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July 21, 2006 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 152, Pt. 11 15431 that Turkish-Cypriots could travel and acquire ship skills that Mr. Zamora learned was put to nouncing the tyranny and hanging signs above work more efficiently. The Republic of Cyprus great use by becoming the first Mexican- his bed that say ‘‘Down with Fidel’’ and ‘‘We has begun a program where it pays the full American mayor of the City of Cotulla in the Need Freedom.’’ In July, Mr. Mantilla Arango tuition fees of Turkish-Cypriot pupils in sec- State of Texas. In 1972, Mr. Zamora was re- informed the Cuban Human Rights Foundation ondary education private schools in the gov- cruited to become Executive Director of SER- that he has been in brutal, solitary confine- ernment-controlled areas. To date, this pro- Jobs For Progress, an advocacy organization ment since putting on a T-shirt last month that gram has promised more than $5.4 million in that helped represent Hispanics in Racine, carried the words, ‘‘Down with Fidel.’’ tuition fees, and the program added five times Wisconsin. He also attended the University of Mr. Speaker, Dr. Mantilla Arango is the face as many students this year than it did in 2003, Wisconsin at Milwaukee where he received his of the real Cuba. No matter how intense the its first year. M.S. in Supervision and Administration, and beatings, no matter how remorseless the re- The occupying Turkish regime partially re- extensive study work towards his Ph.D. in pression, no matter how inhumane the condi- laxed restrictions that limited travel across the Urban Education during his tenure with SER- tions, he will never relent in his belief that the Green Line. Since then, there have been more Jobs For Progress. people of Cuba should be and will be free. than ten million incident-free border crossings In 1981, Mr. Zamora was hired as Chief Ex- Mr. Speaker, it is as inconceivable as it is by Turkish and Greek Cypriots to visit areas ecutive Officer of South Texas Rural Health unacceptable that, in the 21st century and and homes that were inaccessible to them for Services, Inc., a community health center. He only 90 miles from our shore, brave men and over 30 years. This has produced rare dis- has successfully guided the organization from women are locked in grotesque dungeons be- plays of human kinship, exchanges of flowers a singular site and a $250,000 operating cause they believe that all people have basic and pastries, and emotional visits to homes budget to approximately $4.5 million worth of human rights. It is a profound embarrassment abandoned in the mid-1970s. As a result, needed services to a multiple-county service for mankind that the world stands by in silence Greek-Cypriots have infused more than $57 area in South Texas. Mr. Zamora has spent and acquiescence while political prisoners are million into the impoverished, Turkish-occupied his life working to help better the lives of those systematically tortured because of their belief economy in the North. in his community, and I commend him for his in freedom, democracy, human rights and the Still, neither the Government’s incomplete, commitment to South Texas and to improving rule of law. My colleagues, we must demand albeit well-intentioned, benefit package for rural healthcare services. the immediate and unconditional release of Turkish-Cypriots, nor the limited lifting of re- Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had this Virgilio Mantilla Arango and every political strictions by Turkey’s occupying regime, sub- time to recognize the wonderful dedication and prisoner in totalitarian Cuba. stitutes for a comprehensive resolution to end commitment of Alfredo Zamora, Jr. to advo- f Cyprus’ divide. I urge the Bush Administration, cacy in the areas of healthcare and education HONORING RAYFER EARL’E the United Nations, the European Union, and for the City of Cotulla and to the rural commu- MAINOR, POET LAUREATE this honorable body to remain engaged in ef- nity of South Texas, and I thank you for this forts to resolve the Cyprus problem, and to time. HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON work toward a fair and lasting reunification of f OF TEXAS Cyprus. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES We should look to correct the wrong that oc- FREEDOM FOR VIRGILIO curred more than thirty years ago. We should MANTILLA ARANGO Thursday, July 20, 2006 work to bring about a just resolution to the sit- Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. uation. And, at the very least, we must act to HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to honor a halt the continuing injustice which the world OF FLORIDA great man and a great artist, poet laureate community allows to continue in Cyprus, our IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Rayfer Earl’e Mainor. As our Nation’s longest proven and strong ally. Thursday, July 20, 2006 serving poet laureate, and the only current Af- f rican American poet laureate, Rayfer Earl’e Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Mainor has shared his soul through his poetry TRIBUTE TO MR. ALFREDO Speaker, I rise today to speak about Virgilio for over 50 years. ZAMORA Mantilla Arango, a political prisoner in totali- It is the responsibility of a poet laureate to tarian Cuba. Mr. Mantilla Arango is a pro-de- uplift and raise the status of poetry in the ev- HON. HENRY CUELLAR mocracy leader in totalitarian Cuba. Because eryday consciousness of Americans. Since OF TEXAS of his steadfast conviction in human liberty 1969, Rayfer Earl’e Mainor has embodied IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and his constant work to bring freedom to an those ideals and standards. island enslaved by the nightmare that is the All too often poetry has ignored the par- Thursday, July 20, 2006 Castro regime, he has been a constant target ticular aspects and unique history of African Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to of the dictatorship. Americans. Rayfer Earl’e Mainor’s representa- honor Mr. Alfredo Zamora, Jr., Chief Executive According to multiple reports, Mr. Mantilla tions and imagery have shaped the way the Officer of South Texas Rural Health Services, Arango was arrested on March 4, 2002, for world now views the African American experi- Inc., for his exemplary leadership in providing peacefully protesting at a provincial hospital. ence. His poems have allowed us to reexam- healthcare to those living in rural areas in The reports outline how, at the hospital, the ine and rethink our own views and experi- South Texas. group shouted ‘‘Long live human rights’’ and ences. Alfredo Zamora, Jr. was born on June 19, sat on the floor. After 2 years in the gulag, Rayfer Earl’e Mainor has authored several 1941, to his Mexican-American migrant par- and after a sham trial in April 2004, Human works that have sought to inspire us including: ents, Guadalupe Cantu and Alfredo Zamora. Rights Watch reports that Mr. Mantilla Arango Poems; Poems II; A Tribute to Blackness; The His family would travel to Wisconsin, and to was ‘‘sentenced’’ to 7 years in the totalitarian Life and Times of Sister Menefee; Mammoth the fields of Illinois to work the land there. gulag. The ‘‘sentence’’ included 4 years for his Melting Sugar; and To Mister or Sarah Jean: After he graduated from Cotulla High School participation in the March 2002 protest and 3 A Love Story. Through his craft, Rayfer Earl’e in 1961, he joined the United States Army, years for continuing to peacefully protest Mainor has enlightened us with the narrative and received a honorable discharge in 1963, against the nightmare that is the Castro re- prose of the brutal murder of Emmitt Till, and which allowed him to attend a teacher’s col- gime during his time in the gulag before his poetry relaying the 1916 lynching of Jesse lege where he then continued his further edu- ‘‘trial.’’ Washington. His work has also detailed the re- cation at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis- The U.S. Department of State’s Country Re- flections and expectations surrounding expect- consin, and he graduated with a Bachelor of ports on Human Rights Practices—2005, de- ant fatherhood. Arts in elementary education in 1968. scribes the deplorable conditions in the totali- It is an honor for me to be able to recognize He also received a fellowship in the Ford tarian gulag as, ‘‘harsh and life threatening.’’ this outstanding man, artist, and lifelong mem- Foundation Leadership Development Program Sadly, this is all too true for Mr. Mantilla ber of Alpha Phi Alpha. His work and rep- in 1969 that helped him learn how to become Arango. According to reports published on Net resentations have brought reverence to the Af- an effective leader in advocacy, community or- For Cuba, Mr. Mantilla Arango has suffered rican American community and his brother- ganizing, and political awareness. The leader- savage beatings by dictatorship thugs for de- hood at Alpha Phi Alpha. I am fortunate VerDate Sep 11 2014 13:34 May 03, 2017 Jkt 049102 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\FDSYS\BOUNDRECORD\BR21JY06.DAT BR21JY06 ejoyner on DSK30MW082PROD with BOUND RECORD 15432 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 152, Pt. 11 July 21, 2006 enough to serve with several distinguished CONGRATULATING ELLICOTT CITY Mr. Speaker, I commend the other 2006 men of Alpha Phi Alpha, including: Congress- AND COLUMBIA, MARYLAND FOR Best Places winners, and I remind my col- man CHARLES RANGEL, Congressman GREG- BEING NAMED ONE OF THE leagues to work with me to ensure that our ORY MEEKS, Congressman ROBERT SCOTT, ‘‘BEST PLACES TO LIVE’’ IN policies support and facilitate the creation of Congressman CHAKA FATTAH, Congressman AMERICA BY MONEY MAGAZINE livable communities for all Americans.

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