[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 186 (Thursday, December 1, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING MR. GEORGE HOLLAND, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2022

  Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
extraordinary work of George Holland, Sr., and his indispensable 
contributions as an advocate in the fight for equal rights and racial 
justice, as the President of the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People in Oakland.
  Mr. Holland was born in Shreveport, Louisiana and raised in 
California, where he resided in segregated housing projects until his 
early adulthood, experiencing the impacts of institutional racism 
firsthand. In South San Francisco, Mr. Holland's family resided in the 
Lindenville Housing Project. The Lindenville Housing Project had a 
``Colored Section,'' where he, his family, and 71 other Black families 
lived. Mr. Holland's experience living in segregated housing continued 
in 1955, when his family relocated to the Sunnydale Housing Project, 
which had only desegregated earlier that year.
  Mr. Holland was a trailblazer from a young age, he was the first 
member of his family to attend college, earning his Bachelor of Arts 
from San Francisco State College. He then earned his Juris Doctorate 
from the Golden Gate University School of Law. Mr. Holland went on to 
serve as a board member for several legal associations, including the 
Bar Association of San Francisco and the Bar Association of Alameda 
County.
  Mr. Holland's legacy lies in his championship of civil rights 
throughout his academic and professional career. As a young community 
activist, Mr. Holland participated in civil rights demonstrations in 
the 1960s throughout San Francisco, Oakland, and the greater Bay Area 
to advocate for racial equity. As an attorney, he contributed to the 
founding of the California Association of Black Lawyers, California's 
first legal association dedicated to addressing the needs and struggles 
of Black lawyers and to eradicating racism imbedded in our legal 
system. Since 2005, Mr. Holland has continued his service to our 
community as the President of the NAACP chapter in Oakland.
  Throughout his exemplary tenure as President, Mr. Holland's efforts 
have distinguished the Oakland NAACP chapter for its engagement with 
the local community and for its leadership on national issues. Under 
his guidance, the organization collaborated with the Oakland Mayor and 
School Superintendent's ``Oakland Promise'' program, a community-based 
non-profit that aims to triple the number of college graduates from 
Oakland within the next decade. Further, under Mr. Holland's 
leadership, the Oakland NAACP chapter partnered with the Chapel of 
Chimes to construct the Nelson Mandela Human Rights Memorial at Skylawn 
Memorial Park. Mr. Holland also oversaw the creation of a police 
commission in Oakland to improve police accountability and community 
trust in law enforcement.
  George has been a dear friend and loyal supporter. Whenever I needed 
help, he was there for me and our community. If ever, I needed anyone 
to watch my back--there he was, generous and steady as always. For 
this, I am deeply grateful.
  On behalf of the 13th Congressional district, I would like to 
congratulate Mr. Holland on his incredible achievements throughout his 
career. He has been a wonderful activist, attorney, and a fierce 
advocate for racial justice and equity for all people. I thank him for 
all his hard work, and congratulations again. I wish him the very best 
in his journey ahead.

                          ____________________