[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 141 (Tuesday, September 29, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE TO AMELIA BOYNTON ROBINSON, CONGRESSMAN LOUIS STOKES, AND 
                              JULIAN BOND

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 28, 2015

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
honor the lives of three very special leaders from the African American 
community who have passed away this year. Through their personal 
sacrifices and steadfast leadership, Representative Louis Stokes, 
Amelia Boynton Robinson, and Julian Bond have impacted the lives of 
countless Americans and I would like to join my colleagues in honoring 
their legacies.
  I have had the distinct honor of working alongside Representative 
Stokes before he retired from the United States Congress in 1999. 
Before being elected to Congress, Representative Stokes was a tireless 
advocate for promoting civil rights as a lawyer. In 1968, 
Representative Stokes was elected as Ohio's first African American 
congressman, where he would go on to become a founding member of the 
Congressional Black Caucus. After serving for 30 years in Congress, 
Representative Stokes is remembered by his commitment to public service 
and his insatiable desire to help the most disadvantaged segments of 
the population.
  Amelia Boynton Robinson was a prominent figure from the Civil Rights 
Movement, most well-known for her strong efforts to encourage voter 
participation among African Americans. Ms. Boynton was key to 
organizing civil and voting rights demonstrations in Alabama, including 
a march to the state capital of Montgomery. It was during this march on 
Bloody Sunday when Ms. Boynton was beaten unconscious in the defense of 
basic voting rights for African Americans. Ms. Boynton would live to 
the age of 110 before passing away in Montgomery, Alabama.
  Julian Bond was another Civil Rights leader whose life we honor this 
year. Mr. Bond helped to co-found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating 
Committee (SNCC), which served as a platform to drive the success 
behind organizing African American voters during a critical time in our 
nation's history. Mr. Bond also co-founded and was named the first 
president of the Southern Poverty Law Center, a legal organization 
dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable while advocating for basic 
rights for all. He also served in the Georgia House of Representatives 
despite a bitter vote by his colleagues not to seat him. Later in his 
life, Mr. Bond served as chairman of the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 1998 to 2010.
  Representative Louis Stokes, Amelia Boynton Robinson, and Julian Bond 
were model citizens whose legacies will be idolized long into the 
future. These three leaders have left lasting impressions that will set 
examples for new generations. Mr. Speaker, it saddens me and countless 
others to have to honor these individuals after their passing. However, 
we are forever grateful for their contributions and countless lives 
have been improved as a direct result of their sacrifices.

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