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December 19, 2011 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 157, Pt. 15 21377 membership would grow to encompass nearly great extent, the movement that brought down ern Sahara in order to promote regional inte- one-third of Poland’s working-age population, the Wall was ‘‘made in Poland,’’ or at least gration and protect U.S. security interests in but its influence was beyond measure. More- owes an immense debt to the Poles. For 45 the region. over, Solidarity ultimately brought together di- years the Poles took the lead, within eastern f verse segments of the population—workers Europe, in pushing back on communist rule, HONORING THE LIFE OF RON and peasants, students and intellectuals—that testing the limits of what the Soviets would tol- LYLE had not previously worked together for a com- erate. In other words, taking the risks. The mon cause. And in Solidarity, one could see a rhythm of Polish uprisings and mass move- nation acting for a high moral purpose, in- ments against communism is instructive: in HON. DIANA DeGETTE formed by church and conscience, and by a 1944, the Nazis, with nearby Soviet forces OF COLORADO tradition of Polish patriotism. blocking allied assistance, crushed the War- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Inevitably, Solidarity was seen as a threat saw Uprising; 12 years later, in 1956, the Monday, December 19, 2011 not only to the communist authorities in War- Poles were rioting again, and they wrung con- Ms. DEGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to saw, but to their taskmasters in Moscow, who cessions out of the communist government; 12 honor Ron Lyle, a Colorado resident and pro- escalated pressure on Warsaw to impose a years later, in 1968–1970, the same thing fessional boxer who passed away late last crackdown that would silence the growing happened; then six later, in 1976; then 3 years month. movement. At midnight, on December 13, later, in 1979 the visit of the new pope saw In Colorado’s surprisingly rich boxing his- 1981, martial law was declared, and a military what amounted to massive demonstration of tory, Lyle stands alongside names like Jack government was established. Poland’s borders support for the Polish Catholic tradition which Dempsey and Sonny Liston not only for his were sealed and its airspace closed. Phone were at the same time demonstrations against success in the ring but for his commitment to service throughout the country was sus- communist tyranny; then 1 year later, in 1980, giving back to his community after retirement. pended. The routine sale of gasoline ceased. Solidarity was formed. But as the declaration His story is one of redemption. Born into a A curfew was established. Strikes, demonstra- of martial law demonstrated, the communists family of 19 children in a downtrodden area of tions, meetings, and public gatherings were would only be able to exercise meaningful Northeast Denver, Lyle dropped out of school banned. Solidarity was outlawed. Open cen- control through the use of an ultimately at age 19 and was subsequently convicted of sorship of mail was introduced and normal unsustainable degree of force. By the summer second-degree murder in the death of a local radio and television broadcasting was re- of 1989, it was clear that the Poles had stood gang-rival. Lyle, who had always been an im- placed with a loop of General Jaruzelski inton- down the Soviet Union. The communist parties pressive athlete growing up, learned to box in ing that Poland was on the edge of an abyss. of the eastern bloc were on their own, facing prison, and was pardoned 71⁄2 years later by Tanks rumbled down Warsaw’s broad boule- their peoples without Soviet military backing, Colorado Gov. John Love. vards, and the whiff of tear gas tinged the air. setting the stage for them all to be swept from Upon his release, Lyle pursued a career in Approximately 10,000 people were arrested power. boxing, winning the National Amateur Union during the Martial Law period, and dozens of So let’s remember that from the 1950s heavyweight championship at age 28 before people were killed, most notoriously during the through the 1980s the Polish people, acting turning pro at the relatively old age of 29. He ‘‘pacification’’ of the Wujek Coal Mine. The for high moral purposes—religious freedom, won his first 19 bouts, including an impressive harshest controls were eased within weeks or human rights, liberty, solidarity, patriotism— 17 of them by KO. months and martial law was formally lifted on ran great risks—even the risk of another Rus- As Lyle’s professional boxing career came July 22, 1983, but various forms of oppression sian invasion and they succeeded to the en- of age, it did so during the golden-era for continued for years. Many political prisoners during benefit not only of their own citizens, heavyweight fighting. The mid-1970’s was the were not released until the general amnesty in but all those around the globe who share time of Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, and 1986, 5 years later. those purposes. Joe Frazier—it was a time when families Nevertheless, throughout the 1980s, and At the end of this month, Poland will wrap would gather around the radio or the network notwithstanding martial law, dissent in Poland up its tenure as the president of the European television as Howard Cosell narrated the po- burgeoned. By 1988, the ability of Solidarity to Union. It has come a very long way from the etic clash of power, resilience and grace that mount continuing strikes had forced the com- dark days of martial law and I am grateful that, is a heavyweight title fight. During this time, munist regime to blink—roundtable negotia- as the United States seeks to promote democ- Lyle fought Muhammad Ali, Earnie Shavers, tions between the authorities and the opposi- racy and human rights around the globe, Po- and George Foreman, taking Ali to the 11th tion began in early 1988, and the Solidarity land stands beside us as a leader in this ef- round before losing by TKO, knocking-out movement was formally re-legalized on April fort. Shavers in the 6th, and knocking down Fore- 7. When Solidarity’s official spokesman, f man twice before suffering a KO late in the Janusz Onyszkiewicz, testified before me at a 5th. While calling the Lyle-Foreman fight for Helsinki Commission hearing in September THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO ABC’s ‘‘Wide World of Sports,’’ Cosell re- 1988, it was the first time that the Helsinki marked ‘‘it’s not artistic, but it is slugging!’’ Commission received testimony from a War- HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN Lyle retired from boxing in 1980, and then saw Pact dissident who was actually planning OF FLORIDA attempted a brief comeback in 1995, when he to return to his home country. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES won four more fights. After retirement he dedi- The roundtable talks eventually led to an cated himself to coaching boxing in his old agreement that 35% of the seats in parliament Monday, December 19, 2011 neighborhood, hoping to give children the would be freely and fairly contested in the Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, the same opportunities that boxing had afforded June 1989 elections, and all of the seats Kingdom of Morocco is an important strategic him. On most any given afternoon he was would be contested 4 years after that. The die, partner, and I support its continuing reform ef- down at the Salvation Army Red Shield Center of course, was cast: when it came time to forts to make it a more democratic and pros- in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, coach- form a government, Solidarity put forward their perous nation. Last month’s elections in Mo- ing at the boxing program that bore his name own slate of candidates for prime minister. On rocco were another important step toward and teaching not just the right jab and left August 19, 1989, Tadeusz Mazowiecki was building a more democratic and inclusive hook, but also the discipline and focus that al- elected Poland’s first non-Communist prime country. The level of participation in the elec- lowed him to go toe-toe with the great minister in 40 years. Poland rightly deserves tion of a new parliament demonstrates popular heavyweights of his era. credit for playing a critical role in advancing support for this reform agenda. Mr. Speaker, Ron Lyle was an inspiration to human rights and democratic forms throughout I support the democratic aspirations of the our community—a role model whose impres- the entire Warsaw Pact region. In fact, Poland Moroccan people and encourage its new par- sive 43–7–1 record nonetheless does not do rightly deserves credit for helping to dissolve liament and government to follow through on justice to what he meant to those around him. the Warsaw Pact. constitutional and other reforms to protect fun- He will be sorely missed, but his legacy will We all remember the fall of the Berlin damental freedoms and human rights. continue to shape young boxers and help Wall—one of the greatest moments of the Additionally, the U.S. must continue to seek write the next chapter in Colorado’s boxing 20th century. Let’s not forget that, to a very a fair, just, and enduring solution to the West- history. 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