Donald M. Payne: “We heard a common thread about diversity. At the bottom of the Statue of Liberty, there are words on it and it says…”

“We heard a common thread about diversity. At the bottom of the Statue of Liberty, there are words on it and it says: ``Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.'' That has allowed many diverse people come here and look for the freedom that this Nation can extend to you and prosper. We need to continue that great tradition. I hear a lot these days about the borders and eliminating pathways to come here, and that has not been our tradition, so I do not believe, at this point in time in this Nation's history, that we should talk that way, or else, we should remove those words from the bottom of Lady Liberty. Equality and diversity is the center of criminal justice concerns. The inequality force is distrust which erodes relationships between police and communities. Baltimore and other police-related tragedies over the past year speak to the broader challenges. Unfortunately, racial discrimination persists throughout our Nation, undercutting the gains of African Americans in their communities. As we work to reform our criminal justice system, we must also work in support of equality in all context. This is the only way to fully meet the needs of our communities. As a caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus is committed to ensuring that the increasing diversity of the Nation is reflected in American business.…”