CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of Remarks E576 HON
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E576 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks April 18, 2012 and Hugh; as well as by 17 great grand- gized and with a plan for a statewide con- honored by the Cleveland American Middle children. ference to tackle ways to reform the system. East Organization. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring the Merva’s passion ignited my own, and I re- f memory of Mr. Kevin O’Donnell. His work and member feeling so lucky that the State of Con- legacy will live on with all those who were necticut had her to advocate on behalf of vul- TRIBUTE TO MR. JOHN PAYTON blessed with knowing him. nerable youth. A few months later our vision f became a reality when over 150 people from HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR. across the State—and the Assistant Secretary OF MICHIGAN HONORING NEWARK, NEW JERSEY of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Edu- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAYOR CORY BOOKER cation—came together to listen to Merva and Wednesday, April 18, 2012 others discuss the critical issue of promoting HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON dignity in schools. Of course, she provided in- Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, ‘‘Democracy, at its core, requires that all of the people be OF TEXAS valuable insight and perspective that day, as included in ‘We the People.’ ’’ Uttered by Mr. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES she did every day. I am deeply saddened by the loss of Merva John Adolphus Payton during a 2008 speech Wednesday, April 18, 2012 Jackson but feel so lucky to have known her. in Michigan, this quote embodies his legacy. A Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I last saw Merva in October at a juvenile jus- true pioneer, John Payton rarely turned down Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Newark, tice event in Wethersfield, Connecticut. She an opportunity to advocate for the least among New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker for his heroic was busy planning events for the future, to us and reminded America time and again of efforts on April 13, 2012. continue her work for justice and equal oppor- the necessity to advance toward a more inclu- Mayor Booker returned home last Thursday tunity for all. I hold that memory near to me, sive and tolerant society. From his youth until evening to find flames erupting out of his and hope all who knew her find some comfort his last days, John Payton fought for the rec- neighbor’s home. His neighbor screamed that in reflecting on their own many loving memo- ognition of individual rights and taught us how her daughter was still inside. The mayor ran ries of Merva and take pride in all that she did to work toward democracy—not just speak inside without hesitation, hoping to rescue the and all that she was. about it. woman he had known for years. In doing so, f A quick glance at John’s background quickly Mayor Booker suffered second-degree burns reveals the makings of a civil rights giant. At IN HONOR OF MS. MALAK and smoke inhalation. The woman who was the height of the overt racial tensions of 1965, JADALLAH trapped inside the burning home suffered sec- John Payton was one of only a handful of ond-degree burns on her back. Mayor Book- black students at Pomona College. Even as a er’s neighbor, Zina Hodge, said ‘‘If Cory HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH working student, John found time to enhance wouldn’t have came in there and rescued me, OF OHIO the quality of collegiate life for disadvantaged I would have died in there.’’ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES students by founding Pomona’s Black Student Mayor Booker is one of our Nation’s fore- Wednesday, April 18, 2012 Association, organizing and participating in most Mayors. As Mayor of Newark, he has Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in anti-war and civil rights demonstrations, suc- worked diligently to create thousands of jobs, honor of Ms. Malak Jadallah and to acknowl- cessfully lobbying Pomona’s administration to reduce crime, and improve education. Mayor edge her receipt of the Community Service recruit more black students, and for the cre- Booker’s leadership has attracted approxi- Award from the Cleveland American Middle ation of a black studies program. A year after mately $100 million in private philanthropy to East Organization (CAMEO). Ms. Jadallah is graduating from Pomona College, John en- the City of Newark, and a variety of nonprofits being recognized for her service, dedication, rolled at Harvard Law School in 1974. As a and public-private partnerships have been cre- leadership, volunteerism and advocacy on be- law student he obtained affidavits from black ated with the goal of improving the lives of half of the Arab American Community of student activists who were injured during Bos- Newark residents. Mayor Booker is a shining Greater Cleveland. ton’s school busing controversy. John served example of what being a public servant truly Malak was born and raised in Jerusalem, as an ideal model of what true civic engage- means. Palestine. She is a former art and German ment should be. Even without a formal title, he Mr. Speaker, Mayor Booker continues to language teacher. Ms. Jadallah later moved used his resources to fight for the rights of strive to improve the lives of the citizens of with her beloved husband, Muhammad Amer, others. Newark. I would like to recognize the Honor- to Kuwait in 1972. Later, the Palestinians that Serving as the sixth president of the NAACP able Cory Booker for his determination, hard had settled in Kuwait were forced to leave Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), work, and bravery. His dedication and leader- their homes and lives. Malak immigrated to John led many victories before the U.S. Su- ship are outstanding models for public service. the United States in 1990 and settled with her preme Court, including the 2010 case Lewis v. f mother and sisters in Brooklyn, Ohio. City of Chicago, where John successfully rep- Soon after becoming a Member of Con- resented a group of firefighters who argued HONORING THE LIFE OF MERVA E. gress, I asked Malak to join my Congressional that the city had discriminated against black JACKSON staff in Lakewood, Ohio. She has been faith- recruits by using a grading system that re- fully serving the residents of the 10th District sulted in no black applicants being hired. HON. CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY for 15 years as a constituent service rep- Though their claims had been barred by a OF CONNECTICUT resentative specializing in immigration and statute of limitations defense in the lower IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES visa issues. Prior to working in my office, court, the Supreme Court reversed those find- ings, allowing the recruits’ claims to move for- Wednesday, April 18, 2012 Malak was a program director for the Arab American Community Center for Economic ward. Prior to taking the helm of the NAACP Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, and Social Services (AACCESS). She has LDF, in 2003 John argued in Grutter v. I rise today to honor the life and memory of continued her work in the Arab community and Bolinger that the University of Michigan had a Ms. Merva E. Jackson, who sadly passed has been a member of CAMEO for 18 years. compelling interest in promoting class diver- away on April 4, 2012. She also worked with the Council of Amer- sity, and that acknowledging race as one of Few times in one’s life do you come across ican-Islamic Relations, American-Arab Anti- many factors in admissions decisions was not a person with such great passion, grace, and Discrimination Committee, American Arab In- a quota. In a 5–4 decision, the Supreme Court expertise like Merva Jackson. Merva had an stitute, Beit Hanina Federation and the agreed with John’s argument, and put our na- indelible impact on everyone she met, includ- Ramallah Federation. tion one step closer towards achieving equi- ing me. I vividly remember a meeting I had As a result of her steadfast dedication, table higher education for all. with her and several of her colleagues in my Malak has been honored numerous times John’s journey to erasing the ‘‘badges of Washington office in the spring of 2010. It was throughout the years. She has been recog- slavery’’ meant challenging racism head on. one of those inspiring meetings that you never nized by the Arab American Community Cen- As an associate with the D.C. law firm Wilmer, forget. The excitement in the room and the ter, Albanian American Association of Cleve- Cutler and Pickering (now known as Wilmer commitment to change was palpable as we land and Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission to the Hale), he contributed to the firm’s representa- brainstormed ways to combat the pervasive U.S. tion of the NAACP in various legal matters, in- school-to-prison-pipeline that entangles too Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me cluding assisting with the 1982 Supreme Court many of our youth. We left the meeting ener- in congratulating Ms. Malak Jadallah as she is case NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Co. The VerDate Mar 15 2010 05:05 Apr 19, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K18AP8.019 E18APPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS April 18, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E577 Claiborne case rescued the NAACP from cer- IN RECOGNITION OF CLEVELAND and friend to his fellow teachers. He gener- tain bankruptcy by avoiding a financial penalty PEACE ACTION ously shares his knowledge and experience after the group organized a 1960s boycott with those around him and we are all thankful against white merchants in Mississippi.