Honoring and Praising the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the Occasion of Its 97th Anniversary
HONORING AND PRAISING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 97TH ANNIVERSARY -- (House of Representatives - March 01, 2006)
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 335 which honors the NAACP on its 97th anniversary.
I rise because of the sacrifice of Goodman, Cheney and Schwerner, Thurgood Marshall and Rosa Parks. I rise and stand on the shoulders of Daisy Bates, Emmett Till and the great Medgar Evans. I rise because the NAACP is the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the United States and has been a force to be reckoned with in every stage of this country's battle for racial equality.
They were there when four little girls died when the 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed in Montgomery, AL. They were there with the Little Rock Nine when they entered the doors of Central High in Little Rock, AR. They were there fighting for equal educational opportunities in the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education.
And more recently, they were present during the battle to end apartheid in South Africa and they continue to fight for increased voter participation and human equality not only in this Nation, but across the world.
These battles have been waged in the face of intense adversity and widespread resistance, yet the NAACP has endured for 97 years. Throughout the civil rights movement, freedom fighters proclaimed with pride that they were ``card carrying members of the NAACP.'' They knew then, as we know now, that the NAACP not only stands for equality, it stands for justice, fairness and a better way of life.
We must not forget that the NAACP is the name but the organization is comprised of people. Everyday people that have dedicated their lives to making this world a better place.
So, in honoring the NAACP today, I also honor the people, of all races, that have united as advocates for civil rights and human equality.
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