[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 138 (Tuesday, September 29, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      REMEMBERING JOSEPHINE PEREZ

 Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, on August 28, 2009, Colorado and 
the Nation lost a champion for justice and equality, Josephine Marie 
Varela-Perez. Josie, as she was known by all, surmounted the daunting 
challenges life brought her to become an exemplary voice for minority 
students in Denver. Her courage and conviction created a better future 
not only for Denver students but for countless kids across the country.
  Josie's humble beginnings never held her back from achieving her 
dreams. When faced with adversity, she overcame.
  School year after school year, Josie would show up on the first day 
to be counted among her classmates and then return to working in the 
beet fields, never attending class past the fourth grade. But Josie--a 
strong believer that education was the key to success and should be 
available to all children no matter their race or creed--taught herself 
English and Spanish and earned her GED.
  Josie's commitment to education and minority rights thrust her into 
the center of the civil rights movement as a party to the landmark 
desegregation case, Keyes, et al v. School District No. 1, Denver, 
Colorado. She also marched with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm 
Workers and was a voice for the less fortunate. Her strength and 
courage in standing up for the rights of minority students and the less 
fortunate is an inspiration to all.
  Josie's strong spirit extended far beyond her activism. Josie worked 
tirelessly to support her six kids--Ricardo, Patricia, Lou, Carlos, 
Terry, and Sheila so that they could have the future they deserved.
  I join Coloradans and Americans across the country in grieving the 
loss of this civil rights champion. Josie's legacy will continue to 
inspire Americans for generations to come.
  My thoughts and prayers are with her family.

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