[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 60 (Thursday, April 6, 2023)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E292] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-06
Chamber: EXTENSIONS
Ms. LEE : I rise today, along with the Congressional Black Caucus, to honor the extraordinary life and career of Randall Robinson, a legendary activist, lawyer, and a true fighter for racial justice. From reparations for Black Americans to ending apartheid in South Africa, Mr. Robinson dedicated his career to advocating for equity and human rights for all people of African descent. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Randall's family, his wife Hazel Ross-Robinson, and his three children, Anike, Jabari, and Khalea. They are in my prayers during this difficult time. Mr. Robinson's story is one of tremendous courage and is a testament to the goodness that exists in humanity, even in the face of racial injustice. Born in the Jim Crow South, Mr. Robinson's worldview was heavily influenced by the racial discrimination he faced from a young age, as he grew up in a society marked by institutional racism and attended segregated schools. From these experiences, Mr. Robinson found a deep passion for political activism and racial justice. He rose to become a leader in representing the African diaspora and African people in the United States. Randall was a proud graduate of Harvard Law School, a Ford Fellow, a Congressional staff member to Representatives Bill Clay & Charles Diggs, and founder of the TransAfrica Forum. Through TransAfrica, Mr. Robinson organized sit-ins and civil demonstrations, influenced US foreign policy to the Caribbean and throughout the African continent, and ultimately established the leading foreign-policy think-tank for African Americans. But perhaps, Mr. Robinson's most notable achievement was his contributions to the end of apartheid, as he forced the United States to confront the evils occurring in South Africa. His organizing efforts included leading daily sit-ins in the South African embassy calling for Nelson Mandela's release from prison. Randall's commitment to South African liberation earned him seven arrests for civil disobedience, but ultimately helped influence a congressional override of President Ronald Reagan's veto of economic sanctions against the South African government. Mr. Robinson's dedication to the African community never ceased, even after Nelson Mandela's successful release and the official end of apartheid. He famously missed President Mandela's inauguration, as by then he had already led a month long hunger strike to protest the treatment of Haitian refugees fleeing a military junta. Mr. Robinson ended his hunger strike only after President Clinton committed to granting those fleeing violence in Haiti asylum hearings. On a personal note, I had the privilege of working with Randall when he was a senior staffer to the late Congressman Diggs and myself with Congressman Ron Dellums. I vividly remember helping Randall organize TransAfrica and the hard work, brilliance and passion of this effort. He never lost his vision and purpose. Because of this, he changed the world. Randall Robinson was a shining example of public service and activism. He was the first to give voice to so many unheard and ignored African communities in the United States and throughout the world. May his incredible legacy serve as an example to us all, as the work for racial equity remains unfinished. While we mourn his loss, we celebrate a truly remarkable individual who served as a force for justice until the end. May he rest in Peace and Power.