Political Quotes

“I join by colleagues tonight in identifying and highlighting the redistricting struggle. In 1969, I was elected as alderman in my home town of Bolton, MS. Notwithstanding that election, there was a challenge that ensued. That challenge went to court and one of the profound statements that the judge made at the initial hearing, when we moved the trial to Federal court, the judge said, ``Well, they have taken it out of my hands.'' Well, clearly, this struggle for redistricting is one where unless we have constitutional guarantees, the Voting Rights Act and a number of other things, minorities and women and others will not have the protection necessary. Mississippi has the largest number of black elected officials than any State. This was simply because of the Voting Rights Act and the many countless lawsuits that have ensued in protecting those elections. Every time we appear to be turning the corner with voting rights, we shoot ourselves in the foot. As a famous orator once said, Every time we learn the game, they change the rules. Well, the rules are being changed now in redistricting suits, because now African-Americans who had fought hard to get elected now find their districts under siege. In the spirit of Fannie Lou Hamer, Medgar Evers who gave their lives so many of us could serve, I join my colleagues in issuing this call to alarm on the injustices being reaped upon the newly created minority districts and pray that justice will prevail.”