's centers in south Baghdad, and acted 
     as a strong advocate for Iraqi women's rights;
       Whereas after Fern Holland's death, leading feminists 
     issued statements praising her work;
       Whereas residents of the refugee camp in Guinea renamed the 
     legal clinic Fern Holland established the ``Fern Holland 
     Legal Aid Clinic of Nzerekore'';
       Whereas the high school Fern Holland attended in Miami, 
     Florida observed a moment of silence and then discussed a 
     memorial to honor her;
       Whereas the Cherokee Nation honored Fern Holland by passing 
     a resolution saying she ``died as a warrior'';
       Whereas Fern Holland was posthumously named a Heroic 
     Oklahoman on April 7, 2004, by Governor Brad Henry; and
       Whereas Fern Holland devoted her brief life to promoting 
     her belief in basic human rights and the rule of law: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes that, in Fern Holland, the World has lost 
     one of its most devoted and hard working human rights 
     activists;
       (2) honors Fern Holland in her extreme dedication to making 
     the world a better place; and
       (3) expresses its deep and heartfelt condolences to the 
     family of Fern Holland on their loss.

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