[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13570]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR 
          THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE, CLEVELAND BRANCH

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 10, 2012

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 100th 
Anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
People, Cleveland Branch.
  The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 
(NAACP) was founded in 1909 by W.E.B. Du Bois, and Ida B. Wells-
Barnett, among others. The NAACP initially began as an organization 
fighting against discrimination and for protection under the law for 
African-Americans. The NAACP's mission is to ensure the political, 
educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and 
to eliminate race-based discrimination.
  The Cleveland Branch of the NAACP was established in 1912 by a small 
group that consisted of a cook, machinist, engineer, caterer, janitor, 
tailor, barber and seven postal workers. By 1914, the Cleveland Branch 
had 214 members. Throughout its history, the NAACP Cleveland Branch has 
worked to end discrimination in area schools, businesses, public 
establishments, and hospitals. It has fought for equal justice from the 
law, employment opportunities and voting rights among other campaigns. 
It has been led by 32 presidents, including former Cleveland City 
Council president George Forbes, who served from 1993 to 2012. Today, 
the NAACP Cleveland Branch is comprised of 15,000 members and is led by 
James L. Hardiman.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing the 
National Association of Colored People, Cleveland Branch on 100 years 
of working for civil rights.

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