HONORING THE LIFE OF JOSE "CHA CHA" JIMENEZ

HONORING THE LIFE OF JOSE "CHA CHA" JIMENEZ

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 7 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025)] [House] [Pages H121-H122] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE OF JOSE ``CHA CHA'' JIMENEZ The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bost). The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Garcia) for 5 minutes. Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a fighter for human rights, Jose ``Cha Cha'' Jimenez who passed away on January 10 after a life dedicated to social justice. [[Page H122]] Cha Cha, as he was fondly called, was the founder of the Young Lords, an organization created by Puerto Rican teens with the original purpose of providing a safe space in a changing Chicago. Inspired by the writings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Puerto Rican leader Pedro Albizu Campos, Cha Cha transformed the Young Lords from a street organization into a social justice group to fight for equality and freedom beyond Chicago. The movement was rooted in the self-determination of Puerto Ricans on the island and the mainland. They organized actions against gentrification and displacement of Puerto Ricans in Lincoln Park, Chicago. They fought against police brutality and brought much needed basic services like education, childcare, and health services to our neighborhoods. Cha Cha understood that the Latino and Black communities were facing similar struggles and forged an alliance with the Black Panthers to help underserved, low-income communities. Soon after, they partnered with a group of White, low-income residents called the Young Patriots, establishing Chicago's Rainbow Coalition. Cha Cha's leadership united people of all backgrounds to fight collectively for a better future, and his legacy will live on for generations to come. May he rest in power. Honoring the Village of Riverside, Illinois Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the village of Riverside, Illinois, which this year celebrates its 150th anniversary. Originally called Aux Plains, this charming village is known for its peaceful riverbanks and scenic forested areas. On August 8, 1875, Riverside elected its first village president and trustees. Over the decades, it has become a thriving community, earning the title of: ``Village in the Forest.'' With its expansive green parkways, iconic gaslit street lanterns, and curvilinear streets, the village's charm is matched by its distinction as a national historic landmark, a title that it has proudly held since 1970 in part thanks to the numerous home designs by famous architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Olmsted & Vaux, Jenney, Sullivan, and Drummond. We congratulate Riverside on this incredible milestone and look forward to celebrating all year long. Honoring the Life of Juan Soliz Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Juan Soliz who passed away in December of 2024. Juan was a public servant, educator, attorney, and an advocate for immigrants and indigenous peoples. He served our community with passion and dedication. Born in Texas to Mexican parents, Juan's hard work took him to college and later law school in Washington State. He moved to Chicago in 1978 to join the Legal Assistance Foundation and never stopped working for the rights of immigrants and for immigration reform. My friend, Juan, was the first Mexican American elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 1984. In 1987, he became the first Mexican American to represent Chicago's 25th Ward as alderman. He uplifted voter rights and brought Latino representation to Chicago's southwest side, and for that he will be remembered. ____________________