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The Afro-American, February 14, 2015 - February 20, 2015
More than 50 people crammed into the Mansfield Room on the Senate side of the U.S Capitol on Feb. 2 to say farewell to Laura Murphy as she is stepping down as the leader of the ACLU’s Washington office. After 17 years of leadership and activism as a respected civil rights and civil liberties leader, some of the most powerful people on Capitol Hill came out to thank her for her service including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Minority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Dean of the Congressional Black Caucus John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas). Murphy also received a letter from
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Laura Murphy and Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.)
President Obama praising her years of service and statements by members of Congress were entered into the Congressional Record on her behalf. In her remarks, she had a word of encouragement to her staff, “Be strong and be vigilant.” Her future plans include reestablishing her business and returning to school as a student at Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (D-Ky.) commends Laura Murphy for her work on the Hill
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (D-Ky.), Laura Murphy and U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.)
Hallie Schneir gives remarks on behalf of President Barack Obama
Rep. Maxine Waters offers well wishes Remarks by Nicole Austin-Hillery
Houston Murphy and Laura Murphy
Claye Murphy, Alice Walker Duff, Angela Wheeler, Laura Murphy, P.J. Murphy and Joseph Duff
Remarks by Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Rep. William Clay, Jr. (D-Mo.)
Rep. Maxine Waters with Laura Murphy
Carter Jones, Rebecca Murphy, Hannah Jones and Claye Murphy Photos by Rob Roberts
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amma Pi Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity closed out its Annual Achievement Week activities that culminated with a communitywide Achievement Week Program at the Harmony Hall, Fort Washington, Md. The community and the brothers of Omega Psi Phi came together to salute outstanding members of the chapter and members of the community. For the public, Achievement
William Reese, center, receives the Superior Service Award from Otis Fowler, left and Brian Long
Brian long, right, chapter basileus and William Reese present the Omega Man of the Year, Antony “Tony” Lee
Members of Gamma Pi Chapter
Brian Long presents the Superior Service Award to James Alexander, right
Photos by Rob Roberts
Week is about recognizing the uplift that Omega Psi Phi provides to the local community every day through individual and collective efforts, both seen and unseen. The theme for the week was, “Leveraging Our Collective Resources for Impact.” Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker helped close out the program with a ringing endorsement of Gamma Pi’s solid reputation and active commitment to the greater Prince George’s County.
Members of Sigma Gamma Rho Society: Adrienne Waite, Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, Sharifa McReynolds and Alicia Thomas
The Charles H. Flowers High School Jazz Ensemble, Don Myles, band director
The recipient of the Religious Leader of the Year, Rev. Dr. H. Beecher Hicks Jr.
Master of ceremony Richard Allison, Brian Long, William Reese, Peter C. Harvey, keynote speaker and Otis Fowler Jr. Maurice Calhoun and Gordon Everett
Gerald Folsom and Thadeus Turner
The Campbell family: Marlon II, Marcus, Laverne and Marlon Sr.
The Surrattsville High School choir Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker with the Citizen of the Year recipient, Ronald Jones