William L. Clay: “I am honored to join in paying tribute to one of our Nation's heroes in the battle for racial equality. A man of…”

“I am honored to join in paying tribute to one of our Nation's heroes in the battle for racial equality. A man of unwavering faith and steadfast devotion to his people and his Nation, James Farmer has devoted his whole life to the cause of racial harmony and individual justice. James Farmer is a man of vision who infused a generation of black Americans with the spirit and strength of nonviolent protest against the scourge of racism and injustice. Through countless contributions and endless personal sacrifices, James Farmer has played a critical role in profoundly changing the course of our Nation's history. Mr. Speaker, I am personally grateful to Farmer for the support and inspiration he gave to me and to so many others at a critical time in the history of the civil rights movement. Farmer founded the Congress on Racial Equality. CORE was the catalyst for challenging and overcoming the entrenched segregation and racism that incarcerated black Americans and sentenced all Americans to a nation of unfulfilled promises, lost to its once cherished vision of freedom and equality. It was unfortunate that Farmer was unable to address the Great March on Washington, his remarks had to be read by someone else because he was jailed in Plaquemine, LA. James Farmer was a founding father of the 20th century civil rights movement.”