Pratt Hosts Congressman Jeffries' Inauguration

L to R: Pratt Trustee Mike Pratt, U. S. Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Board of Trustees Chair Bruce Gitlin, and President Thomas F. SchutteOver 800 people came to Memorial Hall Auditorium and the Student Union on Pratt's Brooklyn Campus on Sunday, January 27 to witness the inauguration of Hakeem Jeffries to the United States House of Representatives. A rising star in the Democratic party and a representative of New York's Eighth Congressional District, Jeffries was joined by his family and by many prominent figures in local, state, and national politics.

In attendance were Senator Chuck Schumer, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, Assemblyman Karim Camara (who also served as the event's Master of Ceremonies), Assemblyman Walter Mosley, former Congressman Edolphus Towns, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., and the Reverend Al Sharpton.

President Thomas F. Schutte gave a hearty set of welcoming remarks, citing Jeffries's longstanding ties to Pratt and Brooklyn; Jeffries was a former student in Pratt's Saturday Art School program. President Schutte encouraged the Congressman to come back and talk to Pratt students about his experience in Washington.

Senator Schumer, who was head of the congressional organizing committee for and Master of Ceremonies at the inauguration of President Barack Obama, delivered a rousing set of remarks on the new Congressman. He said that Jeffries's inauguration "here, at Pratt" was "every bit as significant" as the inauguration of President Obama in Washington which took place nearly one week prior.

Jeffries closed the ceremony with a stirring inaugural address that assured his constituents and supporters that he would "make it clear to the whole country that Brooklyn's in the house" and stand up for their interests in Washington. A reception was held immediately following in the ARC Building.

Jeffries was recently appointed to the Judiciary and Budget committees. In the 113th Congress, he looks forward to working on economic growth, reforming the criminal justice system, preventing gun violence and assisting neighborhoods in the district that were devastated by Super Storm Sandy. Prior to winning a seat in the House of Representatives, Jeffries served for six years on the New York State Assembly.

Text: Amy Aronoff
Photo: Armando Tavarez