[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 22, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E238-E239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE NIAGARA MOVEMENT DEMOCRATIC CLUB

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 22, 2023

  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, as a proud member of the 
Congressional Black Caucus, I rise today to honor the momentous 
accomplishments of the Niagara Movement Democratic Club. This 
organization's work has proven vital to our Oakland community, and it 
continues bearing its fruits more than 50 years after NMDC's inception.
  I proudly recognize NMDC's founding President, Virtual Murrell, and 
co-founders Leo Bazile, Wilson Riles, Jr., AC Taylor, and Johnnie 
Harrison for their tremendous work, ongoing support, and commitment to 
African American education and political representation in our 
community. I vividly remember sitting in Virtual Murrell's kitchen on a 
Sunday morning, with excitement during the discussions that led to the 
establishment of the Niagara Movement Democratic Club.
  In 1970, Oakland's population was more than 365,000, and 35 percent 
was Black. Yet, no Black community members had ever been elected to the 
Oakland City Council or the County of Alameda Board of Supervisors. The 
future founding members of NMDC knew this had to change--the Black 
community needed a voice. These founding members knew it was time for a 
shift in political power and embraced the challenges that stood before 
them to attain the representation they desperately needed.
  In the fall of 1973, the Niagara Movement Democratic Club was formed. 
A group of young, energized, and determined individuals came together 
to continue the dream of the Niagara Movement, a civil rights group 
founded in 1905 dedicated to obtaining civil rights for African 
Americans. Inspired by a founding member of the Niagara Movement, W.E.B 
DuBois, NMDC's guiding mission was the ideal of the ``Talented Tenth,'' 
which sought to cultivate strong Black leadership through prioritizing 
college education and championing social change. As a result, the 
Niagara Movement Democratic Club surpassed its educational goals and 
moved toward political advocacy and representation. Because of this, 
NMDC focused on recruiting young Black professionals and students to 
grow their club and fulfill their mission of Black representation in 
local politics.
  To challenge the status quo, NMDC worked relentlessly to coalesce 
other major Black organizations behind the common goal of increased 
representation in their community while challenging Republican efforts 
to maintain a conservative footprint in our district.
  Since its formation some fifty years ago, NMDC has consistently 
embodied this mission as reflected by its members, including student 
activists, educators, graduate students, accountants, law students, 
city planners, and healthcare professionals. In addition, the 
organization has maintained an acute focus on empowering and 
integrating Black students and working professionals in the political 
conversations impacting Oakland.
  Today, I recognize the organization's extraordinary members for their 
unyielding efforts to fight for representation and equity. These 
individuals challenged and changed the narrative, whether it be through 
fighting against the Republican establishment, organizing young 
students, or being elected to public office. NMDC created space for 
Black residents of Oakland, California to have a political voice. We 
thank them for the everlasting footprints of change they have made in 
our community.
  The founding members of the Niagara Movement Democratic Club are as 
follows:

       1. Virtual T. Murrell
       2. Leo Bazile
       3. AC Taylor
       4. Johnnie S. Harrison
       5. Shirley Douglas
       6. Edmund Atkins
       7. Art Scott
       8. Irene Scott-Murrell
       9. Anita Williams
       10. Al Rogers

[[Page E239]]

  

       11. Wilson Riles, Jr.
       12. Edna Tidwell
       13. Esther Tidwell
       14. Walter Edwards
       15. Sandra Simpson-Fontaine
       16. Beverly Brown-Spelman
       17. Joyce Wilkerson
       18. Barbara Lee
       19. Michael Penn
       20. William ``Bill'' Riley
       21. Geoffrey Carter
       22. Elihu Harris
       23. Walter Edwards


                       Members Elected to Office

       1. Wilson Riles, Jr., Oakland City Council
       2. Leo Bazile, Oakland City Council
       3. Elihu Harris, Mayor of Oakland and state legislator
       4. Don White, Alameda County Treasurer, 32 years as county 
     treasurer
       5. Mary King, Alameda County Board of Supervisors, First 
     African American woman
       6. Keith Carson, Alameda County Board of Supervisors
       7. Sylvester Hodges, Oakland School Board
       8. Alfreda Abbott, Oakland School Board, second African 
     American woman.
       9. Barbara Lee, First African American woman elected to the 
     state legislature (assembly & senate) from Northern 
     California. Later replaced Representative Ronald V. Dellums 
     in the United States House of Representatives, again the 
     first African American woman from Northern California elected 
     to the U.S. House of Representatives.
       10. Sandre Swanson, California Assembly
       11. Geoffrey Carter, Judge-Magistrate
       12. Dezie Woods-Jones, Oakland City Council
       13. Margaret Pryor, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
       14. Carol Tolbert, Oakland School Board
       15. William ``Bill'' Riley, Peralta Community College Board 
     of Trustees

  On behalf of the 12th Congressional District, congratulations to the 
Niagara Movement Democratic Club on their many incredible achievements.

                          ____________________