Political Quotes

“today, I honor the life and work of Rachelle Bergeron Hammerling, a human rights lawyer who served as the acting Attorney General of Yap in Micronesia when she was murdered just a couple of months ago. Rachelle was killed in front of her home on October 14, 2019, as a direct result of her courageous fight against human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. She was just 33 years old, but her legacy will live on through her family and the communities she made the ultimate sacrifice to serve. Rachelle was born in Waukesha, WI, to parents Thomas and Tammy Bergeron in 1986. After growing up in Wisconsin, Rachelle went on to obtain a juris doctorate from the University of Florida College of Law in 2010, an experience her family says she loved. When Rachelle graduated from law school, her passion to help others led her to volunteer with the International Justice Mission in India, where she represented women and children who had been trafficked. Rachelle spent her career prosecuting criminals involved with sex trafficking and worked tirelessly to protect the poor against violence. Rachelle's work took her around the United States, including New York and Washington, DC. She was a member of the New York State Bar and created the ``Not-So-Super'' campaign video as an effort to raise awareness regarding human trafficking during the 2014 Super Bowl. Her work took her to Beijing, South Africa, India, and finally the Pacific island of Yap.…”