James Traficant: “I believe that mayor's race is one of the most significant political events in our Nation's history. People in…”

“I believe that mayor's race is one of the most significant political events in our Nation's history. People in Youngstown, OH went to Cleveland and helped to campaign, not just black people, white people as well. The Stokes family has been known for fairness. Color has never had anything to do with it. I once was on trail for my life, literally, and I was acquitted. I got a little note in the mail from Carl Stokes. He said, 'Congratulations. Go to law school.' That is all he said. It was evident that he was not only a good politician but he followed current events and he became one of the strongest political forces in Ohio history, perhaps only surpassed by his very humble brother here. But I would just like to say that when he was elected, he was not just elected. He defeated, as Mr. LaTourette has said, the grandson of a U.S. President, Seth Taft, and that let all minorities in America know that the system can work, that you have to work at it. There was history made in Cleveland, great history that we are all proud of. As a result, we are all here tonight because we are proud of the designation of this courthouse being named after our great former Mayor Carl B. Stokes.”