Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this is a post office I hope we can name in honor of Reverend Harold Middlebrook. He is a well-known figure in our community and a civil rights leader. He was a close friend of Dr. Martin Luther King. As a matter of fact, he was part of the Memphis Sanitation worker strike in Memphis, Tennessee. He was arrested multiple times for alleged violations, but as we know, those weren't real violations. He was exhibiting his constitutional right. He was at the Lorraine Motel when King was assassinated. In 1986, he founded the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission in Knoxville. For the record, every year they have the march, it is the coldest day in Knoxville. I always remember that because it is always cold. Dr. Middlebrook has been a dear friend. I will say for the record that he has never voted for me, and he probably never will vote for me, but he is still my dear friend. When I was mayor, I had him come to speak to the kids in my office, and we took him to lunch. I wanted them to know what they endured during the civil rights movement and what this country endured. I think it is more important than seeing it in black and white on TV or reading it in a magazine, but to hear it and see it from his eyes. He spent his whole life befriending and mentoring folks in our community. He has been a dear friend to me and our Knoxville community, and he is a pretty dignified guy. Mr.…”