Political Quotes

“I rise today to discuss a matter of great importance in this House. In recent months a series of challenges have been launched against some of my colleagues and the shape of their congressional districts. These districts, designed to right historical wrongs and to usher in an era of political inclusion have come under attack. It is often said that history repeats itself. With regard to the current debate on reapportionment and challenge to majority minority districts, we are beginning to see a repeat of American history's more sour moments. For more than 100 years, African-American voters in this country could not vote, let alone have representation in local, State, or national government. Following the war to unite this country, action was taken to right some of the past wrongs and inequities suffered by the minority population of this country. However, while these efforts were made with great promise and with good intention, they ultimately failed under a series of repeated attacks by those conservative forces who did not have the dream of inclusion. Things like jim crow, poll tax, literacy test, and other repressive mechanisms were used to kill any hope of equal representation. Madam Speaker, until the Shaw versus Reno decision the Supreme Court had never recognized any Federal right to challenge a district solely on the grounds of its unusual shape.”