Political Quotes

“Today, I rise to discuss what occurred in my congressional district 30 years ago this week. During that time in Selma, AL, a young black man named Jimmy Lee Jackson was murdered because he dared to stand up against the multitudes of racial injustices, from white-only water fountains to the States-rights stand which would not allow blacks to vote. Fortunately, Jimmy Lee Jackson's murder in 1965 was not in vain. It prompted the historic 54 mile Selma to Montgomery voting rights march, which was the catalyst for the 1965 Voting Rights Act. This act secured the rights of all Americans to participate, without harassment, in the political system. Today, we again have challenges before us which threaten the basic rights of many Americans. The so-called Republican Contract With America threatens to take away many rights which we, as Americans, hold dear. I am speaking of the right to have proper medical care, the right to proper nutrition, the right to a good education, and the right to be treated equally and fairly under the law. Mr. Speaker, I hope and pray that it does not take a murder like Jimmy Lee Jackson's, which occurred over 30 years ago in Selma, to wake up America to action.”