[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 8, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING KEENAN DARNELL ANDERSON, A LIFE LOST TOO SOON

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. SYDNEY KAMLAGER-DOVE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 8, 2023

  Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of 
Keenan Darnell Anderson. Mr. Anderson was a father, a life partner to 
his fiancee, a teacher, and a proud Angeleno. Mr. Anderson was taken 
from us earlier this year by the brutality and violence of the LAPD. 
Today, we stand here to honor Mr. Anderson's life, legacy, and 
contributions to his family and his city.
  Mr. Anderson grew up in Los Angeles and from a young age, 
demonstrated his commitment to his family across Southern California. 
He was known as the ``life of the party,'' always livening up family 
cookouts and picnics. Mr. Anderson was a linchpin of his close-knit 
family. From the time that he was young, Mr. Anderson knew he wanted to 
dedicate his life to helping others. In college, he focused this 
dedication on a career in law enforcement, double majoring in criminal 
justice and sociology. Later, he translated this desire to do good for 
the world into educating, earning a graduate degree in education.
  Mr. Anderson's passion for teaching led him to dedicate his career to 
educating his community's youth. As a teacher, he taught English to 
juniors and seniors in high school and even chaired the English 
department. Mr. Anderson was also invested in the creativity of his 
students, teaching drama classes that served as an introduction to the 
arts to many Angeleno youth. He was also a charismatic member of his 
church where he led family game nights and injected his infectious 
energy and enthusiasm.
  At the time of his untimely death, Mr. Anderson had just moved to 
Washington, D.C. to teach at Digital Pioneers Academy. Washington, D.C. 
will forever miss out on the contributions, energy, and inspiration he 
could have brought to the young people here.
  Washington, D.C. students are not the only ones that will forever 
miss Mr. Anderson. He is survived by his fiancee, Domonique, to whom he 
was deeply devoted, and his 5 year-old son, Syncere. Mr. Anderson doted 
on his son, proud to be a father and proud to have his son by side. Mr. 
Anderson's wrongful murder robbed Syncere of years with his father. On 
February 7, 2023, Domonique joined me as my guest at the State of the 
Union, where we continued to highlight the unjust and tragic death of 
this doting and dedicated father, partner, friend, educator, and member 
of my community.
  Today, we should be celebrating Mr. Anderson's great achievements as 
a father and a teacher, and the strength and resilience he imbued in 
his communities. Instead, we must confront the tragedy of his murder at 
the hands of the LAPD.
  Mr. Speaker, this commemoration of the life of Keenan Anderson, a 
life gone too soon, adds yet another name to America's tainted legacy 
of violence against the Black community at the hands of individuals 
charged with protecting and serving. I honor the memory of Mr. Anderson 
and commit to working to eliminate the inhumane violence and brutality 
that took him from us too soon.

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