[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 38 (Monday, March 6, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E274-E275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING MS. AILEEN CLARKE HERNANDEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 6, 2017

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of 
Aileen Clarke Hernandez. With her passing on February 13, 2017 in 
Irvine, California, I look to recognize her passion for women's 
equality, and the invaluable influence it has had on our nation.
  Aileen was born in Brooklyn on May 23, 1926, to Charles Henry Clarke, 
and Ethel Louise Hall. Ms. Hernandez excelled in school and graduated 
magna cum laude from Howard University, where she was drawn into 
politics and worked with the NAACP. In 1951, she took an organizing job 
with the West Coast division of the International Ladies Garment 
Workers Union.
  Her work with the Garment Workers Union brought her to California, 
and led to her involvement in California politics and government, where 
she eventually was appointed as

[[Page E275]]

the assistant chief of the Fair Employment Practices Division for the 
State.
  In 1964, Clarke was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, as the 
first woman to serve on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission (EEOC), and in 1966, she left the commission to form her own 
consulting firm, Hernandez and Associates. Her firm worked to end 
racism, sexism and all forms of discrimination, and to establish 
standards for equity in government and corporations.
  In 1970 she was appointed the second President of the National 
Organization for Women (NOW) where she was instrumental in organizing 
the national Women's Strike for Equality on August 26, 1970.
  In 1973, Ms. Clarke took initiative and founded Black Women Organized 
for Action in San Francisco. In addition, Ms. Clarke was the Co-Chair 
and Founder with Marilyn Fowler, of the California Women's Agenda, a 
network and action alliance of over 600 organizations in California, 
and was chairwoman of the committee that led to the founding of the 
National Women's Political Caucus that worked to increase political 
power for women.
  Aileen Clarke Hernandez was a leader and fought against 
discrimination for more than seven decades. She took it as her mission 
to ensure a voice for women of color in the women's movement and civil 
rights movement, and worked on behalf of all people seeking social 
justice. Her monumental efforts have guided our nation on the right 
trajectory toward a more just society.
  On a personal note, I met Aileen in 1972 during Shirley Chisholm's 
groundbreaking presidential campaign. She became a mentor and helped 
shape my political views and guided my growing political involvement. I 
was constantly amazed at how she could build bridges between activists 
in the feminist movement, people of color, and the civil rights 
movement, in order to work together for positive change. I was proud to 
call Aileen my friend; I know that her legacy will live on, and her 
spirit will continue to guide us through the many challenges that we 
continue to face.
  Today, California's 13th Congressional District honors Aileen 
Hernandez's memory and her lifetime of service working on behalf of 
social justice and equality. We join her loved ones in celebrating her 
incredible life with a promise to honor her tremendous legacy.

                          ____________________