Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1713, ``Recognizing and Honoring the 50th Anniversary of Ruby Bridges Desegregation of a Previously All-White Elementary School.'' Let me begin by thanking my colleague, Representative John Lewis, for introducing this legislation into the House of Representatives as it is important that we recognize the great strides of the minority citizens of this country. In so doing, we remind America that she must never serve on her citizens the atrocities that occurred to the African-American under her watchful legal eye. This legislation celebrates the life of Ruby Bridges, born in Mississippi during a very turbulent era. It acknowledges a citizen's courageousness in holding America to the language of her landmark ruling--Brown v. Board of Education. Ruby Bridges acknowledges that growing up for her presented a very hard life. Having heard there were better opportunities in the city, Bridges moved along with her family, to New Orleans. While in New Orleans, the public schools were finally forced, under federal court order, to desegregate. In the spring of 1960, Bridges took a test, along with other black kindergarteners in the city, to see if she would go to an integrated school come September. That summer she and her parents learned she passed the test and had been selected to start first grade at William Frantz Public School.…”