Joe Morelle: “As we know, March 7 marks the 55th anniversary of the 1965 Selma march, where courageous men and women crossed the…”

“As we know, March 7 marks the 55th anniversary of the 1965 Selma march, where courageous men and women crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery to peacefully fight for the right for Black Americans to register to vote. I rise today to honor those who marched and to spotlight and highlight the Sisters of St. Joseph in my home district of Rochester, New York. The Sisters of St. Joseph came to Alabama from New York and played an integral role in running the Good Samaritan Hospital in Selma, Alabama. The 600 peaceful marchers that day were met with tear gas and clubs, and the Good Samaritan Hospital was the only facility within nine counties that would serve Black citizens. Despite having just emergency room beds, the sisters diligently cared for the huge onslaught of people who had been attacked and beaten in their pursuit of equality. Some of the nuns present reside in Rochester today, and I could not be prouder to call them my constituents. Let us celebrate them as courageous leaders and honor them by committing to continue their fight for justice and equality. ____________________”