Maxine Waters: “I'd like to thank the congresswoman from Ohio for initiating this memorial moment in the Congress of the United States…”

“I'd like to thank the congresswoman from Ohio for initiating this memorial moment in the Congress of the United States for Julia Carson. This is a very special and important time because we're here this evening to talk about a woman that we truly loved and a woman who gave so much in public service to her country. I know that her family's saddened by her loss because it is a great loss. She has been referred to this evening as a jewel, as the queen, and I came to understand this quite some time ago. I've known Julia for many years, long before I came to Congress and long before she came to Congress. I served in the State legislature of California, and she was a State legislator also, and like Diane Watson and others, we all worked with the Conference of State Legislators and the Conference of Black State Legislators. And so she knew legislators from all over the country. And after I came here, I kept in contact with Julia, and when she ran for office, she called me and she told me that she wanted me to help her. I thought she wanted me to raise some money or maybe come someplace to do something. And after talking with her for a few minutes, she made it very clear she wanted me to get Muhammad Ali to come to help her out. She didn't want me. She wanted Muhammad Ali, and so she said, Well, you know him, don't you? And I said, Yes, I do. She said, Well, if I could get Muhammad Ali here, then that would seal the deal. That's exactly what I need.”