Recognizing A Civil Rights and Grassroots Icon, Reverend Marie Galatas Ortiz, A Prominiment Matriarch in the Civil Rights Movement

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Reverend Marie Galatas Ortiz, Louisiana's Matriarch in the Civil Rights Movement locally and across the country. Marie Galatas Ortiz, born in New Orleans in 1939, became increasingly involved in the Civil Rights Movement after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When Ortiz reflected on how she felt following the passing of Dr. King, she said ``I just said I'm going to get so active, I'm going to help keep his work going on . . . They can't stop us!?

Ortiz furthered her commitment to the Civil Rights Movement by founding the nonprofit organization Grass Roots Organization for Women (GROW) in 1975. The organization started in New Orleans, located at 1610 Basin Street, and participated in many demonstrations, marches, and boycotts. Ortiz wanted an organization that encouraged women to serve in their communities and further the movement through peaceful protests, rallies, and street marches. GROW challenged the traditional patriarchal social systems that prevented women from participating in leadership roles. Reverend Ortiz took on the challenge of fighting for anti-crime, including rape treatment and prevention, when no one was advocating for these victims and speaking out against these atrocities.

Ortiz was a force in the later years of the Civil Rights Movement. In 1976, she led demonstrations for the family of Stanley Magee who suspiciously passed away while in custody. The protest and subsequent march over Stanley Magee's death began at the 22nd Judicial Courthouse and included many African American residents of St. Tammany and Washington Parishes. It was one of the largest demonstrations ever held in Covington. Ortiz explained that some of the more difficult and passionate Civil Rights cases, especially those involving racially motivated deaths and violence, were passed on to her organization from the NAACP. ``It was GROW that did the work,'' Ortiz said. Ortiz remains politically active today.

Her most recent work was taking down monuments dedicated to Confederate leaders in New Orleans. In December 2015, the City Council of New Orleans voted 6 to 1 to take down three Confederate statues: those of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Gen. Robert E. Lee, and Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard. In January 2016, a federal judge dismissed an attempt by preservation groups and a chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans to stop their removal. Reverend Ortiz remained committed, fighting to the end, assuring every statue was removed!

Reverend Marie Galatas Ortiz is also the president and pastor of New Creation Christian Church, founded over 35 years ago, where she continues her spiritual mission of working closely with women and underserved communities. She is also the president of Broadway Rehabilitation and Economic Development & Jobs Skills Academy, Inc., an organization assisting formerly incarcerated people and marginalized groups to develop training to join the workforce.

I am so blessed to have this opportunity to acknowledge a true Matriarch of Civil Rights. My prayer is that she continues her fight assuring a successful and bright future for all men and women. God Bless Reverend Marie Galatas Ortiz on her continued path blessing our great community.

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