[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 29, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E757-E758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND COURAGE OF MARVIN JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2008

  Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the lifelong work of 
a true fighter for civil liberties and civil rights, Marvin Johnson. 
Sadly, Marv passed away on March 21, after a long battle with 
complications from diabetes. It is a personal loss to those who knew 
him as a friend and colleague, and a loss to the many Americans who 
will never know how tirelessly he fought for their rights, sometimes 
against great odds, and often for the truly unpopular cause.
  At the time of his passing, Marv was the first amendment counsel at 
the American Civil Liberties Union's Washington Legislative Office, a 
position he held for 8 years. During that time, he led many of the 
fights to protect the first amendment and our fundamental freedoms. He 
fought to ensure that all Americans enjoyed their freedom of 
expression, not only in print or in the public square, but also in ways 
that the framers never could have imagined--on television or on the 
internet.
  Marv also wrote two reports detailing the dangers of domestic spying 
by Federal law enforcement, including an examination of the tactics 
used by our Government against Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As we now 
struggle to regain these precious constitutional rights, Marv's work 
has become even more important. As Marv wrote, ``American citizens must 
once again be confident they may exercise their constitutionally 
protected right to protest government policy without becoming targets 
of government scrutiny.''
  Marv was also an outstanding resource. His vast knowledge and sound 
judgment were always ready to aid us in our work. As the Chair of the 
Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, I 
always valued Marv's views, even on those occasions where we disagreed.
  Prior to his time in Washington, Marv was the Executive Director of 
the ACLU of Wyoming and before that, he was its board chair.

[[Page E758]]

During his tenure as executive director a notorious hate crime was 
committed against a young gay man, Matthew Sheppard. That vicious 
murder is now infamous. Marv Johnson led the Wyoming LGBT and civil 
liberties communities during that difficult time. Marv also 
successfully resolved numerous first amendment cases in Wyoming, and he 
has a long list of legislative accomplishments.
  Before his time at the ACLU of Wyoming, Marv worked as an attorney in 
private practice. He also served in the Air Force as a Judge Advocate 
General, including two years as the Chief of Military Justice for F.E. 
Warren Air Force Base.
  Marv Johnson is survived by his wife Billie Ruth Edwards, who has 
also devoted her life to fighting for civil liberties. My deepest 
sympathies go out to her.
  Madam Speaker, those of us who had the privilege of knowing Marv 
Johnson and working with him will remember his dedication to justice 
and human rights, his legal and political acumen, and his capacity for 
hard work. We will also remember his personal decency and good humor 
which seemed always there just when we needed it most. America is a 
better Nation because people like Marv are willing to fight for what is 
right even when that is profoundly unpopular. He enriched the lives of 
those who knew him. We will all miss his sharp wit and deep-rooted 
passion for liberty and freedom. I can think of no better way to 
remember and honor him than to continue his work with the same fearless 
passion he brought to everything he did.

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