On the recordFebruary 2, 2010
I thank the generous gentleman from Georgia and our colleague on the other side as well for their words and for bringing forward this resolution honoring the United States Navy, and especially honoring Medgar Evers. There is some context that is necessary here. Mississippi was not only late to the civil rights movement, Mississippi was last to the civil rights movement. And there was a reason for that. Because it was delayed. Remember the sit-ins began February 1960, just 50 years ago. That was celebrated just yesterday with the opening of a civil rights museum in Greensboro. Years passed. And you did not see young people coming forward in Mississippi, young and foolish, and a young law student, because Mississippi was so heralded for its reputation for violently opposing civil rights. That is where I wanted to be. From my first day in Mississippi in June of 1963, I was baptized by crisis. I spent the day with Medgar Evers.
