{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://meeks.house.gov/press-release/us-rep-meeks-although-nelson-mandela-no-longer-us-his-legacy-visionary-intellect", "U.S. Rep Meeks: Although Nelson Mandela is no Longer With Us, His Legacy as a Visionary, Intellect, Liberation Leader, and Statesman Will  Continue to Illuminate the Path of Progress", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Gregory Meeks", "M001137", "meeks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 5, 2013\nU.S. Rep Meeks: Although Nelson Mandela is no Longer With Us, His Legacy as a Visionary, Intellect, Liberation Leader, and Statesman Will \nContinue to Illuminate the Path of Progress\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee released the following statement on the passing of President Nelson Mandela:\n\u201cHalfway through its tenth decade, the life of Nelson Mandela has come to an end.\u00a0 Although this singular global personality is no longer with us, his legacy as a visionary, intellect, liberation leader, and statesman will illuminate the path of progress as much as his smile lit up our hearts, as much as his will to continue the struggle inspired his nation and the world.\n\u201cBecause we have for all time the example of Mandela\u2019s long but ultimately victorious journey, which included 27 years of incarceration as a political prisoner \u2014 most of it on Robben Island, let no child anywhere in the world believe that he or she, too, cannot triumph, cannot overcome any challenge.\u00a0 And, because of Mandela brilliant leadership and irrepressible dedication to the vision of a multiracial democracy in South Africa that nation was able to bring apartheid to an end, averting retribution and revenge, and instead utilize reconciliation to confront the truth of its past and embrace a destiny of peace, prosperity, and progress as a united nation.\u00a0 Mandela understood and with the moral authority of his sacrifice and suffering and his wisdom he imparted as South Africa\u2019s first black president convinced his South African sisters and brothers of all races and backgrounds that the route to a brighter future and better life required rejecting bitterness. \u00a0Nelson Mandela\u2019s life reminds us that freedom and democracy are not always a right we are born with but are always worth the fight.\n\u201cI will always remember Nelson Mandela\u2019s electrifying visit to New York shortly after his release from prison.\u00a0 I will always cherish having met Nelson Mandela on several occasions \u2014 especially the laughter, stories, and insight he shared with me and other members of a congressional delegation during a wonderful lunch at his home.\u00a0 Thank you Madiba for all you have done not only for South Africa but for the world.\n\u201cAt this moment, my thoughts and prayers are with Nelson Mandela\u2019s family and all the people of South Africa. \u00a0Know that you have the continued solidarity of the people of the United States.\u00a0 All of us are blessed to have walked in the light of his leadership, to have been inspired by his spirit.\u00a0 All of us, each of our own way and circumstance, should feel obligated to emulate Mandela\u2019s example and adhere to his legacy of service.\u201d [End]", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://meeks.house.gov/press-release/us-rep-meeks-although-nelson-mandela-no-longer-us-his-legacy-visionary-intellect"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2032778467983007, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}