NEW YORK, CMC – Caribbean-American legislators have expressed “profound unhappiness” over the passing of former United States Congressman Charles B. Rangel, who died on Monday at his residence in Harlem. He was 94.
The trailblazing former congressman, thought of a “good friend of the Caribbean” and Dean of New York’s Congressional delegation, served the US Congress for over 4 a long time.
He was additionally the primary African American congressman to chair the highly effective US Home of Representatives Methods and Means Committee.
“It’s with profound unhappiness to listen to of the passing of my good friend and mentor, the Hon. Congressman Charles Rangel,” Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, instructed the Caribbean Media Company (CMC).
“Charles was a adorned struggle hero and an excellent and trustworthy public servant for over 40 years to the folks of this nation and New York Metropolis. Throughout his time in Congress, he based the Congressional Black Caucus and was the primary Black man to chair the Methods and Means Committee,” stated Clarke, who represents the ninth Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York.
She stated Rangel sat on the Judiciary Committee throughout the historic impeachment hearings of President Richard Nixon and helped pull the nation out of the 2008 recession by way of his influential management function within the Home of Representatives.
“Mr. Rangel was a real New Yorker and a son of Harlem, who earned his recognition as ‘the Lion of Lenox Avenue. As Dean of New York’s US Home delegation, he understood the range of his metropolis and advocated for the rights of Haitian migrants, for strengthening US and Cuban relations, and for fostering financial improvement and alternative for the folks of his metropolis.”
Clarke stated Rangel additionally fought to “break down racial boundaries, for equality, and towards injustice.
“Now we have misplaced an enormous who embodied a lifetime of service. I pray that he’s reunited along with his beloved spouse, Alma. Could he relaxation in peace and energy.”
Democratic Chief Hakeem Jeffries, whose eighth Congressional District encompasses giant concentrations of Caribbean immigrants in Brooklyn and Queens, New York, stated New York Metropolis and the nation have misplaced “an enormous.”
“Often called the ‘Lion of Lenox Avenue,’ and, to me. as a good friend and mentor, Chairman Rangel was really one-of-a-kind. He was a patriot, hero, statesman, chief, trailblazer, change agent, and champion for justice, who made his beloved Harlem, the Metropolis of New York, and the US of America a greater place for all,” Jeffries instructed CMC.”
Jeffries stated Rangel’s “matchless profession” started within the Korean Warfare, the place his “courageous and brave actions” in battle earned him a Purple Coronary heart and Bronze Star.
“He introduced the identical spirit to his time as a federal prosecutor, the place he stood up for the rule of regulation and held the highly effective to account,” he stated, stating that Rangel broke boundaries within the US Congress as the primary African American to chair the Methods and Means Committee.
Because the creator of the Low-Earnings Housing Tax Credit score, Jeffries stated Rangel helped facilitate the event of tens of millions of reasonably priced housing models throughout the nation.
In 1987, he stated the “Rangel Modification” denied overseas tax credit to US corporations investing in Apartheid South Africa and was instrumental in dismantling the system of racial separateness in that nation.
“There are various who will try and imitate, however the nice Charlie Rangel won’t ever be replicated. Whether or not in the US Military, the federal courtroom, the halls of Congress, or the streets of Harlem, Congressman Rangel led a lifetime of public service that’s second to none.
“The prayers of a grateful nation are along with his household and the legions who liked this iconic chief. Could Charles B. Rangel perpetually Relaxation in Energy,” Jefferies stated.
Brooklyn Democratic Occasion Chair, Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, described Rangel as “a towering, inspirational chief in American politics and some of the consequential legislators of our time.
“Congressman Rangel was a pioneer and mentor for numerous Black politicians and civil rights advocates—from his hometown of Harlem to Brooklyn to all throughout our county,” the consultant for the forty second Meeting District in Brooklyn instructed CMC.
“A patriot and a real champion for civil rights, his service, from the entrance strains of the Korean Warfare to the halls of Congress, embodied an unwavering dedication to the folks of New York and the ideas of fairness, dignity, and alternative for all,” she added.
As the primary African American Chair of the highly effective Home Methods and Means Committee and a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Bichotte Hermelyn stated Rangel was instrumental in “shaping progressive coverage and advancing civil rights.
“He opened doorways for generations of public servants and was a trailblazing mentor to so many people who adopted in his path. His legacy lives on in Harlem, New York, and in each group, uplifted by his tireless advocacy for reasonably priced housing, schooling, healthcare, and financial justice.
“On behalf of the Kings County (Brooklyn) Democratic County Committee, I lengthen my deepest condolences to Congressman Rangel’s household, family members, and the group he so faithfully served,” she stated. “His reminiscence will perpetually be a blessing, and his work will proceed to encourage those that combat for a extra simply and equitable world.”
The Rev. Michael Blake, a Jamaican-American candidate for Mayor of the Metropolis of New York, stated Rangel was a “political mentor to numerous leaders throughout generations, particularly these of us who’re Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and 100 Black Males of America.
“Brother Congressman Rangel’s loss leaves an vacancy and grief felt not solely in Harlem however throughout the nation. Brother Congressman Rangel was greater than a public servant; he was a beloved son of his group whose life embodied power, resilience, and unwavering love for the folks he served.
“His voice gave energy to the powerless, and his legacy will perpetually echo within the hearts of those that known as him household, chief, mentor, and good friend. The Lion of Lenox’ was gracious sufficient to let me introduce one in all our Alpha neophytes to him and Mayor Dinkins in 2019 on the African American Day Parade in Harlem,” Rev Blake stated.
The late David N. Dinkins was the primary African American to function Mayor of New York Metropolis.
The managing director of the Bronx-based Garifuna Coalition USA, Jose Avila, who traces its ancestral homeland to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, stated Rangel was “not only a public servant; he was a real champion, a trailblazer, and a steadfast ally who devoted his life to combating for what is true and simply.
“We on the Garifuna Coalition USA keep in mind with immense gratitude his unwavering help and his constant recognition of our group’s contributions and aspirations. Congressman Rangel himself was a kind of monumental trailblazers whose shoulders numerous people and communities stood upon to succeed in for a greater future.
“His legacy of tireless work, dedication to justice, and dedication to the folks he served will proceed to encourage generations. We had been really privileged to have his robust help and his voice advocating for points that matter most to the Garifuna group and past,” Avila added.
US Senate Minority Chief Charles “Chuck” Schumer described Rangel as “an important man, an important good friend, and somebody who by no means stopped combating for his constituents and the perfect of America.
“The listing of his accomplishments may take pages, however he leaves the world a a lot better place than he discovered it,” stated the New York Senator.
New York Metropolis Speaker Adrienne Adams, one other candidate for Mayor of the Metropolis, stated Rangel was “an enormous in Harlem and American politics.
“He served with unmatched wit, braveness, and an unshakable perception within the energy of presidency to vary lives. It’s particularly profound to lose him on Memorial Day. He was a proud Korean Warfare veteran whose patriotism was discovered not simply on the battlefield however in a lifetime of combating for working folks in Congress.
“His legacy lives on within the numerous Black and Latino New Yorkers he lifted and impressed. I’m so honored to have recognized him as a good friend and inspiration,” Adams added.
