Political Quotes

“I will tell the gentlewoman from New Jersey that I had the opportunity to meet Ms. Hamer as a young college student at Tougaloo College. Facts about it, one of the first campaigns I worked on as a college student was Ms. Hamer's campaign for Congress, even though, as the gentlewoman indicated, she lost. But I now represent the Second District of Mississippi, and it was Ms. Hamer's spirit that still lives on. In Sunflower County, Mississippi, the majority of the population is African American. At the time she registered to vote, we had no African Americans elected officials in Sunflower County. I am happy to report to you now that the sheriff is African American; the chancery clerk, the circuit clerk, four of the five county supervisors are African American; so Ms. Hamer's work has not been in vain. As you also indicated, the Devil is busy creating tricks to disenfranchise people--voter ID, closing voting polls, making it more difficult for people in rural areas to get to the polls to vote, especially in areas where you don't have public transportation. So, Ms. Hamer's 100th birthday should be spent rededicating ourselves to her legacy. One of the things that everyone loves to quote is Ms. Hamer's words that she is ``sick and tired of being sick and tired.'' Well, that goes a long way, especially given the administration we are being challenged with here in Washington now. Hopefully, Ms. Hamer's spirit will live on. Congresswoman Karen Bass and myself visited Ms.…”