[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              HONORING THE NAACP ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 10, 2009

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a co-sponsor and strong 
supporter of H. Con. Res. 35, a resolution to recognize the 100th 
anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
People (NAACP) and acknowledge the numerous contributions of the NAACP 
in helping create a more just and equitable society.
  The NAACP is the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the 
United States. For the past 100 years, the association has fought 
actively and fervently for equal justice for all Americans under the 
idea that all men and women are created equal.
  In February 1909, a handful of courageous and fearless citizens--
including Ida Wells Barnett, Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison 
Villiard, William English Walling, Henry Moscowitz and W.E.B. Du Bois--
formed the National Negro Committee with the intent of addressing the 
social, economic and political rights of African-Americans. This 
organization would later become the NAACP, and for the next century 
would dedicate itself to eliminating racial hatred and ending racial 
discrimination.
  The NAACP has accomplished and will continue to accomplish great 
things for our nation. In 1954, the NAACP achieved one of its greatest 
victories in the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case when the 
Supreme Court overturned segregation in the nation's public schools. 
This decision rendered ``separate but unequal'' unconstitutional. More 
importantly it helped to break down the barriers that divided the 
nation.
  Through nonviolent methods such as protests, marches and media 
outreach the NAACP was instrumental in moving President Truman's 
Executive Order banning discrimination in the armed forces. The NAACP 
also played an active role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 
1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
  The NAACP continues to fight for the rights of Americans confined to 
the corners of our society. The NAACP maintains active branches 
nationwide, including one in the 12th District of New Jersey, located 
in Trenton. I am grateful to the NAACP members who live in my 
Congressional District including Edith Savage-Jennings, a pioneer of 
the civil rights movement. The work they do to continue to advance the 
struggle for civil rights in our country is an inspiration to us all.
  The NAACP gracefully and tirelessly has fought for the political, 
social, economic, and educational rights of all Americans, and has 
sought to ensure that our nation recognized the inalienable rights of 
all citizens, regardless of race, class, or ethnicity. They have paved 
the way for some of our most celebrated leaders like my good friend 
John Lewis and President Barack Obama to accomplish what they have. 
Moving forward the NAACP will shift its focus to ensure the attainment 
of human rights for all; a noble, honorable and needed effort. The 
enormity of the NAACP's contributions these past 100 years is 
immeasurable, and I am certain that the next 100 years will produce 
more accomplishments and milestones for this historic and vital 
organization. I am proud to join with my colleagues in supporting this 
resolution.

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