First African American And Woman Representing Indianapolis Dies at 69Rising from childhood poverty and segregation, Julia Carson truly personafied the American dream. That dream was laid to rest Saturday after the five-term politico died after a courageous battle with lung cancer.
First elected to Congress in 1996, the lifelong Democrat championed children's issues, women's rights and efforts to reduce homelessness, and was a staunch opponent of the war in Iraq. "Julia Carson overcame much and accomplished much, and devoted her life to helping other people do the same,"
Carson opposed the war in Iraq and told hundreds of people at a rally in downtown Indianapolis just weeks before the 2003 invasion that it was an act of aggression only to protect U.S. oil interests. "Truly, it is all in the name of greed and truly in the name of war," she said. "We should have learned by the Vietnam War, but we did not."
Carson was born to a single mother who worked as a housekeeper. She began her political career in the 1960s when then-Rep. Andy Jacobs Jr. hired her to work in his office. Jacobs encouraged Carson to run for the Indiana Legislature in 1972 — the first of more than two dozen victories in local, legislative and congressional elections. She ran for Congress in 1996 after Jacobs retired.
"Throughout her decade of service in the U.S. House of Representatives and her nearly 20 years in the Indiana General Assembly, Representative Carson served her constituents in Indianapolis with passion and commitment," President Bush said in a statement.
During her years in Congress, Carson's highest-profile action came in 1999, when she pushed for the legislation granting the Congressional Gold Medal to Rosa Parks, the black woman who refused to give up her seat on a segregated city bus in Montgomery, Ala., and was arrested for her defiance.
Carson had persevered through major heart surgery and years of health problems before revealing her illness cancer last month, saying she would not seek election in 2008 to a seventh term.
Job done Congresswoman. You've been promoted! (AP)
First elected to Congress in 1996, the lifelong Democrat championed children's issues, women's rights and efforts to reduce homelessness, and was a staunch opponent of the war in Iraq. "Julia Carson overcame much and accomplished much, and devoted her life to helping other people do the same,"
Carson opposed the war in Iraq and told hundreds of people at a rally in downtown Indianapolis just weeks before the 2003 invasion that it was an act of aggression only to protect U.S. oil interests. "Truly, it is all in the name of greed and truly in the name of war," she said. "We should have learned by the Vietnam War, but we did not."
Carson was born to a single mother who worked as a housekeeper. She began her political career in the 1960s when then-Rep. Andy Jacobs Jr. hired her to work in his office. Jacobs encouraged Carson to run for the Indiana Legislature in 1972 — the first of more than two dozen victories in local, legislative and congressional elections. She ran for Congress in 1996 after Jacobs retired.
"Throughout her decade of service in the U.S. House of Representatives and her nearly 20 years in the Indiana General Assembly, Representative Carson served her constituents in Indianapolis with passion and commitment," President Bush said in a statement.During her years in Congress, Carson's highest-profile action came in 1999, when she pushed for the legislation granting the Congressional Gold Medal to Rosa Parks, the black woman who refused to give up her seat on a segregated city bus in Montgomery, Ala., and was arrested for her defiance.
Carson had persevered through major heart surgery and years of health problems before revealing her illness cancer last month, saying she would not seek election in 2008 to a seventh term.
Job done Congresswoman. You've been promoted! (AP)