[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 107 (Monday, July 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING GERONIMO JI JAGA PRATT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 18, 2011

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of 
Geronimo ji Jaga Pratt. A powerful human rights activist, a decorated 
veteran, a loving partner, father, grandfather, brother, mentor and 
friend, Geronimo was also a survivor and a fearless harbinger of 
change. He was a man who inspired so many to advocate for social 
justice, civil rights and judicial reform, and his story of resilience 
will be a timeless call to action for all who stand for justice. 
Geronimo was taken from us too soon on June 2, 2011, in his adopted 
country of Tanzania. Today, let us find comfort in the joy he inspired 
and the extensive legacy of his life's work.
  Born Elmer G. Pratt on September 13, 1947, in rural Morgan City, 
Louisiana, Geronimo was the youngest of seven children born to hard-
working parents. After high school, where he was a football 
quarterback, Geronimo joined the Army, earning two Purple Hearts and 
emerging a sergeant after two tours in Vietnam. Geronimo moved west, 
where he attended the University of California, Los Angeles to study 
political science and play football. In 1969, his political 
inclinations and commitment to social justice led him to assume a 
leadership position with the city's Black Panther Party.
  As the leader of the L.A. Chapter of the Black Panthers, Geronimo 
became a target of the subversive and immoral FBI COINTELPRO 
counterintelligence campaign against perceived enemies of the U.S. 
government. In a tragic series of events, Geronimo was falsely accused, 
convicted and imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, in fact, he was 
nearly 400 miles away from the scene of the crime. His subsequent 27-
year imprisonment, including eight years in solitary confinement, 
galvanized Free Geronimo campaigns throughout national and 
international progressive communities. By the time of his overturned 
conviction and release in 1997, Geronimo had become the symbol of an 
era and the unceasing fight for human rights.
  Rather than dwell on the atrocities that had been committed against 
him, Geronimo became a positive mentor for young men and women who he 
believed to be wrongfully convicted of crimes. He later divided his 
time between Louisiana and Tanzania, where he fostered humanitarian 
programs for the poor, including projects to provide water and solar 
power for hundreds of African families.
  It is with a very heavy heart that I say goodbye to Geronimo today. 
As a young mother, bagging groceries, working on the survival rallies, 
selling newspapers, helping to organize the Panther school, and raising 
money for candidates of the Black Panther Party, my life was touched by 
Geronimo's leadership and strength. It was through that often 
tumultuous experience, and the inspiring people I met, that I entered 
the political arena. During the time of Geronimo's imprisonment, I 
remember leveraging my position as the chairwoman of the State 
Legislature's Black Caucus to bring his case to greater prominence. 
Despite the injustices he endured, Geronimo was an uplifting force and 
a great inspiration to me and the entire global community. I will miss 
him dearly.
  Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes and honors 
Geronimo ji Jaga Pratt. His life was about seeking justice for those 
who had no justice. And, his legacy will serve as a reminder that we 
must always be vigilant of those who aim to suppress freedom, 
opposition and basic human rights. Geronimo will be remembered for his 
strong sense of dignity, humility and his generous service to others. 
He truly epitomized the indomitability of the human spirit. We extend 
our deepest condolences to Geronimo's family and his extended group of 
loved ones. He will be deeply missed.

                          ____________________