10TH DISTRICT, NEW YORK
NEWS RELEASE
| For Immediate Release | Contact: Ruth J. Morrison | ||
| October 13, 2005 | (202) 225-5936 | ||
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Congressman Ed Towns and the United States Postal Service to Host Post Office Dedication Celebration in Honor of First African American Woman Elected to Congress |
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Washington, DC, October 13, 2005--- Congressman Ed Towns (D-NY) and the United States Postal Service will host a community celebration for the official unveiling of the Congresswoman Shirley A. Chisholm Post Office on Friday, October 28, 2005 at 11:30 a.m. The public renaming ceremony will be held at 1915 Fulton Street (between Howard and Ralph Avenues), Brooklyn, NY 11233, which is the site of the post office. Friday, October 28, 2005, has also been declared Shirley Chisholm Day in honor of the late Congresswoman as she was the first African American woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (1968) and the first African American to seriously run for President of the United States (1972). Mrs. Chisholm was a New York icon and committed public servant. She was born in Brooklyn, on November 30, 1924, attended Brooklyn College, and earned a Master's degree from Columbia University. Following the death of Mrs. Chisholm on New Year's Day, Congressman Ed Towns and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced legislation --H.R. 1209, and its companion bill S. 571 for the post office name change in order to provide Mrs. Chisholm's community with an enduring testament to her name. "Shirley was a trailblazer who opened the doors of opportunity for generations of women and minority politicians," Congressman Towns said. "The naming of a Brooklyn post office in her honor is a deserving acknowledgment to one of New York's finest public servants." Congressman Towns (D-NY), who succeeded Rep. Chisholm in Congress, also highlighted the fact that "Shirley worked tirelessly to protect programs that supported women and children. As a Member of Congress, she introduced legislation to establish publicly supported daycare centers and to extend unemployment insurance to domestic workers." During her congressional career, Mrs. Chisholm served on the House Education and Labor, Veterans Affairs and Rules Committees, where she passionately advocated for the rights of women, children, minorities, veterans, Haitian refugees and day laborers. Mrs. Chisholm stood in staunch opposition to the Vietnam War and she was unmatched as a voice for social justice. Mrs. Chisholm was a founding member of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues and the Congressional Black Caucus. She was an active member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), founder of the Unity Democratic Club, and a Representative in the New York State Assembly (1964-68). ### Ruth J. Morrison Communications Director Office of Congressman Ed Towns (NY-10) 2232 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 202-225-5936 (Tel) 202-225-1018 (fax) Ruth.Morrison@mail.house.gov
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