Political Quotes

“It is an honor and a joy to acknowledge my one-quarter century relationship with our friend, John Lewis. The better I got to know him, the deeper my respect for his courage, his determination, and his strength. People have remarked about his gentle spirit, his kindness, and his generosity. I watched countless young people be introduced to him in awe, including my own grandson. I just heard Leader McCarthy acknowledge being in Selma with John on the 50th anniversary of that Bloody Sunday. It was beyond my ability for words to express watching John. On that stage near where he was once almost beaten to death, he spoke as a Member of Congress and then he introduced the first Black President of the United States, Barack Obama. It is heartening to hear so many who were polar opposites of John politically honor and praise his life and his service. They sincerely mourn his passing and salute his career. I would hope, Mr. Speaker, however, that we would not just repeat his words, but listen and understand and honor his lifework and his lifetime commitment to lifting people up and helping them find their voices and express their wishes by exercising the precious right of voting. When John started, the vote was suppressed by violence and intimidation. Today people are suppressing the votes using computers, legal challenges, and capricious voting standards against the poor, people of color, the young, and the marginalized.…”