Political Quotes

“I am sickened by media reports, if they are correct, regarding the so-called ``Good O' Boys Roundup'' in Tennessee. According to these reports hundreds of law enforcement officials are involved in this whites only event in the spring of each year. These reports describe events at the gathering, sale of items like T- shirts with a target superimposed over a picture of Rev. Martin Luther King, activities and displays so blatantly racist that I would not want to repeat them on the floor of the Senate. But, I want to make clear that the behavior of these officers, if the reports are true, is reprehensible and cannot be tolerated. They must be condemned if engaged in by anyone. But, if the participants were law enforcement officers sworn to protect the rights of all Americans, such activities are all the more reprehensible. I am pleased to see that Director John Magaw has ordered an investigation into the involvement of any ATF officers. I would hope that State and local authorities would follow suit. I trust that the ATF investigation will be timely, professional, and thorough, and that a full report will be made to the appropriate committees of Congress, and that officers found to have participated in racist activities should be discharged. Mr. President, this kind of overt racism is unacceptable and has no place today in American life. It is a sad fact of American history that it has existed at all.”