Mourning the Passing of Reverend Darrell Darling
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the passing of the Reverend Darrell Darling.
The loss of Darrell Darling hits us hard in Santa Cruz but also throughout the Central Coast, for Reverend Darling was that iconic mentor to all of us based on his longtime fight for civil rights, for equal rights, for peace, for justice, for nonviolence, and for his never-ending work for a more perfect Union.
Reverend Darling's fight began when he almost got kicked out of college for pressing its administration about its racist policies toward African Americans. Reverend Darling then went on to attend the Yale Seminary, where, in 1965, he marched with Martin Luther King from Selma to Montgomery and crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge with our former colleague, John Lewis.
In California, Reverend Darling served in five parishes for over 25 years. After that, Darrell and his wife, Karen, ran the Darling House Bed and Breakfast, where they hosted numerous events for our community and continued to mentor young activists and future public servants.
In fact, I will never forget the conversation that I had with Darrell, seated in his backyard, that inspired me to stand here in Congress, for it was that type of impression that the Reverend Darling had on me, on Santa Cruz, and on the fight for equality in our American democracy.
Madam Speaker, I not only recognize his legacy of service, but we, in Santa Cruz, acknowledge and appreciate that Reverend Darling is why many of us stand, fight, and serve today. Mourning the Loss of Jorge David Alvarado, Jr.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the loss and the service of Salinas Police Officer Jorge David Alvarado, Jr.
Officer Alvarado was shot and killed in the line of duty while conducting a traffic stop on Friday night. Before I flew back here on Sunday, I visited the growing memorial for Officer Alvarado at the Salinas Police Department and joined in the mourning, the devastation, and the disbelief of his fiance, his mother, his brethren in blue, and our entire community in Salinas.
Although the investigation of the incident is ongoing, the chief of police stated that Officer Alvarado stayed in the fight to the end and paid the ultimate price. As a result, the suspected cop killer is behind bars.
Jorge Alvarado understood what it means to give back to his community and to his country with his time in the U.S. Army, as well as his 5 years as a police officer. Although we look back upon his commitment and actions as we mourn his loss, let us also look to Officer Alvarado's legacy of service as a way forward.
We must realize that our communities, no matter their makeup, rely on men and women who make up our police departments for order, for safety, and for our upward mobility.
Officer Alvarado did that by not only protecting and serving Salinas, but also Officer Alvarado got up every day and left his home knowing that his job was to run to the danger and not away from it.
Madam Speaker, Officer Jorge Alvarado ran to the danger on Friday night. Let's make sure that his service, that his sacrifice, are not in vain. Let's make sure that all of us support his family and support the men and women in uniform who strive to serve and protect so that we can make it home to our families and thrive in safe communities.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source