[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 127 (Friday, July 29, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING NAACP MONTEREY COUNTY BRANCH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 2022

  Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Monterey 
County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of 
Colored People (NAACP) as they celebrate 90 years of service to the 
central coast of California. Since its inception in 1932, the NAACP of 
Monterey County has fiercely advocated for the expansion of civil 
rights. It has been at the forefront of all struggles and movements to 
defend and extend the political, social, and economic rights of all 
those who were the victims of injustice.
  The Monterey County branch was originally founded as two separate 
branches. Both were created with the shared goal of raising awareness 
to racism and racial discrimination in all its forms. In 1932, Reverend 
Wellington Smith, Sr., then Pastor of the First Baptist Church of 
Pacific Grove, took a step toward equality by founding the Monterey 
Peninsula branch. Seven years later, Mr. William Greenwill founded the 
Salinas Branch with the same goal of ridding the county of its most 
abject forms of racism and discrimination. Despite enduring long 
periods of threats to their members and families, both branches never 
faltered in their quest to eliminate race-based discrimination and 
ensure political, educational, and social economic equality.
  Before merging in 2006, each respective branch spearheaded decades-
long battles in fighting against racist police practices, barriers to 
accessible housing, and employment discrimination. Over the years, both 
branches have received numerous national awards for their outstanding 
work in fighting for equality. Most recently, in 2012, the Monterey 
County Branch was awarded the Claude Hudson Award, which honors a local 
branch that exemplifies the NAACP standards. That same year, Mr. Jim 
Black, treasurer of the branch, was named Treasurer of the Year for his 
honorable work in the organization. In 2013, the Branch was awarded the 
Ruby McKnight Williams Award, which recognizes branches with the 
largest percentage increase in membership.
  Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize this historic 
milestone. I personally extend my gratitude to the members of the 
Executive Team and the volunteers who have worked tirelessly to become 
one of the most effective civil rights organizations in Monterey County 
and the State of California.

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