[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H121-H122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE OF JOSE ``CHA CHA'' JIMENEZ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bost). The Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Garcia) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life 
of a fighter for human rights, Jose ``Cha Cha'' Jimenez who passed away 
on January 10 after a life dedicated to social justice.

[[Page H122]]

  Cha Cha, as he was fondly called, was the founder of the Young Lords, 
an organization created by Puerto Rican teens with the original purpose 
of providing a safe space in a changing Chicago.
  Inspired by the writings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and 
Puerto Rican leader Pedro Albizu Campos, Cha Cha transformed the Young 
Lords from a street organization into a social justice group to fight 
for equality and freedom beyond Chicago. The movement was rooted in the 
self-determination of Puerto Ricans on the island and the mainland.
  They organized actions against gentrification and displacement of 
Puerto Ricans in Lincoln Park, Chicago. They fought against police 
brutality and brought much needed basic services like education, 
childcare, and health services to our neighborhoods.
  Cha Cha understood that the Latino and Black communities were facing 
similar struggles and forged an alliance with the Black Panthers to 
help underserved, low-income communities. Soon after, they partnered 
with a group of White, low-income residents called the Young Patriots, 
establishing Chicago's Rainbow Coalition.
  Cha Cha's leadership united people of all backgrounds to fight 
collectively for a better future, and his legacy will live on for 
generations to come.
  May he rest in power.


              Honoring the Village of Riverside, Illinois

  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
village of Riverside, Illinois, which this year celebrates its 150th 
anniversary. Originally called Aux Plains, this charming village is 
known for its peaceful riverbanks and scenic forested areas.
  On August 8, 1875, Riverside elected its first village president and 
trustees. Over the decades, it has become a thriving community, earning 
the title of: ``Village in the Forest.''
  With its expansive green parkways, iconic gaslit street lanterns, and 
curvilinear streets, the village's charm is matched by its distinction 
as a national historic landmark, a title that it has proudly held since 
1970 in part thanks to the numerous home designs by famous architects 
such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Olmsted & Vaux, Jenney, Sullivan, and 
Drummond.
  We congratulate Riverside on this incredible milestone and look 
forward to celebrating all year long.


                    Honoring the Life of Juan Soliz

  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life 
of Juan Soliz who passed away in December of 2024. Juan was a public 
servant, educator, attorney, and an advocate for immigrants and 
indigenous peoples.
  He served our community with passion and dedication. Born in Texas to 
Mexican parents, Juan's hard work took him to college and later law 
school in Washington State. He moved to Chicago in 1978 to join the 
Legal Assistance Foundation and never stopped working for the rights of 
immigrants and for immigration reform.
  My friend, Juan, was the first Mexican American elected to the 
Illinois General Assembly in 1984. In 1987, he became the first Mexican 
American to represent Chicago's 25th Ward as alderman. He uplifted 
voter rights and brought Latino representation to Chicago's southwest 
side, and for that he will be remembered.

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