Kirk Watson: “I rise to commemorate the 49th anniversary of the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision. On May 17, 1954, the…”

“I rise to commemorate the 49th anniversary of the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision. On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously declared that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal and as such violate the 14th amendment to the United States Constitution which guarantees all citizens equal protection of the law. This is one of the most important legal decisions for human rights in American history. This battle, however, did not occur overnight. The struggle for equality for African Americans began over three centuries prior to Brown v. Board of Education. In the United States from the early 1600s to the 1860s, peoples of African descent sought the most fundamental of rights, individual freedom. Despite the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and gains made by the 13th amendment, which outlawed slavery, African Americans remained in economic and social bondage enforced by segregation. Even the passage of the 14th amendment, which guaranteed equal protection under the law, and the 15th amendment, which afforded African Americans voting rights, did little to abridge de facto segregation policies.”