[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 182 (Monday, October 18, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S7030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING MARISSA McCALL

 Mr. OSSOFF. Mr. President, Marissa McCall's positive impact on 
Georgians' lives will be felt for generations.
  Marissa was a tireless and effective advocate for those who otherwise 
had none. She poured her heart and her work into the defense of those 
who faced brutality at the hands of the justice system; into advocacy 
for those who lacked the resources and connections to defend 
themselves; and into urgent reform of a justice system in which class 
and race bias are endemic and the rights and dignity of individuals are 
daily violated. Marissa made a huge difference for so many.
  Born in Santa Ana, CA, Marissa earned her degree in political science 
from Georgia's Spelman College and her law degree from Louisiana State 
University in 2008.
  Marissa developed a first-of-its-kind program at the Georgia Justice 
Project to help address the systemic barriers facing formerly 
incarcerated people.
  She joined the Southern Center for Human Rights in 2016, cementing 
her role as one of Georgia's foremost champions for civil and human 
rights.
  Marissa's keen legal mind and deep empathy powered her work for 
reform. She fought persistently and effectively to end the broken cash 
bail system at Atlanta's Municipal Court, to reform the criminal record 
system, and to ban the shackling of incarcerated women during 
pregnancy.
  In 2020 and 2021, after the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, Marissa was 
instrumental in the repeal of Georgia's citizen's arrest law. As a 
result, Georgia the first State in the Nation to pass such a reform.
  Marissa is remembered by her family as a loving mother, a devoted 
sister, a cherished daughter, and a loyal friend.
  Georgia and the United States are fairer and more just for Marissa's 
service.
  I thank my colleagues in the U.S. Senate for joining me in honoring 
the work and life of Marissa McCall.

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