[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 14908-14909]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY AND DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATION 
 OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE NEW 
                         YORK STATE CONFERENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 5, 2011

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with great pride and as a life 
member to recognize the 75th Anniversary and Diamond Jubilee 
Celebration of our beloved NAACP New York State Conference.
  On October 7 thru Oct. 9, 2011, The New York State Conference of the 
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will 
host its 75th Anniversary Conference and Diamond Jubilee Celebration, 
at the Westin Times Square Hotel and Conference Center in New York 
City. The Celebration will honor the rich history of the

[[Page 14909]]

NAACP and examine critical issues challenging all New Yorkers. 
Delegates and participants will enjoy interactive workshops on 
education, health, civic engagement, economic empowerment and criminal 
justice.
  The NAACP New York State Conference has been a vital programmatic 
component of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
People for 75 of the 102-year history of the oldest, most effective and 
most respected civil rights organization in the Nation. The New York 
State Conference has played a pivotal role in moving the agenda for 
freedom and equality forward under the leadership of dynamic State 
Conference Presidents, each of whom addressed critical issues during 
their tenure.
  Dr. James E. Allen, the first President, took on the challenge of 
expanding the number of branches all across the state. From 1936 to 
1952, the number of branches grew from 15 to 45, providing local civil 
rights advocacy in every corner of the state on a wide range of issues. 
The succeeding Presidents have built on that solid foundation and added 
to the scope and innovative advocacy techniques. They were Mrs. Effie 
Gordon, Dr. Eugene T. Reed, Judge William Booth, Donald Lee, Raphael 
Dubard and the current President, my sister, Dr. Hazel N. Dukes.
  Through its seventy-five year history, the New York State Conference 
has been a leading force in driving the missions and goals of the 
Association. The first Prison Branch of NAACP was chartered in New 
York. The Youth and College Division grew as a vigorous power to be 
reckoned with, and continues to be outspoken and on the front line of 
advocacy today.
  Under the leadership of Dr. Hazel Dukes and the first Executive 
Director David Bryant, Esq. the New York State Conference State opened 
its offices in lower Manhattan in 1978. Shortly before the historic 
Centennial Celebration of the National Association for the Advancement 
of Colored People in 2009, the state conference relocated its office to 
a beautiful spacious Suite at 1065 Avenue of the Americas in Midtown 
Manhattan. The state-of-the-art office is run with an Administrative 
Assistant, support staffs and interns to facilitate activity throughout 
the state to the 56 adult units, Youth, and College Chapters from 
Harlem to Highland Falls, Brooklyn to Buffalo, Syracuse to Suffolk 
County, Albany to Amityville and all points in between.
  New York State Conference Civil Rights Advocacy over the years has 
included historic demonstrations, marches and mobilizations. Like the 
memorable 160-mile march from New York City to Albany to underscore our 
civil rights issues, the Over-ground Railroad project to promote voter 
registration and voter participation throughout the State of New York, 
marches and demonstrations to protest police brutality and the murders 
of Michael Steward by Transit police and Eleanor Bumpers by Public 
Housing police. The New York State Conference held one of the largest 
demonstrations in Howard Beach to protest the racial murder of Michael 
Griffin and in Middletown, New York to protest the police murder of the 
son of NAACP branch President, Maude Bruce.
  Reflecting on these important moments and milestones, President Hazel 
Dukes said, ``The New York State Conference has been a vital component 
of the National NAACP for 75 of its 102-year history. We have played a 
pivotal role in moving the agenda for freedom and equality forward. The 
celebration of our 75th Anniversary gives the State Conference an 
opportunity to review past challenges, celebrate accomplishments and be 
emboldened by future possibilities.'' Members and guests of the NAACP 
from the tri-state area will participate in numerous events during this 
milestone weekend.
  The Conference begins Friday, October 7 at noon with registration and 
the opening plenary at 2:30 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the Rev. Dr. Gregory 
Smith, Senior Pastor and the Congregation of the historic Mother 
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church will host an Ecumenical Service 
in Harlem featuring keynote speaker the Honorable Benjamin Todd 
Jealous, President and CEO of the National NAACP. The service will also 
highlight a performance by Vy Higginson's Gospel for Teens Choir, 
recently featured on CBS' 60 Minutes, by legendary News Correspondent 
Barbara Walters.
  On Saturday, October 8 from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m., a number of 
interactive workshops and trainings on health, education, civic 
engagement, criminal justice and economic development are scheduled. I 
will be bringing welcoming greetings to all of the delegates and 
special guest assembled for the 75th Annual Luncheon, which begins at 
12 Noon and features our dynamic leader, the Honorable Dr. Roslyn M. 
Brock, Chairman of our NAACP National Board of Directors as the keynote 
speaker. Other speakers include the Hon. Alphonso David, New York State 
Deputy Secretary for Civil Rights, Michael Mulgrew, President United 
Federation of Teachers, Reverend Edward Mulraine, Unity Tabernacle 
Baptist Church Mt. Vernon, New York, and our beloved State Conference 
President Dr. Hazel N. Dukes.
  The activities of the day culminate with the 75th Diamond Anniversary 
Awards Dinner Dance. Cheryl Wills, Anchor NY1 News and author of ``Die 
Free'' A Heroic Family History,'' will be the Mistress of Ceremony. The 
evening speakers include my longtime loyal friend, supporter and ally, 
George Gresham, President of the mighty SEIU Local 1199. The closing 
program will take place on Sunday, October 9, 2011 with a breakfast, 
Church Service, and a legislative session presided by Judge Laura D. 
Blackburne, Chairman of the Crisis Magazine and by Kenneth Cohen, Sr., 
Regional Director of the Metropolitan Council of NAACP Branches.
  Mr. Speaker, let me take a moment to salute my sister, Hazel N. Dukes 
as we celebrate our Diamond Jubilee of our New York State Conference. 
For as long as I have been involved with the NAACP and a Member of 
Congress, Hazel has always been an outspoken opponent of policies that 
she felt undermined the achievements of the civil rights movements of 
the 1960s and today. Hazel's political career has made her one of the 
most important black activists and campaigners of the last quarter of 
the twentieth century; I am proud of her stance to reduce class sizes 
in our New York City Schools and for equal and fair education for all 
children. Hazel can be a one-woman band, but her advocacy and hard work 
create and orchestrate for change.
  I ask my colleagues and a very grateful Nation to join me in a very 
special congressional salute to the NAACP New York State Conference 
celebrating their 75th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary.

                          ____________________