Extensions of Remarks E1523 EXTENSIONS of REMARKS
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November 22, 2016 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1523 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS HONORING MR. BOBBY SEALE social services and educational opportunities and Caring Court, which provides a much in black neighborhoods. needed alternative to the traditional criminal HON. BARBARA LEE On a personal note, I am deeply grateful for justice court system for the homeless. OF CALIFORNIA ‘‘the Chairman’s’’ brilliance and leadership. He On a personal note, Judge Baranco worked was a mentor, a colleague, but most impor- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES with me and helped lead our record remedy tantly, a true friend. My late beloved mother, and expungement conferences for several Tuesday, November 22, 2016 Ms. Mildred Massey, was one of Bobby’s years. Because of his boldness and commit- Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor strongest supporters and believed in him and ment, many returning citizens have been able Mr. Bobby Seale on the momentous occasion the Black Panther Party as the ‘‘vanguard of to move forward with their lives without the of his 80th birthday. Mr. Seale has had an in- the movement.’’ He taught us the importance troubles of their past once their parole is com- credible career in political activism and com- of grassroots organizing by knocking on doors, pleted. For this, I, along with so many others, munity service, dedicating his life to advo- walking precincts, and phone banking to com- am deeply grateful. cating for the rights and betterment of African- municate our position on issues and most im- On behalf of the residents of California’s Americans across the nation. portantly, how to be a true public servant. 13th Congressional District, Judge Gordon Born in Texas in 1936, Mr. Seale grew up Today, California’s 13th Congressional Dis- Baranco, salute you. I thank you for a lifetime entrenched in poverty. After moving around in trict celebrates the extraordinary life and serv- of service and congratulate you on your Texas, living in Dallas, San Antonio, and Port ice of Mr. Bobby Seale and wishes him a very achievements. I wish you and your loved ones Arthur, Mr. Seale’s family finally relocated to happy birthday and a life that continues to be the very best as you enjoy your well-deserved Oakland, California, when Mr. Seale was eight filled with peace and happiness and fulfilled by retirement. years old. the great work and leadership he continues to f Mr. Seale attended Berkeley High School, provide. where he started to become politically active. f HONORING ZION FIRST CHURCH OF In 1955, Mr. Seale dropped out of high school GOD IN CHRIST HONORING JUDGE GORDON and joined the United States Air Force. After BARANCO his military service, Mr. Seale worked as a HON. BARBARA LEE sheet metal mechanic while earning his high HON. BARBARA LEE OF CALIFORNIA school diploma at night. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES After earning his high school diploma, Mr. OF CALIFORNIA Tuesday, November 22, 2016 Seale went on to attend Merritt College, where IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES he intended to study engineering. However, Tuesday, November 22, 2016 Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor during his time at Merritt College, he began to Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recog- Zion First Church of God in Christ located in take a deep interest in politics and black his- nize the extraordinary career of Judge Gordon Oakland, California upon its 100th anniversary tory, and joined the Afro-American Association Baranco. I would like to congratulate him on as a strong religious pillar in the East Bay (AAA), a campus group advocating for black his retirement and thank him for his invaluable Community. separatism. It was through the AAA that Mr. service to our community. After moving to California from Louisiana, Seale met Mr. Huey P. Newton, a kindred Born and raised in Oakland, California, Gor- Zion First Church of God in Christ was found- spirit. They quickly became friends and their don graduated from Oakland High School in ed in 1916 by Samuel Harrison and was the political activism deepened as they were in- 1965. Gordon would become a star basketball first Church of God in Christ in Northern Cali- spired by the teachings of Malcolm X. player at the University of California, Davis, fornia. It was created with the vision to expand During this time, Mr. Seale was also in- where he led the Aggies to win three league the ministry and establish a legacy of spiritu- spired to give back to his community, spend- championships. ality through faith. ing time teaching youths about black history Gordon’s time spent at UC Davis would co- Under the leadership of Pastor Harrison, the and personal responsibility at the North Oak- incide with the Vietnam War and the Civil church thrived and soon needed a building to land Neighborhood Anti-Poverty Center. Rights Movement. This time in Gordon’s life accommodate its growing membership. In By October 1966, Mr. Seale and Mr. New- was critical to his academic and civic develop- 1921, the church purchased its first building ton were ready to organize their beliefs and ment, opening his eyes to injustices here in purchase in West Oakland and became a put them into practice, and they formed the the United States and abroad. strong faith center for the West Oakland com- Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. Origi- In 1969, Gordon graduated from UC Davis munity. During the 1940’s, as African Ameri- nally formed to protect the African-American with a bachelor’s degree in political science. cans migrated to the West for industrial jobs, community in Oakland from police brutality, Inspired by the idea that the law could be a many families settled in West Oakland. Wor- the Black Panthers rejected the nonviolent ap- vehicle to change society, he went on to enroll ship services immediately grew and were so proach of the mainstream Civil Rights Move- in law school. He graduated from the King inspirational it was said that people would ment. The Black Panthers also focused on School of Law at UC Davis in 1972. hang out of their windows to see what was serving the community, cooking free breakfast As an attorney, Gordon practiced as a going on in the services. for children before school, distributing clothing, Graduate Legal Assistant in the office of the On January 25, 1977 Pastor Willie E. Pearls and teaching classes on politics and econom- California State Attorney General; a Deputy was ushered in as the second leader of Zion ics. District Attorney in the office of the San Fran- First Church of God in Christ. Pastor Pearls A few years later, in 1970, Mr. Seale was cisco District Attorney; as managing Attorney had moved to California. arrested in Chicago during a protest at the for the San Francisco Neighborhood Legal As- In 1978, Zion First upgraded its building to Democratic National Convention, and he was sistance Foundation, and Assistant to the City make room for its growing membership. Pas- ultimately sentenced to four years in prison for Attorney in Oakland. tor Pearls moved to California in 1952 and contempt of court. After his release from pris- At the young age of 32 he was made the joined Zion. First, serving for many years as a on in 1973, Mr. Seale renounced violence as Honorable Gordon Baranco, appointed to the youth leader, Deacon, and a special helper to a means to an end and decided to run for Oakland Piedmont Emeryville Municipal Court Overseer Harrison before accepting the role Mayor of Oakland. He finished second out of by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. After serv- as senior pastor. nine candidates. ing as presiding judge of the court, he was ap- Pastor Pearls carried on the original vision In 1974, Mr. Seale resigned as Chairman of pointed by Governor George Deukmejian as a of the church, helping the community, by giv- the Black Panther Party, having grown tired of judge of the Alameda County Superior Court. ing away food, clothing the homeless, and politics. He has remained active in the com- In 2004, Judge Baranco was instrumental in serving hot breakfast every Sunday to the munity, writing books and working to improve establishing the Alameda County Homeless community. ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:37 Nov 23, 2016 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A22NO8.001 E22NOPT1 smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with REMARKS E1524 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks November 22, 2016 In 2003, after 33 years of service, Pastor every single year, leaving their families with nizations in the country; there was little hope Pearls stepped down and the church elected tears. It is really not that hard to honor for an African American candidate at that time, Pastor Rickie L. Williams. Under his leader- these men and women; all you can do is take so the organization supported White can- a little time out of your day to visit a Vet- ship, the church has continued to faithfully eran’s nursing home and thank all the vet- didates who they believed were right on polit- serve the West Oakland community through erans there. Families worry every single day ical issues affecting the African American various outreach programs. Although the and hope that their sister, brother, son, community. church was ravaged by fire in September daughter, mother, or fathers are okay.