Political Quotes

“Let me put this into the record as I prepare to yield, and emphasize what H.R. 40 does. As I do so, let me emphasize why H.R. 40 is so important. This is what you see--it is the hanging of Black men, and it is the presence of individuals who are making a spectacle of this. There is one Black man already on the ground. There is no evidence of a trial, no evidence of guilt. This is an example of what preceded 1865. When you talk about H.R. 40--or even when we were trying to make Juneteenth a Federal holiday--I introduced resolutions over and over again and finally got the bill introduced as a Federal holiday, which then we proceeded and worked to get it passed. There was always a question: Why? There was always a question about this issue of freedom. You are already free. You live in America. The same goes for this issue of: Why H.R. 40? Because the continuing--continuing--ailments that ailed our community did not end. This was obviously not in 1865. This was into the 1900s, the 20th century, as evidenced--or maybe the late 1800s that Black men were being hung, Black women were being raped and separated from families, and the abuse of racism was deep and abiding. The Klan would raid and burn communities, hospitals, churches, homes, and have a reign of terror.…”