[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 71 (Thursday, May 1, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S3695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OMAHA STAR

 Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, today I wish to honor 
the Omaha Star, the largest and oldest African-American newspaper in my 
home State of Nebraska. The Star is celebrating its 70th Anniversary 
this year.
  The Omaha Star is currently distributed in 48 States, as the paper 
has become legendary for its civil rights work. Since its beginning, 
the Star has been a champion in the struggle for equal rights.
  The Omaha Star was founded in 1938 by the late Mildred Brown, a 
remarkable person in her own right, who was also the aunt of the 
current publisher and editor, Dr. Marguerita L. Washington. Mrs. 
Brown's foresight and pioneering spirit in establishing the Star 
required not only a dedicated amount of time and effort, but also 
courage and vigilance. Her efforts paid off, as the paper continues to 
educate and advocate; and Mrs. Brown was posthumously inducted into the 
Nebraska Journalism Hall of Fame this past year.
  In addition, the building housing the Omaha Star was listed on the 
National Register of Historic Places in January. Mrs. Brown allowed the 
Star to provide a home for the De Porres Club, an active civil rights 
organization within the North Omaha community. The Star also kept its 
readership apprised of the civil rights movement's successes and 
failures across the country by researching the issues and urging 
involvement.
  The Omaha Star's mission states that it is ``dedicated to the service 
of the people that no good cause shall lack a champion and that evil 
shall not go unopposed.'' My fellow Nebraskans and I take great pride 
in knowing that the Star has faithfully abided by this mission 
throughout its 70 years of existence, and we will continue to follow 
the Omaha Star on its spirited journey to provide a voice for civil 
rights and equality for all.

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