Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman from Nevada for calling this special occasion to give us the opportunity to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Supreme Court case of Brown v. The Board of Education. As a representative from Virginia, I take personal pride in celebrating this anniversary because Virginia played such a prominent role in that case. In fact, one of the four cases that were combined into the Brown decision was Davis v. School Board of Prince Edward County, in Virginia. Two of the Nation's premier constitutional lawyers were involved in the case: Oliver Hill and Spottswood Robinson, both from Virginia. In the Brown decision, the United States Supreme Court unanimously struck down the legal footing for racial segregation in public schools in this country. The decision overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, a 1996 case that held that a State could maintain separate but equal public accommodations. In Brown, the court highlighted the importance of education and language that still rings true today. The court said: Today, education is perhaps the most important function of State and local governments. Compulsory school attendance laws and the great expenditures for education both demonstrate our recognition of the importance of education to our democratic society. It is required in the performance of our most basic public responsibilities, even service in the Armed Forces. It is a very foundation of good citizenship.…”