[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 118 (Friday, July 31, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NAACP CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

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                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 31, 2009

  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the NAACP on 
their 100th anniversary. As the nation's oldest and largest grassroots 
civil rights organization, I commend the NAACP for their landmark 
accomplishments as well as their ongoing efforts to remove all barriers 
of racial discrimination in our nation.
  Founded on February 12, 1909, the NAACP was established by a diverse 
and determined small group of brave men and women whose stated goal was 
to secure for all people the rights guaranteed by the 13th, 14th, and 
15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Over the span of 100 years, 
the NAACP's trailblazing work with federal and state legislators as 
well as in courthouses across the country transformed the organization 
into an instrumental force in the movement for political, educational 
and economic equality. As we begin the 21st century, the NAACP 
continues to pursue these important goals while remaining focused on 
promoting voter empowerment initiatives as well as closing the economic 
and educational disparities that continue to plague minority 
communities.
   In my hometown of El Paso, Texas, the local NAACP branch has a 
distinguished and rich history of civic participation, as this branch 
is the oldest in the State of Texas. Established in 1915, the El Paso 
Branch was led by one of its pioneer charter members, Dr. Lawrence 
Aaron Nixon. Dr. Nixon worked tirelessly for nearly 20 years to remove 
the legal barriers that prevented African Americans from participating 
in Democratic primary elections in Texas. Dr. Nixon was the lead 
plaintiff in two lawsuits in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in his 
favor by declaring Texas' discriminatory laws to be unconstitutional. 
In recent times, the El Paso branch continues to serve our community 
through economic development programs and initiatives to assist our 
troops and veterans. I am proud of this history as well as the ongoing 
efforts that the local branch continues to spearhead in El Paso.
  While much progress has been made in our nation over the past 100 
years, there is unquestionably a lot of work that remains to be done. 
It is my belief that the NAACP will remain in the forefront in creating 
positive change and that through the combined efforts of all people, 
the promise of America can be reality for all.

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