Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Reverend James Lawson, a pioneering civil rights activist whose enduring commitment to unity and nonviolence shaped our Nation. He was a beloved constituent of the 37th Congressional District. As a young missionary, Reverend Lawson traveled to India, where he studied under Mahatma Gandhi. It was during this trip that he developed his guiding philosophy of civil disobedience, one that would inspire a generation of activists. In the 1960s and 1970s, Reverend Lawson led nonviolent workshops with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference as the organization worked to desegregate the South. In 1974, he moved to Los Angeles and was named senior pastor of Holman United Methodist Church, also in my district, a largely Black congregation of 2,700. He preached for 25 years, leaving an enormous impact on the south L.A. community. Reverend Lawson's visionary leadership changed the course of American history. At a time when tensions are escalating at home and abroad, his guidance will be deeply missed. He was a mentor to so many and a blessing to so many more. Please join me in honoring his legacy and the values that he championed during his lifetime. Honoring Basketball Legends Jerry West and Bill Walton”